The audio on the above clip is faint, but Jesse Kelly has been using an anecdote about the power of oil to power the economy:
I think energy’s the way forward in this nation. We talk about gas prices, jobs, and all these other things. Two million oil jobs alone are sitting out there. And a lot of you, I’m not in the oil field, that doesn’t benefit me directly, but you know there are McDonald’s in this country that are paying $25 an hour to work at McDonald’s? They’re around the oil fields.
While I can’t dispute that there’s money in oil, if you’re heading out to oil country to get a fry cook job at $52,800 a year, don’t bother. The most likely source of Kelly’s wrong information are a stream of news reports about the oil boom in Williston, North Dakota, which is certainly undergoing a rapid influx of cash, leading to stories with lines like this:
The McDonald’s in Williston is one of the busiest in the country, and it needs to pay $15 an hour just to attract employees.
$15? $25? That’s a mistake that could be made, sure. However, all anyone has to do is head to the McDonald’s hiring website, which conveniently informs potential applicants what they might make as a new hire…and all the positions at the Williston McDonald’s start at $9.00. Not bad as it goes, I suppose, but a far, far cry from $25/hour. Maybe you can find an actual, verifiable listing for an oil-rich McDonald’s that pays that much. I spent an hour looking and the fine people of McDonald’s chose not to return my email or phone call, for what it’s worth.
Then again, what difference does it make? Kelly has already established he has a loose relationship with reality regarding oil. The story sounds way better the way Kelly tells it, plus life is probably better at the top of the magical beanstalk.
This article appears in May 10-16, 2012.
Just think of all the oil jobs Arizona could benefit from!
You wouldnt say that if he was a Dumbocrat now would you?????
Ah ..Dan, Dan..where to begin? Well first of all , YOU people in the press are the ones who print the wildest b.s. imagineable in a bid to get us ALL to read your assorted RAGS. Ever heard of Trayvon Martin?? YEAH, credibility with YOU people is a super BIG issue. So, if poor Jesse actually believes your BS like we all did and some still do.. I dont fault HIM, I fault YOU people. Anybodys better than the bonafide liar – The Wizard of Oz Barber.
I love how the Dumbacrats always focus on the small things about an issue. The article did not talk about the true power of oil, the story turns to the small details to bicker about. Address the real issues people!!!!
We should pay these politicians minumum wage. See how they like it. See if they will be crying in 5 minutes. Jesse Kelly wants to get rid of minumum wage. Gee then we will all be living off off bugs our next meal!
@Rose-Marie Actually, I would. I have this crazy thing about people telling the truth.
How much do those guys have to pay in rent to live around the oil boom and work at McDonalds? The cost of living is skyrocketing in Williston. Not good for the locals. Then they’ll sell the oil to China and leave the mess for Americans to clean up. Thanks Big Oil.
Patrick – I know that telling the truth is a small thing to Republicants but it is important to honest people.
I am a Democrat. 70 years old. A Dumbocrat according to some, I guess, who doesn’t understand the true power of oil. But even I know that the oil and gas we drill is sold on the world markets and we don’t get to keep it and use it here in the US, nor do you and I enjoy some kind of a bounty or royalty when the foreign multinationals drill our oil and send it to China, nor do they compensate us for the pollution-caused illnesses our people experience as a result of their activities. Our only hope of energy independence is in renewables and conservation, and that is the true power of freedom to me.
Guisseppe…..what does Trayvon Martin have to do with Jesse Kelly’s lies?
Gotta love the wingnuts that infest these threads- take Guiseppi as an example. First, start in with the outrageous claims and the boilerplate attacks on the media (every other media company in this country besides Fox is a commie propaganda outfit and they all get together and collude on how to dupe good Murikan patriots with their pinko lies- we get it, you guys hate and fear anyone outside the cult). Then go with the standard distraction technique and try to take the heat off by yelling “Squirrel!” and change the subject. If that doesn’t work, go with the old standby GOP victimhood routine. It’s not “poor” Jesse’s fault he’s once again lying to everybody. It’s Dan Gibson’s fault, it’s that mean old media’s fault, it’s Obama’s fault, it’s anybody but the guy telling those lies fault, because wingnuts don’t actually practice any of that personal responsibility they’re so fond of preaching to others. Then of course finish it all off with an ad hominem attack with absolutely zero to back up the claim, because “everybody knows” are the two favorite words in the Fox universe when one wants to avoid dealing all those pesky facts.
BTW, you nitwits need to get together and decide if it’s Dumbocrat or Dumbacrat. You clowns lose all credibility when you can’t even get your childish insults right…
To make it all equal……Do you know when a politician is lying? …. Their mouth is moving…
BTW I was talking all parties…..
The economy will not benifit from lowering minimum wage. A person cannot live fairly at all off of minimum wage. Employers are not the only hard workers here. If you want people to be motivated,pay a fair wage. Lowering minimum wage this country will be more like a 3rd world country. People deserve a better living. People who work hard.
Well since Republicans have a name for Democrats (Dumocrats). How about a name for Republicans? I am neither Demo,or Rep. How about REPUBLITARDS. Now fair is fair REPUBLITARDS.
Wow what vitrial hate from both sides…….just kidding. 1. Jesse Kelley is well kind of a douche but so what I’ll probably vote for him because I know nothing about Ron Barber other than he was shot and is still running which although admirable doesn’t help me keep a dollar in my pocket to feed the 9 month old. 2. Just because Jesse says it’s so and Dan does not (or can’t find it) doesn’t mean that this political editorial has much value (sorry sir but it’s kind of silly argument based on what the douche has said in the past). 3. probably dumbocrat if male and dumbacrat if female but I’m just guessing because I think most liberals are (as long as I’m not paying for it) and most conservatives are (as long as Jesus would tell me in my prayer’s that it’s ok). I think we should be ultra democratic: If you want goods or services from the government or programs for the less lucky mark the boxes on your taxes of the goods or services you want and have it taken out of your income. I’m marking schools roads police fire and yes healthcare for poor kids too not their fault their parents are deadbeats or less lucky than me. You other folks can mark the give my money to people who can afford solar before it’s economically viable amongst other things. 4. Public service is just that service wages earned should be nominal to nothing and you should be paid in future tax credits for income you will earn later for how sacrifice now.
Jesse (isn’t that a girl’s name) Kelly?
He never competed in the market place in his life.
Doesn’t know a thing about capitalism.
Couldn’t cut it in the real world.
He is nothing but a privileged white kid that works for Daddy. He didn’t study hard and he couldn’t compete with the smart kids. So daddy had to rescue him. And before that? He was on the public dole in the Marines. Everything paid for by the taxpayers. So no private enterprise or initiative HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
Hey here is an idea: How about we cut Jesse’s Vet benefits and save us some money? Hell no! Jesse the mooch earned his dole. But apparently not you and I. Even though we worked hard in school, competed hard in the private sector for jobs, and paid into Social Security our whole lives. Something Jesse (isn’t that a girl’s name) has never had to do. But then what do you expect from an unread rich little white kid? Depth of character? Or lies?
Now this leech wants to get in the real big money: A Congresman’s salary and benefits for life. Plus all those kickbacks and under the table lobby money. Bah humbug. Kelly is nothing but a white punk on Fox News dope hoping to suck up easy public tax money for his private use.
I’ve stepped in better.
Send this sluggard with the girl’s name back to Texas and Daddy where he belongs…
Reading the story and all the crap above all I can think of are “what a bunch of hypocrites” As to reporting by this scrap paper TW, did you make a peep when Obama said we have fewer states then what we have, or when he fabricated a story about some woman to push Obama care? etc.etc.. Or for that matter anything a liberal might of said wrong? (hypocrite)?
As to the rest of the clowns commenting above.. I think your words speak for themselves. Politics has come to a point where you don’t vote for someone because you like them, you for for someone because you like the other guy even less.
As to what the democratic party has become, anyone who still calls themself a democrat speaks volumes on their moral compass and knowledge of the real world and not their little utopia.
Now I am not sticking up for Jesse Kelly. Working in a family business is not a piece of cake. I used to work in a family business. It really was no fun. I was stuck with all the over time hours. Paid on a salary. My parents told me I had to work harder,so employees think I get no special treatment. You think there is no competetion among family members? Now that is ignorant. When you have a huge family 6 brothers,and 6 sister. The competion gets fierce. Just because you own a business does not mean life is on easy street. You are responsible for many people bread,butter,lives.Now parents want their kids to succeed,so they make the family business learning classroom. I also started out on the bottom,doing hard core labor jobs. All in all I am glad I quit in the family business. It stinks having a sibling for a boss. They take advantage of the fact,that I am a sibling.
“The economy will not benifit from lowering minimum wage. A person cannot live fairly at all off of minimum wage. Employers are not the only hard workers here. If you want people to be motivated,pay a fair wage. Lowering minimum wage this country will be more like a 3rd world country. People deserve a better living. People who work hard.”
I haven’t made minimum wage since I was 15 years old even in meanial jobs so I guess my employers saw either potential or a stronger work ethic than my coworkers. If you do average work you make average wages don’t blame economics for someones lack luster performance silly silly.
Come on folks …don’t you ever get tired of hearing promises from both sides they can’t keep or just saying stuff the people want to hear just to get their vote? Myself I am getting tired of the trashing of both sides. No one and I mean no one is perfect. I would bet that everyone of you out there has done something bad in your life at one time or another. How would you like it if someone dug up things from your past and just stretched the truth to make it sound better for those telling it and make you look really bad when in fact it was nothing at all? This is what is happening on both sides. I am getting tired of hearing the crap from all parties. I am an Independent and the way it is going I may just vote for the person not heard from…..just don’t know yet.
Best commercial ever. Grandpa mouthing the words the kelly says.
PRICELESS!
I have worked with Jesse several years ago. He is very capable of doing the job. No he was not handed every thing from daddy…….. He worked his butt of 10 to 12 hours a day.
If he was a democrat we would hear none of this BS. Jesse will make southern Arizona a better place as our congressman.
Yeah Valiant,Jesse James was a girl who robbed trains….yeah its a girls name….isn’t barack obongo a girls name? Oh thats the first gay presidents name…..Hmm……
No its not performance issues. I know plenty of minimum wage people who work hard. Its employers who are too cheap. Its the economy,and the expense of every thing. People can’t help it NAFTA passed. Many good paying jobs went overseas. Well don’t just take for granted that people who don’t believe minimum wage should be gotten rid of,make minimum wage. Millions of people don’t even have jobs right now. People who want to work. Any person at any time can lose a job. Don’t have you’re nose so high in the air. People cannot eat on minimum wage the way it is. What really rare today is HUMAN COMPASSION. People having NO HUMAN COMPASSION will destroy humanity.
Wow, guys. Tucson and our Congressional District won’t get any better if you’re exchanging insults at a 3rd-grade level.
Mr. Kelly has made these sorts of claims before – everything is better with more oil. In particular, he has claimed that if we produced more oil, gas prices would be slashed. This ignores the fact that Obama (of all people) has increased oil drilling substantially. Our production had been falling for decades – Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II all oversaw reductions in production: http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.c…
(This is verifiable in a number of places but I thought that was the clearest explanation)
For the first time since the mid-’90’s, we produce more than we import. But prices haven’t dropped, even with massive subsidies (that raise our taxes!) for the companies that sell that oil.
So for those who are upset at the author for pointing this small-fish big exaggeration, it’s because it’s part of a pattern of casual falsehoods.
I have no doubt that Mr. Kelly is a hard worker and believes what he says, but I don’t find his conviction in falsehoods comforting.
But hey, I just look up facts.
A good politician has to hear the good,and bad comments. If they don’t want the bad comments then the politicians should get out of politics. Polititicians have to debate,so they better be used to good,and bad comments. If Jesse Kelly wants to be in the lime light…then he better know what his constitutes,and non constitutes are writing about him.
If politicians get rid of minimum wage,then we are just like a 3rd world country. Only difference is in 3rd world countries the cost of living is lower. We will all be eating bugs. The 1% wealthy won’t give a darn.How sad is that?
Kelly said he hates Washington, so we shouldn’t vote for him.
He hate regulation’s, how can a country survive w/o regulation’s?
He knows nothing about the oil business.
How does Jesse even meet the residency requirements to run in Arizona?
I thought he worked and lived in Texas. Oh, and the 25$ hr to work at a McDs is a recycled canard
from previous Republican candidates although the name of the employer changes with every new
whopper. (sorry Burger King)
jesse kelly touched my knee
@impulsenine we are a net exporter of gasoline not oil. Although you’re right being an exporter of oil or gas doesn’t really influence the price unless we export a huge amount which would be a waste of natural resources.
@noname wages someone earns has nothing to do with compassion. I’m not here to be companssionate when I hire people nor when you buy goods or services (maybe you are but if you are let me sell you stuff because you’ll over pay). Maybe I’m to much of a capitalist but the harder people work for me and the more production they create the more I justify paying them. I have a drywaller who I pay $12 an hour and next to him I have a someone who I pay $25 because he has a much higher skill set. Neither wage is wrong and neither is minimum so I’m hard pressed to understand the logic of compassion in business and if we abolished minimum wage what I pay people that help would not go down because they have SKILLS. Also surprisingly enough 3rd world countries besides housing are not that much cheaper than living here. Can you believe beans and milk are more expensive in MX than here?
Ignorance is the real issue here. Our government wants us to stay uninformed and impressionable. Its time we rise up and completely reinvent our government. None of these pricks running for congress are trustworthy.
Missing Joe Sweeney’s never-ending run for public office, I’m hoping that Jesse kelly will become the new Joe. If Joe hadn’t passed away, I’m sure the Koch brothers would have loved HIM, too. Run, Jesse, run!
Before — Jesse Kelly said:
““If you have any ideas on that, I’m all ears. I would love to eliminate the program,” he told the Tucson Weekly in 2009 when asked about his thoughts on eliminating Social Security. When asked in a separate radio interview whether Social Security should be privatized, he said: “You must! … Right now, you have to take steps to reform it, to privatize it, to phase it out.”
Now —
For his entire political career (which is about three years old), Kelly has insisted that Social Security and Medicare needed to be privatized. In multiple interviews, he said that both programs were examples of government failures—and that government should have little to no role in helping people in their retirement age or with their health-care needs because government assistance made things worse.
But last week, Kelly’s new position emerged on his Web page: “I support preserving, protecting and strengthening Social Security and Medicare. I do not support privatizing, eliminating or phasing out these programs in any way.” That’s a dramatic change in position—and weirdly enough, Kelly and his supporters refuse to acknowledge that anything has changed.
As a permanently disabled American, I would starve without my social security benefits! I was born handicapped, thanks to drugs given to my mother while pregnant. Unable to sue anyone, I have been saved by this program. There are so many others like me, and Kelly would leave us to homelessness and starvation! Do not vote for someone who cares little for the less fortunate.