As a card carrying leftist, President Obama is a close friend of the radical environmental movement, which strongly believes that the oil industry contributes to global warming and needs to be curtailed. A signature piece of Obama’s agenda has been the cap and trade bill that would cripple the oil industry and invest heavily in alternative sources of energy.

When the BP Gulf oil disaster occurred in April, it was the perfect opportunity for the President to penalize the oil industry, which he obviously despises. An overreaching and illegal moratorium on offshore oil drilling was followed by a de-facto moratorium. Although the moratorium was technically lifted after several excruciating months, very few permits for new drilling are now being issued. This impacts drilling in shallow and deep water sites, as well as onshore.

The loss of jobs has been severe in the Gulf region. According to LSU Professor Joseph R. Mason, the moratorium led to an economic loss of $5 billion and the departure of approximately 20,000 jobs. At a time of rising unemployment, the de-facto moratorium is devastating. The President compounded the misery last week by announcing a five year moratorium on drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. According to Jack Gerard of the American Petroleum Institute, the expanded moratorium will lead to the “loss of tens of thousands of American jobs, billions less in government revenues and an increasing dependence on foreign energy sources.”

During a deep recession, such an irresponsible decision is harmful to our economy and our national security. It makes our country more dependent on foreign sources of oil, funding dictators like Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and tyrants in the Middle East, who use our own money to harm the interests of the United States.

Robert Bradley of the Institute for Energy Research notes that the United States is the only country in the world to declare “war on its domestic oil industry” and prohibit drilling in areas of known reserves. Brazil and other countries are happily accepting the rigs that are being forced to leave the United States.

It seems the administration is purposely working to lose jobs, become more dependent on foreign oil and force motorists to pay higher prices at the pump. This Christmas season, motorists are noticing gasoline prices nearing $3.00 per gallon, a significant increase from last year. In response, the United States is limiting the ability of its domestic oil industry to explore for critical reserves.

Other victims of the administration’s antagonism toward the oil industry are the NBA fans in New Orleans. The Hornets, our professional basketball team, have now been purchased by the NBA after a potential sale to minority owner, Gary Chouest collapsed. Chouest’s company derives its income from the offshore oil industry. The moratorium has been devastating to the fortunes of his company and impacted his ability to purchase the team.

With Chouest bowing out, the NBA will look for a buyer of the team. When a sports league buys a team, it usually means the franchise will be moving. We might be saying goodbye to the New Orleans Hornets and hello to the Seattle Hornets.

Local basketball fans, which have been very supportive of the Hornets, may now lose this entertainment option. If the team leaves, the State of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans will lose much needed tax revenue and plenty of international prestige. The area will also have to say goodbye to millions of dollars worth of positive publicity from being part of such a popular league with worldwide followers.

The administration’s war on the oil industry has claimed many victims indeed.

Jeff Crouere is a political analyst and host of “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 10 p.m. Sundays on WLAE-TV and 7-11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 in New Orleans.