Clean Coal?

Yesterday, Obama's campaign made a rare misstep-- a stupid radio spot in favor of "clean coal" that attacks Romney for being pro-environmental. Listen to it; it's sickening. Our pals are CREDO were as disgusted as we were. Their petition asks Democrats and independents to "Tell the Obama campaign: Drop your cynical pro-coal ad... The people of Ohio know that fossil fuel pollution tends to punish most those who can least afford to move away from it," the group says "an ad suggesting that President Obama is more coal-loving than Romney isn't just cynical, it's misleading. From lung disease for generations of miners who have been left with no choice but to work in coal mines, to water pollution which increases cancer rates, to power plant pollution which causes everything from asthma to neurological damage. And of course the climate pollution from burning coal is an ominous and growing cloud over all of our futures."

Ironically, on the same day, across the board in northern West Virginia, that state's most populist candidate for federal office, Sue Thorn, had a letter published by the Post-Gazette

I cannot understand how U.S. Rep. David McKinley could criticize United Steelworkers president Leo Gerard and say he is disrespectful of coal miners ("Bad for Coal," July 29 letters), when Mr. McKinley consistently puts corporate profits before miners' lives.

On July 26, Mr. McKinley and other House lawmakers put workers at risk and voted for House Resolution 4078, a bill to freeze "significant federal regulation." This bill is a death sentence for miners. HR 4078 would block new federal rules to prevent combustible dust explosions like the Upper Big Branch disaster, which killed 29 miners in West Virginia in 2010. Mr. McKinley even voted against an amendment to exempt regulation of combustible dust from the bill.

HR 4078 would also prevent the Mine Safey and Health Administration from implementing a new rule to limit miners' exposure to coal dust and prevent black lung disease. In the last 40 years, black lung killed or helped kill 70,000 coal miners and rates have doubled in the last decade.

Mr. McKinley has also failed to support the Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety act, comprehensive legislation meant to prevent mine disasters.

Mr. McKinley's criticisms of Mr. Gerard ring hollow coming from someone who puts coal company profits before coal miner safety. Maybe Mr. McKinley's comments are more reflective of the fact that his campaign started receiving funding from Massey Energy's Don Blankenship in 2010, shortly after the Upper Big Branch disaster and Mr. Blankenship's contributions exceeded Federal Election Committee rules. While Mr. McKinley's biggest funders are coal companies and he may be a friend of theirs, he's no friend of coal miners.

Obama's a lot better than McKinely... Sue's better than both of them. The DCCC is studiously ignoring her race, although it's one of the most winnable anywhere in the country. If she's going to win, it's because grassroots donors continue to reach deep and help her. You can do that here on our Blue America page