A friend of coal is a friend of mine
Republicans are trying to make hay out of comments Joe Biden made while campaigning in Ohio last week, in which he seems to say that he and Barack Obama oppose the construction of new coal plants in the United States. At issue is so-called clean coal technology, which proponents say allows power plants to produce energy without such a detrimental environmental impact. (Critics call clean coal an oxymoron.)
"We're not supporting clean coal," Biden can be seen telling a voter. "No coal plants here in America."
That position would be at odds with Obama's. The Illinois senator has supported clean coal efforts in his home state and said in his acceptance speech at last month's Democratic convention that as president he would invest in the technology. It's politically significant, because coal remains a key industry in the western part of Virginia, in Ohio, and elsewhere.
So is this another instance of Biden -- he who said Obama should have instead tapped Hillary Clinton for veep, and that a campaign ad aired by his own campaign was 'terrible' -- stepping on the message?
Obama's campaign insists no.
"Senator McCain knows that Senator Obama and Senator Biden support clean coal technology. Senator Biden’s point is that China is building coal plants with outdated technology every day, and the United States needs to lead by developing clean coal technologies," spokesman David Wade said in a statement. "If Senator McCain is so committed to clean coal, then why hasn’t he joined Senators Obama and Biden in announcing their support for the bipartisan energy proposal before the Senate today that would offer tax credits for clean coal projects?"
McCain's campaign is trying to keep the controversy alive, hastily announcing today a new group it's calling the Coalition to Protect Coal Jobs, to "help spread the message about the importance of clean coal technology and the advantages of tapping the country's vast coal reserves."
UPDATE: McCain spokesman Brian Rogers says in a statement: “Video doesn’t lie, but the Obama campaign certainly does ... Senator Biden’s sincere opposition to coal power shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the role it will play in securing our energy future."
"Senator McCain knows that Senator Obama and Senator Biden support clean coal technology."
Yeah, right. In complete opposition to their nutjob base supporters in the Democratic Party. They support "clean" coal just like they support drilling in that "drilling compromise" that the House passed last week.
They'll say anything to get your vote. When it gets time to pass legislation, however, they'll do what their nutjob base supporters who write 'em checks and knock on doors during election campaigns. Biden slipped up and told the truth for a change.
Listen to the video. He says "King Coal", not "Clean Coal." Ya know, like "Big Oil?"
At least Senator Biden is out there talking to voters and to reporters directly, unlike Governor Palin who hides behind her campaign handlers. So, honest Joe makes a few gaffes -- it makes him seem more like our neighbor, more like a baseball dad and, you betcha, he can learn everything there is to know about foreign policy by January 20. Hey, wait a minute. Senator Biden already knows foreign policy and domestic economics, and he can even balance family and career, too. American voters don't have to wait for a candidate to get ready; American voters already have a candidate who is ready! You've got my vote, JOE! Obama-Biden
Like one person already said
The audio/sound and the video do not lie. All the Obama media macines can spin any way they want but here it is in video.
The fact is this is Biden's position and the real Obama's position.
This is typical Obama/Biden. Say one thing to particular constituent and something else to another. Can we say cling to your guns and religion quote from Obama.
Let's face it Obama is your typical politician. He is not this change agent that the media wants you to believe.
I'm sure the main stream media will not report the facts on this. The major point of all of this is McCain is for comprehensive energy (includes Oil, Coal and Nuclear) whereas Obama is not for a true comprehensive energy plan that would include Nuclear and Coal. Obama is also for limited Oil exploration.
Good grief!!!
Was Biden properly vetted?
I swear he's a double agent for the McCain campain!
Biden is a nut job!.... just a few days ago, in front of a West Virginia crowd of coal miners, he proclaimed himself a "coal miner too"... seems he somehow linked working class Scranton to coal mining to himself being a coal miner. The way this guys mind works scares me! The US is the Saudi Arabia of coal. Any presidential candidate who is so beholden to the campaign contributions of major environmental groups (the majority of whom are actually led by millionaire businessmen, or have businessmen on their boards, who profit from locking up US natural resources) that they cant acknowledge how essential this natural resource truly is to the US economy certainly does not deserve a vote.
If Gov. Sarah Palin even said HALF of the idiot things Joe Biden has said then they'd be an outcry in the liberal mainstream media for her to resign due to her stupidity. But not with Joe Being Joe. It's OK for him to say stupid things since that's what he always does. Joe Being Joe gets a free ride from the press who are giving this whole ticket a free ride.
Shameful. Absolutely shameful.
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