Word that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was in spitting distance of West Virginia set the wheels in motion for some to claim desperation. But it turns out, from what I understand, it was never in the plans. (Read Blog)
It is possible that John McCain and Barack Obama could both end up with 269 electoral votes -- one shy of a clinch. That means West Virginia would get one vote for president and guess who makes it? (Read Blog)
It's so diverse, it includes two of Hillary Clinton's former superdelegates and one person who told Obama not to even bother campaigning here. (Read Blog)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- An off-the-cuff interview with Democratic nominee for Vice President Joe Biden posted on YouTube reveals that Biden apparently doesn't want coal plants in the United States.
The video appears to have been shot in Ohio while Biden was campaigning.
"No coal plants here in America," said Biden to a woman asking questions about clean coal.
Biden says China is building two dirty coal plants every week, which is polluting the U.S. and causing people to die.
"Guess what, China is going to burn 300 years of bad coal unless we can figure out how to clean their coal up, because it's going to ruin your lungs," said Biden. "There's nothing we can do about it."
Representative Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) says Biden's talking about jobs in the Mountain State.
"It was a very unscripted moment as many we find in this YouTube generation, but this is where you're speaking the truth and your true feelings come out," said Capito. "He was very adamant in his opinion that no clean coal, no coal plants here in America. To me that's Americans jobs and West Virginia jobs."
"We know there are issues with coal that need to be addressed, but we also know in order to reach energy independence coal has to be part of this," she said.
Tom Vogel, the Obama campaign spokesperson in West Virginia, said Biden is actually saying he is in favor of clean coal technology despite Biden's words that "we are not supporting clean coal."
"Some people might say they (Obama and Biden) are on two different pages here," Tom Vogel said. "No. If you read into what he is saying- he is talking about clean coal technology and the fact that we do have to make that investment before we proceed,"
Watch the interview with Biden by clicking on the YouTube video below.
The following is the verbatim conversation between Biden and the woman in the crowd.
Woman: "Wind and solar are flourishing here in Ohio, so why are you supporting clean coal?" Biden: "We are not supporting clean coal. Guess what? China is building two every week. Two dirty coal plants and it's polluting the United States. It's causing people to die." Woman: "So will you support wind and solar (rest inaudible)... Biden: "Absolutely before anybody did. The first guy to introduce a global warming bill was me twenty two years ago. The first guy to support solar energy was me 26 years ago. It came out of Delaware. But guess what? China is gonna burn 300 years of bad coal unless we figure out how to clean their coal up because it's gonna ruin your lungs. And there's nothing we can do about it. No coal plants here in America. Build 'em if they're gonna build 'em over there. Make 'em clean because they're killing you. See ya. Thank you."
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Posted by: underground on Oct 1, 2008 at 10:53 PM i think u all are wrong.umwa supports obama so do i.here is why.http://www.newsweek.com/id/161218 Posted by: DG on Sep 26, 2008 at 02:08 PM You all are just a bunch of BIGOTS! If would listen to what Biden is saying you would understand. He is not against the coal minining industry but rather wants to find ways to develop clean coal. It figures some idiot republican would feed off this video. I will still vote for Obama/Biden. Change we can count on!! Posted by: Jim on Sep 25, 2008 at 08:24 PM Yes Sir Master Biden thats ok we will just go ahead and vote for you because we are loyal Democrats, then we will just starve to death,not it would take a complete fool to vote for you after you making that ststement,COAL is our living in West Virginia. Posted by: anonymous on Sep 24, 2008 at 11:52 PM i dont know what your griping about, you elected a democrat for the governor of wv, who also supports obama, you want mccain in then put a republican in wv. i am a registered democrat but i'm not voting that way this year.i'm voting for the lesser of the 2 evils. looks like i am gonna change my party for good. get manchin out too. Posted by: J.E.N. on Sep 24, 2008 at 11:28 PM This is not a realistic idea since so much of our energy comes from coal.
I really would not worry about enough not to vote for the obama/biden ticket. Posted by: mike on Sep 24, 2008 at 11:27 PM What will happen to the coal bowl? Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 24, 2008 at 08:32 PM As important as coal is to WV it is still not a solution to our energy problems. I'm not saying I agree with no coal power plants, but we do need a candidate that will get the ball rolling on alternative energy sources that don't rely on a non-renewable resource. Posted by: Daryl on Sep 24, 2008 at 03:57 PM That stupid statment, "No coal plants in America," wins you a free ticket to go hunting with Veep Chaney! Posted by: Eric on Sep 24, 2008 at 02:10 PM Joe-
Thank you for your input. Now, please.....get back to 3rd perios before your middle school principal finds out you're misusing the library computers.
Name calling and no real info behind your debate....typical liberal. Posted by: Joe on Sep 24, 2008 at 10:40 AM Can it be that Biden had a slip up and didn't say it right,oh no McCain has NEVER done that or his VP who thinks Bush Doctrine means Huh? Anyone who thinks coal smoke/fumes doesn't hurt the air we breath or nature only has to look at polluted streams around here and trees dying from coal dust spread by trucks.Sure cleaner coal is the answer but more money needs to be allotted on other sources too.So vote for McSame if you want,More of the Republican economy and more on rebuilding Iraq's economy and more on attacking Iran and more on putting Social Security in Wall Streets hands like McCain and Bush tried to do 2 years ago oh yeah he's for change now,was America first then Straight talk then Victory Express then he decided to copy you know who,,,Change .With Palin he can see Russia from her perch in Alaska so she can warn us"The Russians are coming ,The Russians are coming" and she knows more about energy than anyone in the world? Posted by: Caligula on Sep 24, 2008 at 10:26 AM McCain Wins!!
McCain Wins!! Posted by: Molly on Sep 24, 2008 at 10:05 AM Biden is to Obama what Cheney is to Bush.
The boss! Obama is running on change from typical Washington, but you couldn't tell it by his choice for Vice President or the Kennedy support. Obama is and will continue to be a puppet. Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 24, 2008 at 09:54 AM You know. I might not even vote this year. I can't tell who would be the worst President! Posted by: Janette on Sep 24, 2008 at 09:53 AM These Elected officals in WV are not Democrats or even Americans! Just like C. Roberts isn't for the working coal miners. Remember the slective strike, Hearts, Minds and smiles that they used to divide and destroy our union! Here is where Obama fits in with these decievers, being used to divide and conquer us is their goal/strategy. This is the oldest trick in the book used to lead and destroy people. Coal and compressed natural gas is a fast answer to all of our transportation and energy needs. They want to continue being a part of the largest transfer of wealth in the history of the world to the middle east. Out of our pockets into the leaders of the new world order. These people let durgs run rampant in this country, while attacking our 2nd ammendent rights. Stop and look, an uninformed, confused, needy and unarmed people will be easily controlled. Don't drink their kool aid and get out to vote against all of these while we still have that right. May God be with us ! Posted by: Eric Hutchinson on Sep 24, 2008 at 09:17 AM Folks, she cleary asked "Why are you supporting CLEAN COAL?"
To which he eventually replied, "No coal plants in America".
He's not for clean coal technology......he's totally against coal......just like the environmentalist wacko who asked the question.
Notice, she didn't ask "Why are you supporting COAL?"
She asked "why are you supporting CLEAN COAL?"
Theses people are against coal altogether. WAKE UP UNIONS! Think for yourselves and quit listening to what your corrupt, ignorant puppet-like union bosses are telling you! The Dems ARE NOT for you, and do not have your best interest or your industry's interest in mind!
They are in bed with the environmentalist lobby wack-jobs, and they will DESTROY the coal mining industry and continue to run fuel prices through the roof, because of their unwillingness to explore new fuel technologies like coal gasification. God forbid they tick off the tree huggers who are lining their pockets! They want coal & oil shut down! Posted by: margaret on Sep 24, 2008 at 08:24 AM If Biden were to poke his bony finger at me in my face, he'll pull back a nub. I am for coal miners and there safety, and against mountain top removal. As for John Amos plant, the emmisions have taken the paint off my house & car and gave my family orange afros!! Anyone want to trade property? It also has dioxin in the soil from the '60s due to the old plants in Nitro. Not including the Simpsons, have you ever seen a 3 eyed fish? Posted by: Joe on Sep 24, 2008 at 08:02 AM Wake up people, Obama will move us back to the stone age with Al Gore. We will all be eating beans and they will be flying around in their private jets consuming more energy than the town you live in. All these liberals like Barbara Streisand preaching to the "poor pee-ons" and living life like they are kings. Posted by: MrObvious on Sep 24, 2008 at 04:42 AM I love how the Obama camp is doing damage control. They certainly don't want the truth about Obama getting out in WV, that he is against coal, all coal. They didn't expect Biden to let the cat out of the bag, at least not until AFTER election day! LOL Posted by: gina stafford on Sep 24, 2008 at 12:53 AM Obama is against coal, my husband works for Massey coal, he voted to raise taxes on coal. Look on u-tube he tells a guy in Nevada there is no such thing as clean coal, Harry Reid Senate majority leader says Coal makes us sick. Green peace supports Obama to. Check out there web site about coal. Obama goes to berlin to talk about, no fossil fuels, Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 24, 2008 at 12:03 AM This make you all support obama and the anti NRA things the united mine works union? good job folks. i am not saying the rep's have it all figured out but if you vote for the dems you drink too much of the kool aid. Posted by: Binky on Sep 23, 2008 at 10:10 PM This is the same Joe Biden who claims President FDR went on tv to talk to the American people in 1929 when the stock market crashed. Of course, FDR wasn't president then, nor was television in public use at the time. Posted by: TK on Sep 23, 2008 at 09:43 PM The way I took this video is that Biden is simply against "dirty coal". I know Obama has stated in the past multiple times that he supports clean coal technology. Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 23, 2008 at 09:28 PM McCain came out last week against mountain top mining. THis is just against coal plants NEW ONES. We are still going to have to supply current plants, steel mills and EXPORT BABY EXPORT that is where coal will boom. Don't read to much into this people. Posted by: davidcook on Sep 23, 2008 at 09:15 PM this is really what cecil roberts was talking about when he said we are going to have a work stoppage. he forgot to mention it would be permanant. so umwa vote obama he will provide you with a minimum wage job when he shuts down all the coal mines. Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 23, 2008 at 08:37 PM Yeah, I really would like for someone to interview Manchin and Rahall and see what they say about this. That should make them see just how stupid they were for not listening to the people of WV. Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 23, 2008 at 08:24 PM I work in coal and have no problem with those statements what so ever and I am a McCain supporter. A great deal of our coal gets exported already and will only increase over the next few years. WE need to get away from nonrenewable sources and go to renewable ones. This will help us to become a big exporter in coal to other countries like oil is to us now. Besides steel mills will continue to need coal and this will not diminishes product whatsoever. Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 23, 2008 at 08:18 PM Well, this shows again the BIG snub that Obama and Biden have given the state of WV. Let's show him how he can be snubbed! Don't vote for him! The UMWA president is an idiot if he backs OBAMA! Yes, you are right, RA however, you cannot just close everything that is run by coal and stop mining! You have no idea, what coal runs or powers! If we stopped producing coal, we might as well give up everything, because we sould be living life back in 1900! I don't think you are ready for that! Posted by: Gary on Sep 23, 2008 at 07:14 PM Biden is a closed minded idiot.
I don't think WV or the United States can afford their kind of "change"!
Cecil Roberts, what are you thinking????
WSAZ, would you please see that the NBC network see's the U-Tube video. Posted by: ra on Sep 23, 2008 at 06:56 PM so your husbands will still have their jobs, but sons won't have to go to work in the mines...and you'll all live to be very old! wv isn't repressed because of leadership, but because we are mostly rural communities spread out over mountains. Unless you want the big cities to move to your newly leveled mountaintops and fill in this beautiful state with businesses, highways, plants, factories, and traffic, i'd be putting your money on new fuels and preserving the beautiful mountains as they are! I chose to live here knowing jobs are harder to come by because I enjoy the slower country life and don't need a big income to be happy. I just need the beautiful songs of the wv mountains to lull me to sleep at night and to wake me in the morning. there won't be an explosion of jobs in wv regardless of who the president is!But obama wants to bring back al the business that moved over seas and keep those jobs here for americans instead of giving tax breaks to companies moving out of country! Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 23, 2008 at 06:43 PM omg what is wrong with him we got alot of coal.he trying to take jobs away from the american people give it to all the muslims over seas .he just like obama .they are not for thr american people. Posted by: annoymous on Sep 23, 2008 at 06:39 PM Time to get Cecil and his table of puppets back together again for a news conference. If you think they care about the rank and file, ask Mr. Roberts to show you his tax return from last year. After that, take a look at the traveling he did and who paid for that. I think you'll find the UMWA President keeping company with many who also care nothing about the membership he represents. Do not go to the polls with blinders on in November. Cecil Roberts does not own your vote. How can the UMWA support a ticket that wants to make coal a thing of the past? Posted by: Rocker on Sep 23, 2008 at 06:32 PM I hope our coal miners see this story because it definititely tells where Biden and Obama stand on coal. These people are in the tank with the enviro nazis and they do not want coal at all. Miners, take a look also at Obama and Bidens gun record. Posted by: ra on Sep 23, 2008 at 06:22 PM It took over 360 million years to make that coal we are burning. What do you propose we do when that runs out? Our grandchildren will have no coal. It IS time to explore alternative fuels. In the mean time, we will still be burning the coal you want us to dig from our wv mountains. Money needs to be invested for the future...we cannot just worry about today and tomorrow...we have to think ahead. We have to change our ways and save our planet from the rising carbon emissions and work together to bring our country ahead in the global market of fuel WITHOUT raping our mountains! Obama-Biden the change we need now! Posted by: no to biden on Sep 23, 2008 at 06:17 PM we say no to biden on election day Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 23, 2008 at 05:23 PM Does this shock anyone. Correct me if I am wrong, but this is who the Govorner of the "Great State of West Virgina is Supporting". I would like to see the national press get this video but, I am sure the story will not be ran by any of the major national news stations. Posted by: A on Sep 23, 2008 at 05:06 PM All of the people that are planning on voting Obama need to think about this. His promise of "Change" is only going to leave you with exactly that. "Change" in your pocket. No new jobs for WV. And higher taxes. So think before you vote!!! Posted by: Andrew on Sep 23, 2008 at 04:48 PM He says "make 'em clean." Can't you understand basic english? He was against dirty coal, not clean coal. Non-news. Posted by: Tim A on Sep 23, 2008 at 04:47 PM And this is the man that our Governor and the WV Democratic party wants to be our next Vice-President. THIS DEMOCRAT is not falling for it. Join me and many other WV democrats and vote for McCain. Consider ousting other democrats such as Manchin, Rockefeller, Byrd, Rahall, Mollahan and some of our state Democratic leaders. Perhaps some republicians can make CHANGE for the good happen right here in WV... Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 23, 2008 at 04:37 PM Tom Vogel, the Obama campaign spokesperson in West Virginia, said Biden is actually saying he is in favor of clean coal technology despite Biden's words that "we are not supporting clean coal."
Obama/Biden '08 - Lies you can believe in Posted by: WOW on Sep 23, 2008 at 04:15 PM WONDER IF MR. ROBERTS AND THE UMWA WILL BACK HIM NOW?? Posted by: Somone on Sep 23, 2008 at 04:14 PM Well thats not a good thing for WV. I was hoping we would be put on the map for the clean coal idea. Posted by: Joe on Sep 23, 2008 at 03:56 PM This is one of the people that is going to help guide the america public in the world decesions? Does he realize that if we do away with coal burning power plants that the world is going to be in the dark? Does he realize that it takes billions of dollars to replace one power plant and it doesn't happen over night? We as the general public cannot afford to replace the electricity made by coal burning power plants with alternate sources of power producers and the government sure cannot because we are spending billions bailing out other countries economy while ours is dying, not to mention billions to bail out companies here in the U.S. that are bankrupting while giving thier CEO and Board of Directors million dollar bonus for running the company into the ground. We are the AMERICAN public need to wake up and get a new set of minds in power before we are taken over by some third world country. I just don't think the canidates we have running are the right people for the job Posted by: concerned viewer on Sep 23, 2008 at 03:50 PM this is what i hate about politics. often, the candidates are both against something that i'm for, or vice versa. john mccain supports the war. i don't. now this guy doesn't support the future of coal, well i do. so who do i vote for? Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 23, 2008 at 03:46 PM I am confused isn't the UMWA supporting Obama/Biden....Why???? Posted by: D. on Sep 23, 2008 at 03:45 PM Obama and Biden stand about as much chance as a snowball in you know where (the hot place) of getting my vote. McCain-Palin '08! I can't stand either Obama or Biden. They don't care one little bit about what happens in our area they just want our votes. NEVER! Posted by: EARL on Sep 23, 2008 at 03:45 PM ONCE AGAIN CITZEN JOURNALISTS ARE DOING THE JOB OUR MEDIA (INCLUDING WSAZ)WILL NOT DO.NOW I KNOW WHY YOU DIDNT POST MY COMMENTS FROM ME THIS MORNING.YOU TOOK MY COMMENTS AND MADE THEM INTO YOUR OWN NEWS STORY AND REMOVED THE STORY I COMMENTED ON.MORE PROOF THAT OUR MEDIA ISNT DOING THEIR JOBS,BUT WILL STEAL IDEAS FROM ANYONE WRITING IN THEIR COMMENTS. GET OFF YOUR BUTTS AND DO SOMETHING INSTEAD OF SITTING THERE,SUCKING DOWN YOUR DIET SODA AND FEEDING YOUR FACE WITH TWINKIES AND TRYING TO DECIDE WHERE YOUR OBAMA CAMPAIGN SIGNS ARE GOING TO GO IN YOUR OFFICE.I AM SURE YOU WILL GET AN AWARD FOR THIS. Posted by: rmb on Sep 23, 2008 at 03:32 PM But yet Idiots will from wv and other coal states will still vote for him and obama...go figure..and of course the umwa supports them Posted by: Donna on Sep 23, 2008 at 03:30 PM Well, I think this did it for WV. No need to come here Obama, you should have went w/ Hillary.. Posted by: jennifer on Sep 23, 2008 at 03:14 PM I was really leaning toward voting for Obama but I have heard quite a few comments from Biden that are starting to change my mind. I really think he is going to be another Cheney. I might not vote at all this year because neither candidate is worthy of it. Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 23, 2008 at 02:38 PM Let's see the UMWA "clarify" this. You're up, Cecil. Posted by: April on Sep 23, 2008 at 02:36 PM Why does UMWA President Cecil Roberts support Obama/Biden? Even Stock Guru Jim Cramer stated on his show "Mad Money" that if Obama wins, coal is in big trouble. He told people to stay away from buying coal company stocks until after the election, because if the Democrats win, coal is gone.
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