Hillary Sides with Coal Fat Cats. What Will Barack Do? (with poll)

The primary race in West Virginia is heating up and the future of one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world is at stake.

As diaried by Faithfull here, Hillary Clinton went on West Virginia Public Radio this morning and refused to condemn the practice of mountaintop removal mining in West Virginia.  To make matter worse, Hillary appeared to support building at least 10 new coal fired power plants, casting her lot with the promoters of so-called "clean coal."  

Tomorrow, Barack Obama will campaign in West Virginia, and I hope that he will continue to support the majority of West Virginians who oppose turning the Appalachian Mountains into a lifeless pile of rubble.

Every poll taken has shown that West Virginians overwhelmingly oppose mountaintop removal.  What is wrong with Hillary Clinton?  Why would she align herself with the fat cats who are destroying our mountains and communities for short term profit?

(cool picture of one of those fat cats below)

For complete results of the above poll, go here.

Citizens of Appalachia will be watching Obama carefully tomorrow when he comes to West Virginia to see how he responds to Hillary's refusal to stand up for the environment.  If you want to help stop the destruction of the Appalachian Mountains, email Obama and his campaign and urge him to continue his stand against mountaintop removal.  (It also wouldn't hurt to talk the Clinton folks, if you don't think that they are a lost cause already).

•  Because Hillary Clinton is teh stoopid.

  by Sparkalepsy on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 02:29:42 PM PDT

  •  She's wrong on MTR.

    You can at least admit that.

    by faithfull on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 04:02:07 PM PDT

    •  she is wrong on all of it.

      by Sparkalepsy on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 05:46:35 PM PDT

•  Oh yeah,

  Ye olde tip jar.  

  by prankster on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 02:30:52 PM PDT

•  That's a great poster!

  Thanks for sharing it with us.

  by Compostings on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 02:31:57 PM PDT

  •  My pleasure.

    Glad you like it.

    by prankster on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 02:34:40 PM PDT

•  But stopping it might...wait for it...

  wait for it...HAVE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES!!!!

  Booga, booga!

  At least she's an equal opportunity shill: high tech drug industry, rapacious financiers, strip miners, no problem. Can do. Open for business 24/7.

  Experienced.

  by dallasdave on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 02:34:28 PM PDT

  •  Economic consequences like

    Clean water...increased tourism.  Ye gods, we must not have that.

    by prankster on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 02:35:47 PM PDT

  •  check it out

    Check out Obama`s voting record on mining legislation and people in the mining industry who support him.

    by DocbytheBay on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 02:41:05 PM PDT

    •  Obama may not be squeaky clean on coal

      But at least he has the courage to clearly statethat blowing up mountains should not be part of a nation's energy plan.

      by prankster on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 02:52:34 PM PDT

    •  But if he hems and haws if asked about in WV

      tomorrow the way that Clinton did this morning, I'll call him on it here just like this diary calls her on it.

      by prankster on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 06:01:08 PM PDT

•  Interesting

  This is a very interesting story - thanks for shedding light on this!  If Obama plays this right, he can make this devastating for Hillary since WV is one of the states she's relying on in order to catch up in delegates.  Let's see how it plays out.  Major kudos to you, simply for the nuance of it :-)

  by JQanmlstyl on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 02:36:48 PM PDT

•  Love that ad ...

  it is excellent ...

  by A Siegel on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 02:40:20 PM PDT

  •  And the results

    were music to my...eyes?

    GREAT post prankster. Because of a lot of us in the blogosphere, the presidential candidates are paying attention. Obama has said he opposes MTR, and McCain says he will help stop the removal of the mountains. HIllary is our only holdout.

    by faithfull on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 04:04:19 PM PDT

    •  Where and when did McCain say that?

      I have seen that quote attributed to him in one other place.  Do you have any more information?  I was going to note that in the diary if I could have found corroboration.  It is astounding to think that McCain could be better than Clinton on this issue.

      by prankster on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 05:56:21 PM PDT

      •  Earlier this year

        link

        by faithfull on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 06:37:46 PM PDT

    •  What has Senator McCain

      done on this issue?

      McCain is extremely good about saying good things about environmental issues but acting the opposite when the rubber meets the road.

      There is a reason that he received a zero from the LCV.

      See, this for example.

      by A Siegel on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 07:40:34 PM PDT

•  Maybe she's reached the fifth stage: Acceptance.

  It sounds like she's finally accepted that her candidacy is doomed and has decided she might as well make the most of this time by kissing up the corporate fat cats.

  by highfive on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 02:45:16 PM PDT

  •  I doubt it

    I think she still thinks she has a chance. And Big Coal is a VERY powerful player in the current political world. Her campaign coffers will be full tommorrow because of her hedging on MTR.

    by faithfull on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 04:05:20 PM PDT

•  Is there coal in the hills overlooking

  Chappaqua?

  by ben masel on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 03:02:01 PM PDT

•  I just sent the Obama campaign an email

  asking them to say NO to MTR.

  Thanks for the suggestion.

  by Rick Winrod on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 04:25:28 PM PDT

  •  Thanks!

    n/t

    by prankster on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 05:57:30 PM PDT