Mining lobbyist: ‘The president has parked his tanks on our front lawn.’

Mining lobbyist: ‘The president has parked his tanks on our front lawn.’

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This weekend, as President Barack Obama traveled to West Virginia to mourn the deaths of 29 miners in the Massey coal explosion, the mining industry attacked the president with militant right-wing rhetoric. Obama has supported the U.S. coal industry with an agenda of investing “huge subsidies” in the advanced coal technology that he misleadingly calls “clean coal.” His administration has begun to crack down on the industry’s worst safety violators and most egregious practices like mountaintop removal, but has also announced that any limits on carbon pollution would not begin until 2011. The day before Obama praised coal as “the energy that powers our country and powers the world,” National Mining Association spokesman Luke Popovich attacked the president as a military invader of coal country:

"You’d be hard pressed to find a president whose actions have been more warlike on coal. There are those who say the president has parked his tanks on our front lawn, and it’s hard to dispute that."

more:
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/04/26/mining-lobbyist-coal-tanks/

UPDATE:
"Some friendly advice, Luke... before you trump up the war-allusions you might want to tally up the body count of coal miners with the members of your National Mining Association."

:nopity:

Personally, I think the justice department should be pursuing criminal charges against the mining executives who count their profits even as they let their employees die in the mines. Yes, mining is a dangerous occupation by nature, but it can be made muah safer with barely a dent in the bottom line.

The modest fines occasionally levied on mining companies are simply seen as the cost of doing business by many. A few years in prison for manslaughter might shake things up a bit.

The dirty, greedy bastards need some sense knocked into their greedy brains.

Maybe they are confused about what a tank actually looks like.

Give 'em a demonstration. ^_^

:nopity:

Your mine safety record against ANY OTHER MINE before you open your mouth.
My grandfather was a miner back in the early 1900's. BAck when they used canaries for the gas and mules to pull their daily loads.
Back when the companies owed the homes they lived in.
He came over from France because of the jobs here. Became a citizen of this country, where my father was born.
Id like to park a tank on,,,

finally... something that brings us all together. :D