Posted on 01/04/2006 5:14:08 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
January 4, 2006 - 07:58
Once in a while, it happens. TV serves up human drama in real time. It happened on this morning's Today show when the bereaved son of one of the Sago miners confronted the governor of West Virginia over allegedly lax safety enforcement in the mine.
Matt Lauer began with a stand-up interview, at the disaster site, of WV Governor Joe Manchin. Lauer then brought in John Bennett, the adult son of Jim Bennett, one of the miners who died, who stood on Lauer's other side.
Bennett described the history of violations in the mine. Lauer turned to Manchin to inquire about the violations, and Manchin launched into his response when Bennett took matters into his own hands. He spoke across Lauer directly to Manchin: "with all these roof falls and everything that has happened over the multiple months, not weeks, months, that this has happened," Manchin began to reply when Bennett again cut him off: "and they still send men in there?"
It was a poignant moment, as one's heart when out to the son. At the same time, it was an ultimate political moment: a politician on live national TV confronted by a bereaved constituent suggesting the governor's responsibiity for the death of his father and others.
Manchin remained calm and, without directly responding to Bennett's question, described the seals in the mine that had been blown out.
Lauer followed with an apt question to Manchin of his own: "when the average person across the country hears that this mine had been cited for 46 violations as recently as late December, it is hard to understand why it was open for business on Monday when that explosion occured."
Manchin replied by stating that even one fatality is too many, that mining is an inherently dangerous operation, and by mentioning that his own family had suffered a mining death [his uncle was killed in an infamous 1968 disaster in which 78 miners died]. "I know exactly how the families feel. I've been there."
Lauer turned back to Bennett, who seemed on the verge of putting another question to Manchin, when Lauer deflected it, asking Bennett "what questions would you like to put to the mine operators?" Bennett paused, palpably changing directions, and suggested that, for fear of losing their jobs, the men were afraid to speak out about the unsafe mine conditions. Bennett decried the absence of the United Mine Workers to protect the men in the non-union Sago mine.
Bennett conducted himself with dignity, as did Manchin, who is clearly in the crisis of his political life. There were no winners or losers, simply a spontaneous human moment, brought to us in real time.
Always loved it when MSHA dropped in for a visit at Tennessee Coal Company. It was always such a happy time.
Another example of just how poor the MSM are at doing their thing.
I understand the anger of the families, but I wonder if the mine had been closed while safety issues were addressed, would the miners have gotten paid?
What I can't understand (I'm no miner) is why these mines were underground rather than a strip mine. All the graphics I've seen show that the mine itself is only 260 ft down, but the shaft is 2 miles or so. Does this mean that the mine is under a mountain?
That reminds me of way back when in junior high our social studies class had a member from some union come to speak to the class. All I can remember is my impression that he must be a member of the Mafia - LOL. He was scary.
Yes. I wish these so called journalists would stop with the commentary and editorializing. Just give us the facts. We can figure out the truth.
It seems to me that the media can't be blamed for reporting what they were being told: that 12 miners had survived.
The blame, such as it is, would seem to lie with either the mine or the government officials who prematurely and erroneously informed the families and the media that 12 had survived.
May not be relevant here, but I seem to recall environmentalists being opposed to the safer forms of mining.
Let's hear what the citations were for before we judge. My father has a business that has unnannouced OSHA inspections. The inspector told my father that if he comes back to his boss without any citations, his boss will grill him for not doing his job. It is impossible to not get warnings, citations, etc when getting an inspection.
I can't recall hearing anything about mine safety since the last big mining accident. Now, old media is here to save the day. After the fact.
Coal mining is inherently a highly dangerous dangerous occupation.
I haven't seen any statistics, but I do know that fatal accidents are in a long-term trend downwards. Partly this is due to fewer men in the mines because of automation, but it is also due to improved safety standards.
But when an accident occurs, the search immediately starts to find out whose "fault" it was, without any serious consideration even being given to the possibility that it wasn't really anybody's fault.
I don't blame the media .. or the officials
It was a snow ball effect from a phone call about the crew being found and that vitals were being check
one thing lead to another and everyone starting rejoicing before anything was confirmed
It was a sad tragic of events
With that said .. I don't like and have never liked the media exploiting family members grief for ratings
This is like blaming the governors of Massachusetts and New Jersey for 9/11 because the aircraft took off from airports in Boston and Newark.
But highly entertaining.
Details still seem to be sketchy, but in some quarters he is be being blamed for running with the original "good news", giving the media a credible source, instead of waiting for the company's confirmation.
From what I gather, he apparently got the news from family members. A report on Fox early this a.m. seemed to suggest there might have been an accidentally intercepted or overheard cellphone call involving the rescue people that may have been misinterpreted.
Manchin mentioned the inherently dangerous nature of mining, and also mentioned that the death toll last year was a record low.
Dangerous, not dangerous dangerous.
Because the son is a liberal moron without a clue.
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