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Coal Miners’ Union Sits Out Presidential Race
National Journal ^ | August 9,2012 | Amy Harder

Posted on 08/09/2012 6:57:15 AM PDT by Hojczyk

After giving then-Sen. Barack Obama a full-throttled endorsement in the 2008 presidential election, the United Mine Workers of America has decided not to endorse either Obama or the presumptive Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, in 2012.

“As of right now, we’ve elected to stay out of this election,” said Mike Caputo, a UMWA official and a Democratic member of the West Virginia House of Delegates. “Our members right now have indicated to stay out of this race, and that’s why we’ve done that.... I don’t think quite frankly that coalfield folks are crazy about either candidate.”

Both candidates are trying to prove otherwise to voters in coal-intensive swing states. Earlier this week the Obama campaign released in Ohio the first coal-issue ad of this cycle, claiming that Romney has flip-flopped his position on coal. The ad includes comments that Romney made as Massachusetts governor in 2003 standing in front of a coal plant, saying that he wouldn’t support jobs that kill people.

For his part, Romney is claiming Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency is waging a war on coal with a slew of regulations.

Caputo also noted that newly discovered resources of shale natural gas found all over the country, including the coal-intensive states of West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, have contributed to coal’s decline as low natural gas prices compel utilities to shift from coal to gas as a power generator.

But politically, the EPA is the culprit for the coal industry’s woes. Throughout Appalachia where Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia converge, the coal industry’s disgruntlement with Obama is plastered on yard signs and billboards.

One billboard alongside a freeway near the Pennsylvania and West Virginia border said drivers were entering “The Obama administration’s no jobs zone.” The billboard was sponsored by a coal-industry group,

(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012endorsements; bhoenergy; biglabor; coal; energy; trumka; umw; unionvote
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To: xsmommy

“would have to be an MSHA rep, Mine Saftey and Health Adminsitration oversees coal mine safety.


Just another duplication in our government. OSHA is all that is needed. Regardless of the alphabet, at least one should be in the mines anytime workers are down there.

Not saying you are wrong and in fact, as it stands today you are correct.


41 posted on 08/09/2012 8:37:21 AM PDT by Wurlitzer (Nothing says "ignorance" like Islam!)
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To: Logical me

As a former union Steamfitter (UA leads the way), I recall that in either 1982 or 1984 the UA Journal came out with their election endorsements. In the article it advised memebers to support their local candidate who they felt would best represent their interests. When I showed this to my dad who was until the day he died an anti-union Missouri Republican he nearly fell out of his chair.

I just looked at the UA website and they are also supporting Obama and praising his decision on the Oklahoma to the Gulf pipeline but mysteriously silent on Keystone.

From time to time I still run in to my friends that remain in the union and question them about why they support elitest, environmental, anti growth candidates and organizations that have publicly stated that are against every size, shape and type of industrial project or expansion of an existing facilty that would put tens of thousands of their union brothers to work! One of them is the Local shop organizer and I would consider him to have model Christian Conservative values in every sense but he votes with them lockstep, which I explain to him is he height of hypocrisy and he knows it..

On the flip side while I was still in the trade the day to day rank and file detested the “Toon” because he was a draft dodger.


42 posted on 08/09/2012 8:40:42 AM PDT by shotgun
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To: Hojczyk

While this is nice, Obama has no chance of Winning WV, and never did... but what this does do is take the money they would have given to the Dems out of play for the national race.

WV Democrats learned the hard way, your party doesn’t give a DAMN ABOUT YOU!


43 posted on 08/09/2012 8:46:34 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: xsmommy
...maybe a OSHA rep down in every mine every day...

...would have to be an MSHA rep, Mine Saftey and Health Administration oversees coal mine safety.

Shoot, I'm surprised they don't have TSA agents patting down the miners before they enter the elevator.

44 posted on 08/09/2012 9:16:43 AM PDT by Never on my watch (I can see November from the Chick-Fil-A drive through lane.)
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To: Never on my watch

LOVE your tagline!


45 posted on 08/09/2012 9:21:13 AM PDT by xsmommy
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To: Hojczyk; All

They’re a union so they “can’t” support the Republican, just decline to endorse the Democrat? Cowards.


46 posted on 08/09/2012 9:37:12 AM PDT by newzjunkey (Spread the word: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2915810/posts)
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To: don-o
You offended my and every reader’s intelligence.

Being spring-loaded to be offended is a very liberal characteristic. I wouldn't attribute that to other Freepers, even if you happen to have fragile sensitivities.

There is a lot of freedom if you let go of that concern. The issues at hand are far more important than me laughing at someones apt analogy.

47 posted on 08/09/2012 10:01:39 AM PDT by Never on my watch (I can see November from the Chick-Fil-A drive through lane.)
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To: Never on my watch

Thanks for sratghtening me out. I must have lost my mind there for a minute.

How could I have NOT recognized the sheer brilliance in the “booger eater” comment?


48 posted on 08/09/2012 11:08:09 AM PDT by don-o (He will not share His glory and He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.)
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To: don-o

Your welcome!


49 posted on 08/09/2012 12:18:58 PM PDT by Never on my watch (I can see November from the Chick-Fil-A drive through lane.)
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To: Hojczyk

BTTT!


50 posted on 08/09/2012 4:06:05 PM PDT by neverdem (Xin loi minh oi)
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