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.
This is one of my rare reports not devoted to media bias, or politics per se, but focusing essentially on the human, spontaneous moment.
Oh please
MSHA is the regulatory agency overseeing mines and you are absolutely right, just hearing that there are 40+ citations in a calendar year is not enough, because they can be cited for extremly minor infractions. i think i read that the penalty was $250 per infraction or thereabouts. That isn't indicative of some major lifethreatening violation.
Yep.... in a couple of days Hillary etal will be asking why OSHA hadn't shut down the mine? And OSHA works directly for the Bush Administration you know.... :)
Since November?
Thank you for that info .. I hadn't hear that
Yes, I noticed that! Your sacrifice, enduring the usual bias of Couric and company, is always appreciated.
The maximum civil penalty for regular and special assessments is $60,000 per violation.
then i'm thinking $250 is not a very serious violation.
Here's one post mentioning November, Mo1:
To: Dog
They can't get very far. The new owner acquired this company in November and the new owner has been cutting down the number of safety issues since taking over.
40 posted on 01/04/2006 6:25:36 AM CST by saveliberty (Proud to be Head Snowflake and Bushbot)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
Source: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1551605/posts?page=40#40
Well, that's nice. They'll be able to have really nice funerals.
There are a lot of stories here, but as I watched the news most of the night, I thought and felt that Mr. Hatfield of the mining company was a good and decent man. Just my opinion.
Now here is something from another thread to give you all some thought as to who may have spread the disinfo.
****
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1550633/posts?q=1&&page=2601
There is also a very strong possibility that the news purveyor was a United Mine Workers of America plant in the official area tasked with the responsibility for bypassing the official chain of communications controlled by "the Company."
The UMWA is perpetually at war with "the Company" and such a plan and course of actual action should not be discounted.
There is a very vocal man on Fox interviews delivering a strong anti company message. He is a hardcore UMWA member.
2,650 posted on 01/04/2006 8:00:42 AM EST by bert
****
I saw this operative on FoxNews last night. We acted like a thug and a questionable character with his heavy-handed demeanor.
For the same reason Bush took responsibility for FEMA. The buck stops there.
Bush may have taken responsibility for FEMA .. but what happen there was not his fault either
Point being .. not one person is at fault in these matters
Liberals: Why did the government fail us??? We must need more government!
One of the reasons politics has become the lead is the media has to now scramble to change the subject from their running with an unsubstantiated rumor last night of 12 survivors.
I had a bad feeling last night when no WV politician was on camera taking credit for the miracle of 12 surviving after days in "unbreathable air".
That scenario wouldn't surprise me in the least. The words 'unions' and 'thugs' go hand in hand... and I'm talking from personal experience.
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