Coal Miners’ Union Sits Out Presidential Race

National Journal ^ | August 9,2012 | Amy Harder

[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,

[Wurlitzer]

“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.

[shotgun]

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.

[HamiltonJay]

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!

[Never on my watch]

...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.

[xsmommy]

LOVE your tagline!

[newzjunkey]

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

[Never on my watch]

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.

[don-o]

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?

[Never on my watch]

Your welcome!

[neverdem]

BTTT!