September 23, 2008 - 4:08pm

News

Pa. GOP seizes on Biden 'clean-coal' comments

By Alex Roarty, PolitickerPA.com Reporter

Joe Biden: Getty Images Photo Joe Biden: Getty Images PhotoA quartet of western Pennsylvania Republicans seized Tuesday on statements made by Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden that he opposes building "clean coal" plants, saying the Democratic presidential ticket clearly doesn't understand the needs of the Keystone State's middle-class families.

"It's fairly clear Joe Biden has sided with the faction of radical environmentalists that is opposed to any application of clean coal," said U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Erie).

"Senator McCain has spelled out in great detail his strong position on energy that is ultimately a winner for him in Pennsylvania," he said.

English was speaking with reporters on a conference call organized by John McCain's campaign, which acted quickly to exploit Biden's statements to gain an advantage in the state's western half. Clean coal technology is a Holy Grail of the once-heavily industrial region, carrying with it the hope of an economic revival for an area struggling to create jobs.

"Look, the makeup of people in Western Pennsylvania, these are fourth- or fifth-generation mining families that have been displaced," said Christine Toretti, state co-chair of McCain's campaign. "They understand the dynamic of coal and inexpensive energy."

English and Torett were joined on the call by state Rep. Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny County) and former U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, who is trying to recapture the seat she lost to U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-McCandless) in the 4th Congressional District in 2006.

"This is a huge issue for us in Pennsylvania," Hart said. "We've got thousands and thousands of people in this industry."

Said Turzai, "I think this is just a guy completely out of touch with middle class families in Pennsylvania."

English's presence on the conference call might surprise some. The congressman has distanced himself from the GOP as he faces a tough battle against Democratic challenger Kathy Dahlkemper in the state's 3rd Congressional District.

But he said he was "enthusiastic" about McCain's candidacy because of his energy proposals, especially his commitment to clean coal.

Barack Obama's website states the candidate is committed to clean coal technology, saying he "will enter into public private partnerships to develop five 'first-of-a-kind' commercial scale coal-fired plants with clean carbon capture and sequestration technology."

English said the video makes clear Biden's opposition to building coal plants.

"The burden is on Biden to clarify that or on Obama," he said.

Alex Roarty is a PolitickerPA.com Reporter and can be reached via email at alex.roarty@politickerpa.com.

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Comments

Biden will no doubt claim he

posted by Maurice

Biden will no doubt claim he was misunderstood and I look forward to he or Obama, or both, dressed up as miners wearing hats and shouldering picks in an effort to mitigate this blunder. The thing folks from coal country need to know, and Pennsylvanians need to remember, is that whatever Team Obama says from this point forward is pretty much a bold faced lie. Obama, Reid, and Pelosi talk about alternative fuels in THEORY but a real alternative to oil, like clean coal, they can't be bothered to support. Senator McCain and Governor Palin talked about clean coal in their convention speeches and still mention it in every stump speech and appearance they give. They understand that the fastest way to true energy independence is domestic production and that means MORE drilling for domestic oil, MORE demand for clean coal, and yes even nuclear plants. If people are serious about energy independence there's only one ticket out there, McCain/Palin.

09/23/08 5:27 pm

ANOTHER MCCAIN CAMP LIE AND ATTEMPT TO UNFAIRLY SMEAR AND SCARE

posted by WHYNOTUS

The OBAMA/BIDEN tocket are committed not only to using coal, but explanding the possibilites of coal.

Something Joe Biden just said on Saturday in Virginia (9/20):
“Imagine … what Barack and I can do, taking that four billion dollars and investing it in coal gasification,” he said. “That’s within our capacity to do it. If you give me four billion dollars, I promise you, I promise you, we will find the answer.”
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/20/1429325.aspx

Also, remember OBAMA's speech, and every other opp;ortunity the ticket got to speak on theis subject ESTABLISH COMMITMENT TO CLEAN COLA.

If you listen to the entire tape, theremarks by BIDEN are on the run, off the cuff, and placed in context, clearly establishes the opposite of what the MCBLAME camp claims. Biden believes we have to develop and utilize all forms of clean energy. He, and everyone else, is against "dirty" coal (hence the many references in the short statement to China polluting the air wiht its dirty coal) plants and the harm to our environment caused by those "dirty" coal plants.

Repugnicans, once again, you are busted.

Now, hold your breath, count to three, and stop lying, stop disorting, and repeat after me...

NO WAY, NO HOW, NO MCCAIN.

09/23/08 5:56 pm

Obama camp the one full of it

posted by Whipple

the only ones lying is Obama and all you Obama drones. You guys don't care about need energy sources and you never will. Obama, like every liberal, will lie and say anything to get into power.

As for MSNBC....WOW, there's a reliable news source(not). The official news network of the Obama campaign.

09/23/08 8:28 pm

obama/biden Just Handed McCain a win in PA

posted by indievoter

So, to sum it up, we have lots of Independents in PA who will break for McCain. We've been called a bunch of bitter, bible thumping gun clingers who hate immigrants. The NRA is running a huge anti obama campaign here, because they know we like our guns and they know obama wants to take them away form us. Coal is not only a huge part of this state's history, but there's a lot of coal in "them thar hills", and coal still employs a lot of people here and is a stable employer - at union wages......

Obama - take yourself and your gaffolating running mate and go back to Chicago where all good political thugs thrive. We don't like you. You can't win here. Begone!

And, to all the obama supporters who came on here to say this is a "lie" - your boy Biden said it. We heard it. PA heard it. The unions heard it. The coal miners heard it. So, to all of you - Begone! Go find a state like CA where all the lefty loons live and where obama still has a chance of winning and where they might believe your tired old "it a lie" defense, cause he doesn't have a chance here in PA any more. So long, losers!

09/23/08 10:57 pm

Ask Ed Rendell About Clean Coal - He loves it!

posted by jammies

Ed Rendell has been pushing clean coal since 2005, including new coal plants, to create jobs here in PA.

I think its time a reporter asked Rendell how his plan fits in with the obama/biden plan.......

09/23/08 10:57 pm

Better Question

posted by An Insider

Why don't you ask Rendell why he's fought plans to build a coal-to-gas plant that was proposed back around 2000 when Ridge when is office. Was supposed to be built in Schuylkill County, where I live. The Democratss immediately fought it and shut the project down. Lie to someone who doesn't know better.

09/25/08 3:03 pm