A conservative leader continues his efforts to educate voters about the Obama administration's "war on coal."
Phil Kerpen of American Commitment says his organization is airing new radio and television advertising in Ohio and Virginia, where Senate hopefuls Sherrod Brown (D) and Tim Kaine (D) are running.
"These Democratic Senate candidates pretend to have a pro-coal record, [but] have actually been very willing soldiers in the Obama administration's war on coal," Kerpen asserts.
The American Commitment president was critical of Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) this year for voting down a resolution that would have prevented the Environmental Protection Agency from implementing its Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology rule, which industry groups and special interests argue will only lead to closings of coal-fired power plants and lost jobs. Missouri is heavily dependent on coal.
"I'd love to get up with some advertising in Missouri as well. It's been a little more difficult to raise money for that state versus some of these other states, but if anyone [reading] is a high-dollar donor and wants to write me a big check, I'd love to be in there in that race," Kerpen states.
Five Republicans also voted against stopping the Utility MACT, while five Democrats crossed the aisle to vote with Republicans in favor of the resolution -- that includes Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia), who is airing his own television ad in which he mentions his "no" vote on cap and trade and touts the benefits of coal. Even so, Kerpen is disappointed with Manchin.
"Joe Manchin, who has been so strong on coal issues and has voted right every chance he's had in the Senate, went and campaigned for Tim Kaine in Virginia last week, even though Tim Kaine says he supports the cap and trade system, says he thinks that we need to shrink the portion of electricity coming from coal, shutter coal plants," the conservative reports. "... I think [Manchin] felt it was his responsibility as a Democrat to help out a fellow Democrat."
Kerpen suggests that is another reason why Manchin "really needs to consider switching parties."