Joe Manchin Loves Coal, Hates Climate Legislation, Proves It With Guns

Brendan DeMelle DeSmog
on

West Virginia Democratic Senate Candidate Joe Manchin, the current governor who is running in a tight race to fill the vacancy left by the death of Senator Robert Byrd, really loves dirty coal. No really, like a lot. So much so that he brandishes a firearm in a new campaign TV spot to โ€œtake aimโ€ at (already deader than a door nail) climateย legislation.ย 

Either Mr. Manchin doesnโ€™t realize that the cap-and-trade bill he slugs in the ad has been dead for months, or he doesnโ€™t care and just wants to shoot a gun at some legislation in a TV ad to appeal to his NRA backers.ย 

โ€œIโ€™ll take dead aim at the cap-and-trade bill,โ€ Manchin says while firing a bullet from his rifle. โ€œBecause itโ€™s bad for West Virginia.โ€ย 

Watch it:

The New York Times Green blog wonders:
โ€œExactly what more Mr. Manchin can do to appear pro-coal, short of grabbing a pickax and heading down into the mines himself, remains to beย seen.โ€ย 

With the endorsement of Massey Energyโ€™s Don Blankenship and theย West Virginia Coal Association, it looks like Joe Manchin is a one-shot cowboy, hitching his hopes for a Senate seat on an all-out blitz to maintain West Virginiaโ€™s deadly and dangerous coalย addiction.

Brendan DeMelle DeSmog
Brendan is Executive Director of DeSmog. He is also a freelance writer and researcher specializing in media, politics, climate change and energy. His work has appeared in Vanity Fair, The Huffington Post, Grist, The Washington Times and other outlets.

Related Posts

on

DeSmog estimates raise questions over climate benefits as EU officials consider whether the technology should qualify for billions of euros in subsidies.

DeSmog estimates raise questions over climate benefits as EU officials consider whether the technology should qualify for billions of euros in subsidies.
Analysis
on

Experts accuse Farageโ€™s party of a โ€˜deliberate campaign of misinformation about climate changeโ€™ in the House of Commons.

Experts accuse Farageโ€™s party of a โ€˜deliberate campaign of misinformation about climate changeโ€™ in the House of Commons.
on

A Conservative peer and former UK trade advisor were among those who spoke at the summit.

A Conservative peer and former UK trade advisor were among those who spoke at the summit.
on

All Conservative appointees to the Board of Trade have been binned by the new Labour government.

All Conservative appointees to the Board of Trade have been binned by the new Labour government.