Palin Unleashes New Attack Against Obama On Coal

By: Scott Conroy
Topics: Sarah Palin

(CBS)

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

(MARIETTA, OHIO) - Seizing on a newly released audio tape picked up by the Drudge Report, Sarah Palin took the opportunity here in coal country to accuse Barack Obama of "talking about bankrupting the coal industry."

"He said that, sure, if the industry wants to build coal-fired power plants, then they can go ahead and try, he says, but they can do it only in a way that will bankrupt the coal industry, and he's comfortable letting that happen," Palin said. "And you got to listen to the tape."

The audiotape Palin was referring to was recorded by the San Francisco Chronicle in a Jan. 17 interview.

"Why is the audiotape just now surfacing?" Palin asked, leading someone in the crowd to shout, "Liberal media!"

"This interview was given to San Francisco folks many, many months ago," Palin said. "You should have known about this, so that you would have better decision-making information as you go into the voting booth."

In the audiotape, Obama reiterated his call for a cap and trade system on carbon and greenhouse gases.

"So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can," Obama said. "It's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that's being emitted."

An Obama spokesperson said that Obama's remarks were taken out of context and pointed out that in another part of the interview, Obama said that the idea of eliminating coal plants was "an illusion."

"The point Obama is making is that we need to transition from coal burning power plants built with old technology to plants built with advanced technologies--and that is exactly the action that will be incentivized under a cap and trade program," the spokesperson said. "We know that additional work is necessary to develop and deploy these technologies. That is why Obama has argued for a robust funding program for carbon capture and sequestration. It's strikingly similar to what McCain has said (in fact McCain goes a step further saying he wants to transition completely away from coal)."

Scott Conroy
Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.
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by babooph November 4, 2008 3:29 AM EST: If the Palin family is so sure they are not related to animals,why do they attend church where they behave like that ?; Reply to this comment


by aces4all November 3, 2008 8:49 PM EST: We have a responsibility to future to make informed and reasoned decisions on how we vote. Doing so has proven to be more difficult this year than any other. I''ve seen the debates and seen the News media repeat the juicier bits of what each campaign had to say about the opposing candidates and themselves. Repeating something someone said about someone else without making an attempt to verify it is gossip. Neither the dodging of questions by both candidates during the debates nor the gossip the news organizations passed along helped me make my decision. Failed by most of the major news organizations I''ve been left to conduct my own research. Sen. Obama''s short history on the national scene left little information readily available. While I condemn the news industry as a whole for not providing us with the information we I commend one organization that provided us with a great deal of information about Sen. Obama%u2019s views. The San Francisco Chronicle released a Jan. 17th interview of Sen. Obama in its entirety. The nearly 50 minute interview covered a wide range of topics including Sen. Obama''s views on coal''s future as a source of energy production should he be elected. Whether you support or oppose Sen. Obama''s candidacy everyone should take the time to listen to this interview. This interview helped me make my decision. Listen for yourself. The interview: http://cdn.sfgate.com/blogs/sounds/sfgate/chroncast/2008/01/17/20080117-obama-interview.mp3; Reply to this comment


by AverageAmerican November 3, 2008 8:41 PM EST: SNL skit banned by the Democrats, too much truth!

http://msunderestimated.com/SNLBailoutSkit.wmv; Reply to this comment


by grizthebear November 3, 2008 8:20 PM EST: Obama wants the US to become bankrupt morally, economically, spiritually & defenseless militarily. Under his "leadership" we will reach those goals and will cease to be able to function as a nation. He''s following the Marxist playbook to the hilt. By the way, I have never heard so much hate and name calling as on this site. Look in the mirror, Libs. You won''t like what you see if you are honest. McCain/Palin have got a great chance to win. Hope I''m right so we can keep our nation. My grandchildren will be extremely grateful.; Reply to this comment


by amostheproph November 3, 2008 7:55 PM EST: Posters above are a misanthropic gaggle of geese.
By the end of this election we will at best be able to build our nation on principles of patriotism and constitutional law; or, we will be enmeshed in a civil war against tyranny.
Do not be deceived. Obama represents the most destructive forces in our nation. Support him at your peril.; Reply to this comment


by ramos937 November 3, 2008 7:52 PM EST: A major reason why the McCain/Palin campaign is so far behind is that they have no respect for the intelligence of the voting public.
Both McCain and Palin today spread this lie knowing it was not true. They trust that the American public will not know that it is a lie and swallow it hook line and sinker. But in today''s world, most folks have access to the net plus, except for Fox, the media prides itself on finding out the true facts on statements like McCain and Palin make.; Reply to this comment


by dagrandma November 3, 2008 6:49 PM EST: Sure Sarah''s right. That''s why the UMWA had this to say:

Why does UMWA''s website say this:

"McCain campaign''s last minute distortion of Obama%u2019s coal record an act of desperation"

Who does the UMWA say it is (all caps added by me in one instance)?

"The United Mine Workers of America is a growing union with a diverse membership that includes coal miners, CLEAN COAL TECHNICIANS, health care workers, truck drivers, manufacturing workers and public employees throughout the United States and Canada."

Sarah Palin needs to go back to Alaska. And she can take John McCain with her.; Reply to this comment


by talkitreal November 3, 2008 6:25 PM EST: SO JOHN McCAIN WANTS TO TRANSITION FROM COAL ENTIRELY!; Reply to this comment


by talkitreal November 3, 2008 6:24 PM EST: SO JOHN McCAIN WANTS TO TRANSITION FROM COAL ENTIRELY!; Reply to this comment


by dzemog1 November 3, 2008 6:20 PM EST: Sorry Sarah, but I don''t disagree with Obama on this. What he''s saying, and what he has said all along, is that he supports coal technology...CLEAN coal technology. Our current "unclean" coal system spews massive amounts of carbon into the atmostphere and is feeding climate change. Obama wants to update the technology so we reap the same coal benefits while also protecting the future of the planet. What pray tell is your problem with that exactly???; Reply to this comment