Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's comment about the coal industry becoming "bankrupt" during a January 17, 2008 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle began circulating on blogs before election day on November 4, 2008.OneNewsNow.com: Obama's Coal Industry Plan Panned (November 4, 2008) Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin questioned why the comments were "just now surfacing," but the audio and video has been available since January 2008.CNN: Palin Knocks Obama over Months-old Coal Comments (November 2, 2008)
The Obama campaign said the audio clip was taken out of context and was one of the McCain campaign's "last minute, desperate distortions."Energy Wire (WP): The Last Minute Obama-McCain Coal Debate (November 3, 2008) OneNewsNow.com: Obama's Coal Industry Plan Panned (November 4, 2008)
Obama's Quote on Coal Industry
"So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can. 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."CNN: Palin Knocks Obama over Months-old Coal Comments (November 2, 2008)
References
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Audiotape began circulating on blogs in early-November 2008OneNewsNow.com: Obama's Coal Industry Plan Panned (November 4, 2008)
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During the interview Obama talks about putting a "cap and trade" plan in place, that would charge pollutersCNN: Palin Knocks Obama over Months-old Coal Comments (November 2, 2008)
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San Francisco Chronicle writer Carla Marinucci said Sarah Palin's allegation that the comments "just came to light" were untrue, the interview has been posted online since January 2008TimesNews.net: Rep Boucher Says Obama is a Friend of Coal (November 3, 2008)
