Byrd: Kerry Needs Coal Dust to Win W.Va.

[cal04]

Despite his public dislike for coal, John Kerry can win West Virginia's five important electoral votes by going there and getting ``that dirty dust on his hands and on his face,'' the state's senior senator said Sunday.

Also, said Sen. Robert Byrd, history's second longest-serving senator behind the late Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, ``Always, always remember that sovereignty rests, John Kerry, sovereignty rests with the people of this country.''``Yes, coal is a dirty energy source, but that's what we're trying to do. We're trying to clean it up. I've appropriated money over the years for coal research to make it cleaner,'' Byrd said.``Yes, he can carry West Virginia. He will carry West Virginia if he continues to stand up for the liberties of the people,'' Byrd said.

``I've talked with him. I've told him he should go to West Virginia. He should shake hands with the people. He should be at their level and get a little coal dust on his hands. Get some of that dirty dust on his hands and on his face and live in spirit with the working people of this country, the coal miners. And always, always remember that sovereignty rests, John Kerry, sovereignty rests with the people of this country.''


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Byrd-Kerry.html

[jarab]

1. Figuratively speaking Byrd was ...

However I'd love to see Kerry in a photo op after going underground (literally) with the miners. I'm waiting.
...O...

[IronLionZion]

3. Byrd wants to see the rich boy get dirty

and a lot of working people would appreciate that more than the vacations in Nantucket and Sun Valley.

[IronLionZion]

2. And why isn't he doing that?

Sure coal is dirty for some rich boy from Boston. But it is a livelihood for many good Americans and heats their homes in the winter and provides electricity. Kerry needs to support those workers, and they will support him.

I hate coal too, but I come from a coal community and know how important it is. The trapped miners in PA were like 3 or 4 miles from my house. One thing Kerry can do is support safety measures and updated maps for the mines.

[jarab]

4. I would hope Kerry gets this mesage from the the wise Mr Byrd.

Coal is with us for the forseeable future. I agree that JK must reach out more personally to West Virginia's miners and other similar national groups.
Coal mining country here, too ... Southeastern KY.
...O...

[onecitizen]

5. I would hope so too but........

I don't hold out much hope for that. He also needs to tell the men he won't take their guns away from them. bush was here recently telling the men that Kerry would take their guns if he could.

I was thinking the other night how much I would love to see somebody just walk by Kerry and mess up his hair. I'd pay $$$ to see that. He's going back to the helmet look. He needs to cut it again and let a hair get out of place. Men here like bush cause he always looks like, like he doesn't try too much. Kerry on the other hand, looks like he spent hours in front of a mirror.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. AP left out that Sen. Byrd then took his copy of the Constitution...

out of his pocket, and said that Senator Kerry (in contrast to his opponent) believes in that document.

[LittleApple81]

7. Right On! I loved it when he did that! n/t

[Veggie Meathead]

8. Senator Byrd is magnificent!

[cal04]

9. Transcript of the show

SEN. BYRD: Look, I'm the son of a coal miner. I married a coal miner's daughter. I know a lot about coal. I know a lot about the Depression. Yes, coal is a dirty energy source. But look what we're trying to do. We're trying to clean it up. I've appropriated moneys over the years for coal research to make it cleaner. So, yes, he can carry West Virginia. He will carry West Virginia if he continues to stand up for the liberties of the people.

And we've got to remember that, it's the people back home who are to be remembered. And this Constitution, John Kerry believes in this Constitution. I've talked with him. I've told him he should go to West Virginia. He should shake hands with the people. He should be at their level and get a little coal dust on his hands, get some of that dirty dust on his hands and on his face and live in spirit with the working people of this country, the coal miners, and always remember that sovereignty rests, John Kerry, sovereignty rests with the people of this country. And it's this book here--why I wrote "Losing America" was to help save this book, the Constitution.

http://msnbc.msn.com/ID/5458209