Hillary Clinton on Monday attempted to clarify past comments about putting coal companies “out of business” when confronted by a voter on the campaign trail in West Virginia.
While discussing plans to create jobs in the renewable energy industry during a CNN town hall in March, Clinton said, “We’re going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business.”
When Clinton arrived in Williamson, West Virginia, on Monday, she was greeted by protesters chanting, “Go home,” according to the New York Times. And during an event at a wellness center, West Virginia resident Bo Copley asked Clinton to explain her March comment.
“What I said was totally out of context from what I meant because I have been talking about helping coal country for a very long time,” Clinton said, according to NBC News. “What I was saying is that the way things are going now, we will continue to lose jobs. That’s what I meant to say.”
Clinton said that she was “a bit sad and sorry that I gave people an excuse to be angry at me because that’s not what I said at all,” according to the New York Times.
She also acknowledged that her comment could hurt her in the region.
“Because of the misstatement that I made, which I apologized for when I saw how it was being used,” Clinton said, according to the Times, “I know that my chances are pretty difficult, to be honest.”
It wasn’t a mis-statement. It was right the first time. Replace coal with renewables over time, but help the coal areas replace the industry with new jobs rather than let the communities wither and die.
Hillary Clinton shows great insight when she admits she is not a natural politician. That, coupled with constantly putting her finger in the air to make and refine policy positions gets her in a lot of difficulty. That said, I’ll be happy to vote for her in November.
I am impressed that she in even in what is clearly an unfriendly area, campaigning. Something none of the GOPers would ever do. And of course if Trump were to come across anyone disagreeing with him he would either just insult them or rely on one of his supporters/stooges to “handle” it.
I always think it is far better to refine policy decisions. It reflects analytical process and intellect. The best presidents have those capabilities. As opposed to someone like George W. Bush who was essentially incapable of both and dangerously stubborn, failing to learn from mistakes.
As much as they don’t like it reality says coal is on the way out.