Biden Off Message Again: "We're Not Supporting Clean Coal"

Think Progress:

At a campaign stop today in Maumee, OH, Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) talked to Carolyn Auwaerter, a young 1Sky campaigner, about energy policy. Questioned about his campaign's support for "clean coal," Biden vigorously defended his record in favor of renewable energy, and outlined what he sees as the key challenge: developing carbon capture and sequestration technology (which he calls "clean coal") to limit the pollution from China's rapidly increasing fleet of coal plants. In his words, captured on video by the Energy Action Coalition:

No coal plants here in America. Build them, if they're going to build them over there make 'em clean because they're killing you.

Biden also claimed, "We're not supporting 'clean coal.'" In fact, "clean coal" is a major part of Sen. Obama's energy plan and public rhetoric, calling for the development and deployment of "clean coal technology" as part of his green jobs initiative.

Read the whole story: Think Progress

Comments

[luckyinnc]

I see Joe "stand up Chuck" Obiden is at it again. He's better than watching SNL. This guy is seriously a train wreck waiting to happen. Better hope he can keep it on the tracks til Nov.

[SenatorHopenchange]

Is this guy even trying to win?

[Pulemerci]

My favorite Biden gaffe (I know, there are too many to choose from) is when he stated that FDR got on TV at the beginning of the Great Depression to talk to the American public. Very wrong and quite funny too. I hope Obama doesn't drop Biden for Hillary. His foot-in-mouth episodes are killing me.

[vegangoddess]

so we have an honest, much-loved, shoot from the hip, NO spin zone Joe vs a muzzled, M.I.A., Moose-hunting,, minion!

[riley85]

Biden a heartbeat from the presidency? And people are worried about Palin?
She will grow, learn, and get stronger. Biden already thinks he knows everything.
He may have experience but he lacks judgement and discipline--and let's face it, after 35 years in Washington does anyone believe he will change?

[GabrielVH]

i might be kind of confused... but the message he gave was right, his only mistake was confusing "clean coal" with coal.

i don't think this was as bad as "i've bought american literally all my life" and then watching as everyone finds out you have 3 foreign cars. or calling someone an "elitist" when you surround yourself with people from the elite, don't know how many houses you have and have 13 cars.

just my opinion.

[RememberTheAlamo]

Hi All,

Too much fun!

Joe "bless his heart" Biden is giving his all . . . The guy is honest and doesn't spin very well . . . we all know coal is off the table . . . so, next stop?

Coal, toastors, taxes, patriots, chuck, shotguns, AIG . . . this guy is setting the record . .. . you couldn't plan this stuff . . . . like a comedy show on the road.

What is a party to do? Ballots have already been printed . . . so it is on to the final circuit . . . . but expectations are low . . . no harm, no foul . . .LOL

[MargaretO]

Joe Biden is a good man. So, he made a minor mistake. We all do.

It's not like he has messed up nearly as much as "gaffe a minute" John McCain and at least he isn't paraded around with a gag in his mouth like Palin.

[Pulemerci]

Your "good man" Biden wishes he got half the coverage and interest Governor Palin is getting. Why do you think he got crushed in the 88 and 2008 primaries and had to quit? He's a 36 year Washington insider who nobody cares about. Obama picked him because Obama has a thin resume when it comes to, well just about everything. Biden will cite health reasons and bow out in a few weeks. Watch for Hillry to be the knight in shining armor to rescue the Dems floundering ticket.

[Pdxlax]

I'm confused. This article says that this happened today, 9/23. Yet, the youtube of this was posted on 9/17, and it says it was from a campaign stop in 2006...

[armadillious2002]

Joe - you are an intelligent, experienced, and effective politician but dammit - keep your mouth shut when it comes to stuff you know nothing about.

[GrainOSand]

What does Biden represent to me?

He is a tour guide to the failed politics and policies of the past. He is the innkeeper that knows where the skeletons are and how the secret passages work to move from issue to issue. Joe Biden is a complimentary choice for Obama. He will shine as an adversarial teammate in an Obama cabinet. He is not afraid to speak his mind and Obama is willing to hear him and calmly agree or disagree, but he is willing to listen because Joe knows, he has experience at seeing failure, bureaucracy, and the stagnating effects of partisan politics up close. Mr. Obama has an ambitious agenda and will need someone who is a seasoned parliamentarian, someone who knows the places the boys and girls meet after-hours, where real dealing is done. Hillary Clinton failed to pass healthcare legislation because she allowed her political and special interest enemies to hijack the conversation. This happened because she took her fight behind closed doors as opposed to the translucent streets where the people would have been on board from day one. She made the other side feel bad such that they took any support they might have had, and went home. In short, she did not work the system properly. Joe knows the system and Obama is a virtuoso. Together they are going to make historical music on the American political scene as they take us from the edge of tragic to the summit of hope.

[Ged2012]

Biden was not thinking straight. The only thing ringing in his mind in that interview is "coal" and not "clean" coal. He was not paying attention. The meat of his response was about China's dirty coal plants, which he obviously hates.

[INDmind]

Oh man, I'm trying, but I need some info here!

There is a website that will give $50 to anyone who can name 3 iportant issues that Obama has not lied or switched positions on.

Any help please?

http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/2008/09/lying-leader-and-his-thug-followers.html

[GrainOSand]

The war in Iraq -- careful getting out as careless getting in
Running an honorable campaign
This will not be easy
Healthcare intentions
Tax Cuts for 95% of Americans
Green Jobs
There are some people who will not vote for him because he is labeled black -- that definitely remains true.
This is not about him
All hands on deck
Strong diplomacy is necessary to avoid the strong hand of military intervention
The Republican Party will do anything and say anything to get elected
Shall I continue, because I can...

[vegangoddess]

I think he meant to say that Mc hadn't changed positions on. You could come up with that many over the last couple days!

[jgalvan]

Careful now, don't let your brains go to your head!

[LGrace]

Could somebody please tell these old dudes that it is not appropriate to put your hands all over a woman while having a professional, political exchange? Talk about supporting women all you want, but man, some basic rules of respectful body boundaries are called for.

[SoonerThought]

So, if he speaks his mind and occasionally makes mistakes, he's a liability? Please. Biden makes his republican counterpart look like a pre-schooler. I'll take Joe Biden, "gaffes" and all over Sarah Lipstick Palin and John Bush McCain any day. Obama is fortunate to have Joe at his side--as the Veep debates will demonstrate. Since she won't talk to the press, the debate will show Palin for what she is--a cipher.

[Pulemerci]

Palin wil clean his clock at the debates making O wish he had picked Hillary and not the 36 year DC insider who only makes the news when his foot is in his mouth.