http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/02/mine-workers-protest-anti-obama-ad/Appalachia is supposed to be a one of Barack Obama’s biggest weak spots. But judging from a surprise work stoppage at the Blacksville No. 2 coal mine in West Virginia, Mr. Obama evidently has some pockets of support there.
Last Monday more than 440 members of the United Mine Workers of America took the day off, halting production at the Blacksville mine. The union declared it a Memorial Day, largely to protest what union officials said was an anti-Obama ad that the National Rifle Association was filming at the mine.
Phil Smith, the union’s communications director, said that the mine’s owner, Consol Energy, allowed the film crew to go on the property, and that the crew asked several miners: “How do you feel about having your Second Amendment rights taken away if Obama becomes president.”
Word spread to several miners who supported Senator Obama, someone called union headquarters in Virginia, and soon Cecil Roberts, the president of the parent union, declared a Memorial Day (which is allowed under the contract) to protest the NRA’s filming (and to show support for Mr. Obama).
(snip)
Mr. Smith, the union spokesman, said the work stoppage was justified. “Our members were a little concerned about being led down a garden path,” he said. “We were upset that the company allowed the N.R.A. to come on its property and try to use our members for political purposes knowing we had already endorsed Obama and a lot of our members had already endorsed Obama.”
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