CITIZENS UNITED ruling in action: MASSEY ENERGY, coal execs forming 527 to target Democrats

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Don Blankenship and friends are going after Democrats who have advocated for stronger mine safety laws, planning to smear them as "anti-coal."

Huffington Post has a piece up detailing how the owners of the Sago and Upper Big Branch mines are planning to form a 527 organization to target Democratic candidates in Kentucky and West Virginia.
This would allow them to spend millions to defeat "anti-coal" candidates - in other words, they want to take out anyone who would stick up for mine safety and has any interest in the environmental well-being of Appalachia.

The three races they're most interested in:
- Rep. Nick Rahall (D) vs Elliott "Spike" Maynard (R) in W.Va. 3rd Congressional District
- Rep. Ben Chandler (D) vs. Garland "Andy" Barr (R) in Kentucky's 6th Congressional District
- Jack Conway (D) vs. Rand "Segregation Forever" Paul (R) for Kentucky's U.S. Senate seat

The Kentucky Herald-Leader has a copy of a letter from International Coal Group vice-president Roger Nicholson, in which he's ecstatic over the newly established right of corporations to purchase officials:

More:
http://wvablue.com/diary/6016/massey-icg-announce-effort-to-buy-fall-elections

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/28/coal-companies-look-to-sp_n_662556.html

[midnight]

1. K&R!

[Petrushka]

2. K & R

:kick:

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

3. Links to the good guys' campaign pages, if you want to donate or volunteer

There's a reason Massey wants to defeat these folks: they're all solid progressive champion and deserve your support.

http://jackconway.org/
http://www.nickrahall.com/
http://www.benchandlerforcongress.com/

[Lint Head]

4. Their slogan should be 'Greed Kills and We're For It'.

Blankenshit committed negligent homicide and it will happen again if he is not stopped.

[Bandit]

5. If they would have used that money to increase safety instead of trying to buy votes

Pretty much shows how Republicans operate. They will pay ten times as much to be able to skirt the Law rather than just comply and save lives.

[bluethruandthru]

6. Of course...complying and saving lives would cut into profits!

Heard a repuke on NPR defending his party's opposition to stronger mine safety rules. He said the proposed law went too far and it had to be good for everyone!!! I couldn't believe it! Good for everyone??? Really? If it's "good" for the owners, miners could die. If it's good for the miners, the owners might not be able to buy that 4th lear jet.

[blondeatlast]

7. Greedy assholes. I've got to concentrate my donations here in Arizona,

but I'll try to kick in.

k/r

[dgibby]

8. Another stellar example of why our votes no longer matter.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't afford to buy a congress critter on my retirement check.