Very few members of the current in-crowd among Democratic Party leaders at the national level have much good to say about coal. To the overwhelming majority of them, it is a "dirty" fuel the use of which ought to be curtailed, not expanded.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., is an exception. Rockefeller, who cut his political teeth in our state, understands both the coal industry and its importance to the nation. On Aug. 27, speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, he will have an opportunity to share what he knows with more skeptical leaders of his party.
Rockefeller still doesn't know what time he will speak at the convention. Given the shallow, clipped television coverage political conventions receive these days, it is anybody's guess whether his address will receive much exposure. There isn't even a guarantee that a majority of delegates to the convention will be present for the speech.
But many of them will hear him. That provides Rockefeller with an unparalleled opportunity.
The senator has said that he will speak about national security, the economy and energy policy.
All three are important topics. But energy policy and coal's role in it ought to be stressed by Rockefeller. Again, he has the credentials - both as a national party leader and someone who understands coal - to make a difference with his address. We urge him to seize the opportunity to educate fellow Democrats who, after listening to years of anti-coal propaganda, need to hear the truth from someone to whom they may listen closely.