Tim Kaine's endorsement yesterday by the United Mine Workers (UMW) of Virginia is such great news, it deserves a bit more elaboration. As we mentioned earlier this evening, the UMW made its decision after listening to speeches from both Kaine and Republican candidate Jerry Kilgore. Lt. Governor Kaine was quoted by the Coalfield Progress newspaper as describing his efforts at securing the UMW endorsement as "a sign of respect." Kaine commented that his success in winning that coal miners' endorsement indicated "the approval of hard-working folks." He added, "I wasn't born here [in southwestern Virginia], but I'm not a stranger. I understand union labor is proud labor."
The son of an iron worker and union representative himself, Kaine has fought for ordinary workers his whole adult life. Regarding the coal miners specifically, Kaine said:
Achievements in workers compensation or employment safety helps everyone who works in Virginia. The union believes in broader issues for working people. And mine safety initiatives help everyone. Safe conditions benefit everyone. The union pushes for issues for all working people.
We at RaisingKaine see the UMW endorsement of Tim Kaine as highly signficant for three main reasons. First, it illustrates that the Lt. Governor is the best choice for all working men and women in Virginia this year. Second, it illustrates that Kaine is highly capable of winning support in Jerry Kilgore's own backyard -- rural, southwestern Virginia, where Mark Warner did so well four years ago. Finally, it makes a complete mockery of Jerry Kilgore's desperate, weak, hysterical, unfounded claims that Tim Kaine is somehow "prejudiced" against people with a southwest Virginia accent. At a minimum, the endorsement provides strong evidence that southwest Virginia coal miners don't agree with Kilgore on this issue, not one bit.
According to its website, "The UMWA has fought for worker's rights since 1890. Today, the international union continues the fight for safe workplaces, good wages and benefits, and fair representation." This is exactly what Tim Kaine believes, making the UMWA endorsement no surprise at all. Still, it's a great honor to gain the support of hard-working folks who "face dangers and hardships that most Americans would find unacceptable in their daily lives."
Interestingly, while Tim Kaine receives the endorsement of ordinary coal workers, Jerry Kilgore receives wads of money ($314,990 as of March 31, 2005) from the powerful coal mining companies. For instance, anti-union Alpha Natural Resources, had donated $64,640 to Kilgore as of March 31, 2005. And water- -polluter Rapoca Energy had given $20,000.
You know, one way to figure out whose side someone is on in life is to simply look at who pays them. When you look at it that way with regards to Jerry Kilgore, the pattern turns out to be exactly the one you'd expect from him: supported by big corporations but opposed by their workers. And for Tim Kaine, it's the exact opposite.
The bottom line here is that if you happen to own a coal company, you should vote for Jerry Kilgore. If, on the other hand, you work for a coal company (or any other big company, for that matter), you'd be far better served voting for Tim Kaine this November. Unfortunately for Jerry Kilgore's electoral prospects -- and great news for Tim Kaine's -- there are a lot more coal miners here in Virginia than there are coal mine executives. Something else for Jerry Kilgore to cry about.