No doubt Vice President Joe Biden saw and heard protesters gathered for his speech Tuesday in Martins Ferry. It is doubtful he and his boss, President Barack Obama, will heed the message about energy policy, however.
At least, let's be honest about the debate, however.
Many of the local men and women protesting during Biden's visit are upset about the White House war on coal. The reaction among some of Obama's supporters has been that employment in the coal industry is high.
Oh, come on. That begs the question of what Obama's policies will do to the coal industry - and electricity prices - in the future.
The administration's own Department of Energy forecasts coal production in this region of the country will be slashed by more than 50 percent during the next several years, in part because of environmental regulations.
Some coal companies, citing the same factor, already are predicting major reductions.
Here in West Virginia and Ohio, then, Obama's new slogan - "Forward!" - will mean economic devastation if the war on coal is not halted.
