This letter refers to your article in the Nov. 5 Post, page 1, on Gov. Strickland’s visit to talk to local Democrats.
I am mentioned and quoted on page 3, in regard to “Obama’s defense of the coal industry in Southeast Ohio.” I believe the president sees fossil fuels in general as stopgap solutions to our energy problems until sustainable and “clean” sources of energy such as wind, solar and geothermal power can be fully developed. This is certainly my view. Also, I think such an approach should be combined with ample new opportunities for work and any necessary retraining for workers displaced from the industries that process our fossil fuels.
What I intended to convey also was that in view of the protest in our county in regard to Obama and coal — the feeling that he is against coal, I perceived while volunteering for the Democrats in the recent presidential campaign that the county, as well as the city, nevertheless has some strong support for the Democrats (as well as some strong feelings about the status of the coal production industry). This pleased me. The people I talked to in the county have a good understanding of the issues and Democratic concerns, values and goals in general. It seems to me that a sensible long-term approach to our difficulties with producing and using energy can be worked out.
Edward H. Hitchcock is a resident of Athens.
