In the interview, Clinton responds to a question on MTR with this gem, "I’m not an expert, but … maybe there’s a way to recover those mountains once they’ve been stripped of coal. You know, I think we’ve got to look at this from a practical perspective." She continues by saying she would need advice from people who balance "both the economic necessities and environmental damage".

First of all, the name Mountaintop Removal Mining tells you most of what you need to know in terms of becoming an expert on the issue. Secondly, maybe there's a way to recover those mountains? Short of another ice age, I'm at a loss for what that solution might be.

Then, some facts that Plenty pulls out also contradict her economic/environmental assertion - namely that even as coal production has increased, mining employment has decreased 90%. So what's the economic benefit? The communities themselves suffer from some of the worst poverty in the country AND the worst environmental degradation. I mean, the coal companies surely profit, but that can't be what she's talking about, can it?

Sadly, all the candidates seem to have a massive crush on coal - but to claim ignorance on the issue is beyond the pale.