Coal official calls Obama comments 'unbelievable' At least one state coal industry leader said he was shocked by comments Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama made earlier this year concerning his plan to aggressively charge polluters for carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training, the coal industry provides about 40,000 direct jobs in the state, including those for miners, mine contractors, coal preparation plant employees and mine supply company workers. The senior vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association called Obama's comments "unbelievable." "His comments are unfortunate," Chris Hamilton said Sunday, "and really reflect a very uninformed voice and perspective to coal specifically and energy generally." Hamilton noted other times Obama and vice presidential candidate Joe Biden have made seemingly anti-coal statements....