John McCain
Town Hall Meeting
07/09/08
TRANSCRIPT:
JOHN MCCAIN: "I did see a person over here with a 'no nukes' sign so maybe we can't start with you. Because obviously you know I am a supporter of nuclear power. [...]"
QUESTIONER: "[...] I live here in Portsmouth. And my father also worked in the Piketon plant and he also died young of cancer. He had 4 cancers. My mother died of cancer as well. And I feel strongly about getting the Piketon plant cleaned up and bringing alternative energy industry into Portsmouth [...] We've done this for 50 years. We deserve better. We don't want our young people to continue to have to work in a highly toxic industry. And I believe that a lot of people here probably feel the same way and are afraid to say anything. Because I know the outcome in my personal life has been very detrimental to me in fighting this nuclear industry."
MCCAIN: "I know I speak on behalf of all of us [...] and extend our sympathy at the loss of your parents. There's no way that I can provide proper consolation except to say to you that I believe that nuclear power is and can be safe. [...] We have sailed Navy ships around the world for more than 60 years with nuclear power plants on them. There has never been any recorded case that I know of that someone was either injured or killed or had any effects of, of those nuclear power plants. I know that there's been Three Mile Island. And we know about Chernoble. But I do believe that nuclear power is safe. [...] But the evidence that I have that I'd like to share with you, is that nuclear power is safe. And it is, I think, a vital part of our nation's energy future[...]
QUESTIONER: "One of the things that I've been striving for is to make sure that workers that go into the Piketon site are protected, and I haven't been able to get that affirmation from the NRC or the EPA or any of the DOE or any of the groups that are in charge of that cleanup and that site. And I think that's one of the things that many people are concerned about here.
MCCAIN: "Well I will (1) try to get that information from you, (2) myself try to contact the nuclear regulatory [...] commission and any other oversight organization and get the information [...] I promise you I will learn, and I will read the information that you send me, and I will act on it as I think would be appropriate."
LABEL: JM OH 7-9 (SD#25) GHBST-ClipC
