This interview is one of the reasons why America is so uninformed about serious issues in our country. Kyra Phillips is really engaged in the Utah mi
August 21, 2007

kira-murray.jpg This interview is one of the reasons why America is so uninformed about serious issues in our country. Kyra Phillips is really engaged in the Utah mining disaster and has a genuine passion about the story, but instead of asking the real questions to Murray about the dangerous mining conditions he promoted after he denied them---she treated him like a folk hero. The Huffington Post has more...

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Murray: A rumor was started by the United Mine Workers. It's false statements they have made. False statements from the beginning. But I've watched them for 50 years and they have preyed on the tragedy of miners and their families to put out false information to organize their union.

Murray always has the time to bash the United Mine Workers as much as he can and then he praises CNN for the wonderful job they are doing.

Again, why was this not included in CNN's coverage?

Robert Murray insists that his company did not change the mining plan at Crandall Canyon after purchasing a joint interest in the mine last August. But documents obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune clearly contradict Murray's assertion, and show that Murray's company sought and received approval from federal regulators to make a significant, and, experts say, risky change to the mining strategy...read on

Isn't that more important than trying to defend your coverage? I understand that there is great suffering in the lives of the families that have to deal with this nightmare and our hearts reach out to them, but when are we supposed to have serious conversations on serious issues?

Thanks to CNN for the transcript:

PHILLIPS: In no -- well, and I want to make something clear, because the media is getting a lot of heat. And I can tell you right now, as a journalist here at CNN and our entire news operation, in no way, shape, or form have we forgotten what each one of those miners has done. Not only the rescue workers, but the miners that are trapped in that mine. We realize after years of covering this story what miners go through and what they sacrifice to come home and support their families. So please understand that from us. So we are not criticizing what they go through on a daily basis. Now I want to ask you about you . . .

MURRAY: Kyra, I . . .

PHILLIPS: Yes?

MURRAY: I believe CNN has done an excellent job in this regard. I'm just asking for your understanding, ma'am, for the families of those who were killed and injured on August 16th, as well as those on August 6th. Thank you.

PHILLIPS: And, you know, Bob, it's understandable. It's never easy to lose a loved one or face something like this. I guess the saying goes, that you just learn how to deal with it, you never get over it.

But I've got to ask you about you. There have been times you haven't been able to come do a news conference. There's been talk about you might be struggling with a heart condition. That the pressure has become too much for you. I have to ask you, how are you doing and how are you holding up? There is a lot of pressure on you right now.

MURRAY: I've been at the mountain, Kyra, within hours of August 6th. I'll stay there until this is over. This is not about me. This is about the families of six trapped miners and the families of nine heroes. And I'll be fine. I'm doing fine.

PHILLIPS: So the next time we're going to hear from you, Bob, I'm guessing will be at the end of the day when you finish this final bore hole. Is that correct?

MURRAY: Ma'am, I don't really know. I think I'll give you a report this afternoon on what we find after we drop the camera in the number five hole. And in what the -- we find in the hole both on audio basis and a visual basis. But I want to schedule that conference in conjunction with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration as we've done faithfully heretofore.

PHILLIPS: Bob Murray, chairman of Murray Energy, co-owner of the Crandall Canyon Mine. I appreciate your time and just your honesty during this interview and for clarifying a lot of questions for us. I know that this is not going to stop at this point. Appreciate your time, Bob.

MURRAY: Thank you, ma'am.

(I edited out a few minutes in the middle of the interview because of its length)

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