Obama Eulogizes W.Va. Miners

President Obama paid tribute this afternoon to the miners who died in the explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, implicitly criticizing the mine-safety system as he celebrated the lives of the 29 men who perished, reports the Hill. "How can we fail them?" he asked. "How can we let anyone in this country put their lives at risk by simply showing up to work, by simply pursuing the American dream?"

"They are with the Lord now. Our task, here on Earth, is to save lives from being lost in another such tragedy,” the president said, drawing applause. “These miners lived—as they died—in pursuit of the American dream." Earlier, Obama met for the first time with the Rev. Billy Graham. A spokesman said later the president was "extraordinarily gratified" to have the chance to visit 91-year-old evangelist, the Chicago Tribune reports.
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