Clean Coal and Natural Gas

Are people really stupid enough to believe that clean coal exists or that burning either natural gas or coal is better for the environment? The ads are everywhere trying to say how good these two fuels are when compared to what, oil. All of them are fossil fuels, they all produce carbon emissions or green house gases if you burn them. China has now passed us in solar and wind energy production, and they are shipping the technology and supplies over here. People just need to start using some common sense and not buy into these ads. Is a small percentage less of carbon produced that much better?