Yongstown Vindicator
"The presidential candidate came to Youngstown with a message of hope."YOUNGSTOWN — “I can lead this country in a new direction ... but I can’t do it by myself,” Illinois Sen. Barack Obama told a crowd of about 6,400 supporters gathered in Beeghly Center at Youngstown State University.“People tell me they want change,” he said, but he cautioned that change won’t happen unless the American people are truly committed to the process.Obama brought his Ohio presidential campaign to Youngstown on Monday with a “Keeping America’s Promise” rally at YSU after a morning tour of the RMI Titanium Co. plant in Weathersfield Township....Obama brought a message of hope to the city and stressed that hope isn’t blind optimism and being ignorant of the roadblocks those seeking change must face.Hope means imagining and working for those things you want to change, he said, calling on those in the crowd to join him in changing things in Washington, D.C. The next president of the United States needs to be someone who will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear, he said.Obama was introduced to the crowd by Rosemary Miller of Youngstown, who appeared on stage with her infant son and two young daughters to tout Obama’s plan to provide universal health care.Miller, a laid-off member of Pipefitters Local 396, said she is in danger of losing her health care and will support the man who says he will do something about it.Obama said providing better health care is just one of the changes he wants to make in the American system.He told the crowd he wants everyone to have the same or better quality of care that he receives as a United States senator. He also wants a ban on pre-existing condition denials by insurance companies and a subsidy to help those who need assistance in securing health care.He also vowed to end the war in Iraq, telling the crowd, “I will bring the war to an end in 2009.”Obama said he wants to take away the tax breaks given to companies that decide to move operations overseas and give the breaks to companies that invest in Youngstown and the United States.He proposes pulling back the tax cuts now enjoyed by the wealthiest Americans and giving them to working people. Those making less than $75,000 a year would get a $1,000 rollback on their taxes, he said.Other changes he proposes include:--An annual increase in the minimum wage to keep pace with inflation.--International trade agreements that contain labor, environmental and safety arrangements that protect the jobs of American workers.--Changes in Social Security tax laws to have everyone paying a fair share. Working men and women pay taxes on 100 percent of their income but the wealthy don’t, Obama said.--Investments in early childhood education to close the achievement gap, but with an added emphasis on poetry, music and art, not just academics. Obama admonished parents to do their part by turning off the television, putting away the video games, and instilling in their children a desire to get a good education.--Raising teacher salaries.--Making college more affordable by granting every student a $4,000 tuition credit in exchange for community or national service.--Creating an energy plan that charges polluters for creating greenhouse gases that pollute the atmosphere and using that money to invest in green technology that will save energy and create jobs that can’t be exported.--Creating a foreign policy that changes the attitude that led the United States to war in Iraq and restoring diplomacy, including having the president meet with those who like us and those who don’t.Obama said he has been criticized as lacking experience on the national level.“What matters is judgment,” he said, adding that some people never develop good judgment.
"The presidential candidate came to Youngstown with a message of hope."
YOUNGSTOWN — “I can lead this country in a new direction ... but I can’t do it by myself,” Illinois Sen. Barack Obama told a crowd of about 6,400 supporters gathered in Beeghly Center at Youngstown State University.
“People tell me they want change,” he said, but he cautioned that change won’t happen unless the American people are truly committed to the process.
Obama brought his Ohio presidential campaign to Youngstown on Monday with a “Keeping America’s Promise” rally at YSU after a morning tour of the RMI Titanium Co. plant in Weathersfield Township.
...Obama brought a message of hope to the city and stressed that hope isn’t blind optimism and being ignorant of the roadblocks those seeking change must face.
Hope means imagining and working for those things you want to change, he said, calling on those in the crowd to join him in changing things in Washington, D.C. The next president of the United States needs to be someone who will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear, he said.
Obama was introduced to the crowd by Rosemary Miller of Youngstown, who appeared on stage with her infant son and two young daughters to tout Obama’s plan to provide universal health care.
Miller, a laid-off member of Pipefitters Local 396, said she is in danger of losing her health care and will support the man who says he will do something about it.
Obama said providing better health care is just one of the changes he wants to make in the American system.
He told the crowd he wants everyone to have the same or better quality of care that he receives as a United States senator. He also wants a ban on pre-existing condition denials by insurance companies and a subsidy to help those who need assistance in securing health care.
He also vowed to end the war in Iraq, telling the crowd, “I will bring the war to an end in 2009.”
Obama said he wants to take away the tax breaks given to companies that decide to move operations overseas and give the breaks to companies that invest in Youngstown and the United States.
He proposes pulling back the tax cuts now enjoyed by the wealthiest Americans and giving them to working people. Those making less than $75,000 a year would get a $1,000 rollback on their taxes, he said.
Other changes he proposes include:
--An annual increase in the minimum wage to keep pace with inflation.
--International trade agreements that contain labor, environmental and safety arrangements that protect the jobs of American workers.
--Changes in Social Security tax laws to have everyone paying a fair share. Working men and women pay taxes on 100 percent of their income but the wealthy don’t, Obama said.
--Investments in early childhood education to close the achievement gap, but with an added emphasis on poetry, music and art, not just academics. Obama admonished parents to do their part by turning off the television, putting away the video games, and instilling in their children a desire to get a good education.
--Raising teacher salaries.
--Making college more affordable by granting every student a $4,000 tuition credit in exchange for community or national service.
--Creating an energy plan that charges polluters for creating greenhouse gases that pollute the atmosphere and using that money to invest in green technology that will save energy and create jobs that can’t be exported.
--Creating a foreign policy that changes the attitude that led the United States to war in Iraq and restoring diplomacy, including having the president meet with those who like us and those who don’t.
Obama said he has been criticized as lacking experience on the national level.
“What matters is judgment,” he said, adding that some people never develop good judgment.
Toledo Blade
"Obama Wows Youngstown Crowd" YOUNGSTOWN - Sen. Barack Obama yesterday chose the Mahoning Valley...to kick off his campaign for the state's Democratic convention delegates in the March 4 primary election.Speaking at Youngstown State University to a packed field house crowd of about 7,000 people, Mr. Obama got one of his biggest cheers - and there were many big ones - with a dig at the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA has been blamed for the loss of many Ohio jobs and was enacted during the term of former President Bill Clinton."Sen. [Hillary] Clinton says speeches don't put food on the table, but NAFTA didn't put food on the table, so I'm happy to have that discussion," Mr. Obama said...."Great company. Took a tour of the plant. Folks are so proud of the work they are doing making critical materials for our airline industries, for our defense industries," Mr. Obama said. But, he said, "for every one of those plants we have four, or five, or six close." Mr. Obama met with workers, according to his campaign, and unveiled what he called a plan for "Patriot Employers" that would end the tax breaks that he said provide incentives for U.S. multinational corporations to invest profits overseas and would reduce the corporate tax rate for companies that invest in the United States and its workers. According to Mr. Obama, Ohio lost 32,337 manufacturing jobs and 93 plants in 2006. ...Spectators waited in a long line to get into the field house, at which tight security prevailed. As they streamed out after the 45-minute speech, several said they were committed to voting for Mr. Obama. Among those supporters were YSU students Jasmine Jackson, 18, of Warren, Ohio, and Camille Tevis, 19, of Cincinnati. "I really liked it," Ms. Tevis said. "I have friends who don't have health care and my mom is also a single parent," a reference to Mr. Obama's observation that he was raised by his mother and his grandmother, after his father left when Barack was 2. She said she has not registered to vote but plans to do so. Her friend, Ms. Jackson, said she is registered and liked what Senator Obama had to say about helping to pay for college. Rita Rogers, 54, a fifth-grade teacher in Akron, said she agreed with Mr. Obama's emphasis on putting less stress on standardized tests and more on art, music, poetry, and literature. "I think he's going to exceed Hillary because he has the momentum," Ms. Rogers said. In his speech at Youngstown State, Mr. Obama promised tuition credits of $4,000 for college students, but said they would be expected to commit to some kind of community or national service, such as the Peace Corps. He said he would pay teachers more, but said children and parents would have to help: "Children are going to have to work hard. Parents, you're going to have to turn off the TV, put away the video games." He criticized Bush foreign policy as based on the belief that "there is a contradiction between us being safe and respected in the world." He promised he would "not hesitate to strike" to keep Americans safe as commander in chief, but promised more emphasis on properly equipping the military and treating veterans with respect. "Part of keeping you safe is also using our military wisely and the war in Iraq was unwise," Mr. Obama said.
"Obama Wows Youngstown Crowd"
YOUNGSTOWN - Sen. Barack Obama yesterday chose the Mahoning Valley...to kick off his campaign for the state's Democratic convention delegates in the March 4 primary election.Speaking at Youngstown State University to a packed field house crowd of about 7,000 people, Mr. Obama got one of his biggest cheers - and there were many big ones - with a dig at the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA has been blamed for the loss of many Ohio jobs and was enacted during the term of former President Bill Clinton."Sen. [Hillary] Clinton says speeches don't put food on the table, but NAFTA didn't put food on the table, so I'm happy to have that discussion," Mr. Obama said.
..."Great company. Took a tour of the plant. Folks are so proud of the work they are doing making critical materials for our airline industries, for our defense industries," Mr. Obama said. But, he said, "for every one of those plants we have four, or five, or six close."
...Spectators waited in a long line to get into the field house, at which tight security prevailed. As they streamed out after the 45-minute speech, several said they were committed to voting for Mr. Obama.
Among those supporters were YSU students Jasmine Jackson, 18, of Warren, Ohio, and Camille Tevis, 19, of Cincinnati. "I really liked it," Ms. Tevis said.
"I have friends who don't have health care and my mom is also a single parent," a reference to Mr. Obama's observation that he was raised by his mother and his grandmother, after his father left when Barack was 2. She said she has not registered to vote but plans to do so. Her friend, Ms. Jackson, said she is registered and liked what Senator Obama had to say about helping to pay for college.
Rita Rogers, 54, a fifth-grade teacher in Akron, said she agreed with Mr. Obama's emphasis on putting less stress on standardized tests and more on art, music, poetry, and literature.
"I think he's going to exceed Hillary because he has the momentum," Ms. Rogers said.
In his speech at Youngstown State, Mr. Obama promised tuition credits of $4,000 for college students, but said they would be expected to commit to some kind of community or national service, such as the Peace Corps.
He said he would pay teachers more, but said children and parents would have to help: "Children are going to have to work hard. Parents, you're going to have to turn off the TV, put away the video games."
Tribune Chronicle
For Christena Weatherspoon of Struthers, it was like Barack Obama was inside her head. After the Democratic presidential candidate’s 45-minute address to at Youngstown State University, Weatherspoon said she was speechless. She said, ‘‘It was like he knows what I want.’’ She was not alone in the crowd of about 6,800 supporters who packed Beeghly Center for Obama’s first campaign rally in Ohio and responded enthusiastically to his message of ‘‘hope and change.’’ Donald Butler, 44, of Warren, said he has not voted in the last couple of elections, but he worked his way to the stage after the talk and stretched his hand as high as he could to shake Obama’s hand. ‘‘I got there,’’ he said. And he said he’ll vote for Obama this year. Khaled Tabbara of Youngstown was a political activist in the Young Democrats at Fitch High School and worked on the Al Gore campaign in 2000. He said he had become cynical. ‘‘I felt like there were nothing we could do. This is the first guy I’m excited about in my life,’’ Tabbara said. Repeatedly, Obama asked if they were ready for change, and went through his economic and foreign policy proposals. The crowd roared its approval, especially when he said he would end the war in Iraq in 2009. He said there is no contradiction between America being safe from terrorists and being respected around the world. He said he would close the prisoner camp at Guantanamo Bay and make America a leader in protecting the environment in ending HIV and respecting human rights. Among other issues, Obama said he would:--Roll back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy to give those making less than $75,000 a tax break; --Create a $10 billion fund so that people paying their mortgages won’t face foreclosure; --Raise the minimum wage not every 10 years, but every year. He also talked about the need to change America’s trade policy, a theme he stressed in brief remarks following an earlier tour of the RMI Titanium Co. plant in Weathersfield. Following the 30-minute walk through the plant, he talked with Todd Weddell, president of United Steelworkers Local 2155, about the local economy, where more jobs are leaving than are being created. Obama told a several dozen RMI workers that few areas of the country have been hurt worse by trade agreements than the Mahoning Valley. To help areas like the Valley, he said he would amend agreements like NAFTA and end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. Instead, he would give tax breaks to companies that maintain corporate headquarters in the United State and create good jobs here — ‘‘Companies like RTI,’’ he said. ‘‘To help titanium plants like RTI, I want to make sure that our military gets the precious metal materials that it needs from American companies if they’re available here in America, because there’s no reason our own government shouldn’t be doing all the business it can right here in the United States.’’...‘‘This guy has drawn in a whole new layer of support,’’ Binning said. ‘‘For the youth here, this is the most significant political event of their lives.’’ As if to prove Binning’s point, Jared Jacobs, 17, drove all the way from Ashtabula to see Obama. Jacobs, who said he will be 18 in time to vote in the November election, said, ‘‘I’ll never forget this. It’s one of the best moments of my life.’’
For Christena Weatherspoon of Struthers, it was like Barack Obama was inside her head. After the Democratic presidential candidate’s 45-minute address to at Youngstown State University, Weatherspoon said she was speechless. She said, ‘‘It was like he knows what I want.’’ She was not alone in the crowd of about 6,800 supporters who packed Beeghly Center for Obama’s first campaign rally in Ohio and responded enthusiastically to his message of ‘‘hope and change.’’ Donald Butler, 44, of Warren, said he has not voted in the last couple of elections, but he worked his way to the stage after the talk and stretched his hand as high as he could to shake Obama’s hand. ‘‘I got there,’’ he said. And he said he’ll vote for Obama this year. Khaled Tabbara of Youngstown was a political activist in the Young Democrats at Fitch High School and worked on the Al Gore campaign in 2000. He said he had become cynical. ‘‘I felt like there were nothing we could do. This is the first guy I’m excited about in my life,’’ Tabbara said. Repeatedly, Obama asked if they were ready for change, and went through his economic and foreign policy proposals. The crowd roared its approval, especially when he said he would end the war in Iraq in 2009. He said there is no contradiction between America being safe from terrorists and being respected around the world. He said he would close the prisoner camp at Guantanamo Bay and make America a leader in protecting the environment in ending HIV and respecting human rights. Among other issues, Obama said he would:--Roll back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy to give those making less than $75,000 a tax break; --Create a $10 billion fund so that people paying their mortgages won’t face foreclosure; --Raise the minimum wage not every 10 years, but every year. He also talked about the need to change America’s trade policy, a theme he stressed in brief remarks following an earlier tour of the RMI Titanium Co. plant in Weathersfield. Following the 30-minute walk through the plant, he talked with Todd Weddell, president of United Steelworkers Local 2155, about the local economy, where more jobs are leaving than are being created. Obama told a several dozen RMI workers that few areas of the country have been hurt worse by trade agreements than the Mahoning Valley. To help areas like the Valley, he said he would amend agreements like NAFTA and end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. Instead, he would give tax breaks to companies that maintain corporate headquarters in the United State and create good jobs here — ‘‘Companies like RTI,’’ he said. ‘‘To help titanium plants like RTI, I want to make sure that our military gets the precious metal materials that it needs from American companies if they’re available here in America, because there’s no reason our own government shouldn’t be doing all the business it can right here in the United States.’’
...‘‘This guy has drawn in a whole new layer of support,’’ Binning said. ‘‘For the youth here, this is the most significant political event of their lives.’’ As if to prove Binning’s point, Jared Jacobs, 17, drove all the way from Ashtabula to see Obama. Jacobs, who said he will be 18 in time to vote in the November election, said, ‘‘I’ll never forget this. It’s one of the best moments of my life.’’
Youngstown Vindicator
WEATHERSFIELD — Ringed by factory workers with hard hats and safety glasses, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama kicked off his Ohio campaign by promising to fight companies that move jobs overseas.“It’s bad for our country, it’s bad for the economy, and it will not happen when I’m president of the United States of America,” Obama said Monday at RMI Titanium Co....Tristan Liptak, an electrical apprentice at the mill, said he’s leaning toward voting for Obama in the Democratic primary March 4 after hearing him speak up for workers.“The middle class is going away quickly,” said Liptak, 37, of Niles. “Something has to be done to stop it before we’re all making minimum wage.” ...[Sen. Obama] was one of three senators to introduce the Patriot Employer Act of 2007, which would provide a tax credit to companies that maintain or increase their ratio of full-time workers compared with those in other countries and who maintain corporate headquarters here. He also said he would fight against providing tax breaks to companies that move jobs to other countries. Obama said the North American Free Trade Agreement needs to be amended to include provisions that ensure other countries are meeting labor, environmental and safety standards.He added that trade agreements need more strict enforcement to stop other countries from enacting tariffs on goods while this country is not.He said he supports requirements for the military to buy material from domestic companies.“That’s how plants like this one will stay strong for future generations,” Obama said.
WEATHERSFIELD — Ringed by factory workers with hard hats and safety glasses, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama kicked off his Ohio campaign by promising to fight companies that move jobs overseas.
“It’s bad for our country, it’s bad for the economy, and it will not happen when I’m president of the United States of America,” Obama said Monday at RMI Titanium Co.
...Tristan Liptak, an electrical apprentice at the mill, said he’s leaning toward voting for Obama in the Democratic primary March 4 after hearing him speak up for workers.
“The middle class is going away quickly,” said Liptak, 37, of Niles. “Something has to be done to stop it before we’re all making minimum wage.”
...[Sen. Obama] was one of three senators to introduce the Patriot Employer Act of 2007, which would provide a tax credit to companies that maintain or increase their ratio of full-time workers compared with those in other countries and who maintain corporate headquarters here.
He also said he would fight against providing tax breaks to companies that move jobs to other countries.
Obama said the North American Free Trade Agreement needs to be amended to include provisions that ensure other countries are meeting labor, environmental and safety standards.
He added that trade agreements need more strict enforcement to stop other countries from enacting tariffs on goods while this country is not.
He said he supports requirements for the military to buy material from domestic companies.
“That’s how plants like this one will stay strong for future generations,” Obama said.
Cleveland Plain Dealer
..."I talk about hope a lot in my campaign speeches and under- standably so, because the odds of me standing here are very slim," Obama told a crowd of more than 6,000 at a Youngstown State University gymnasium on Monday afternoon. "I was born to a teenage mother. My dad left when I was 2. So I was raised by a single mother and grandparents, and they didn't have money or fame. They gave me love, an education and hope. So I talk about hope." ...He called for a $4,000 tuition credit for students who perform some form of community service, an increase in the minimum wage each year to keep pace with inflation and a mandate that insurance companies cover everyone, regardless of existing health problems. Obama will return to Ohio sometime after today's Wisconsin primary... Just before the rally, Obama toured RTI International Metals in Niles, which makes titanium products for aerospace and other industries and employs about 350 members of United Steelworkers Local 2155. He acknowledged that the global economy makes it difficult to limit trade but said, "It certainly doesn't mean we have to accept unfair trade deals like NAFTA."...He pledged to offer companies tax breaks under his "Patriot Employers" plan for adding jobs in the United States....Kelli Hileman, who hauled three children under 5 to the Youngstown rally and landed a front-row seat because she was pushing a stroller [said,] "I had my mind made up a long time ago," she said. "I believe in his message of change. When he's talking to you, it feels like a friend in your kitchen. I was a die-hard Clinton fan, but this is a different fight.
..."I talk about hope a lot in my campaign speeches and under- standably so, because the odds of me standing here are very slim," Obama told a crowd of more than 6,000 at a Youngstown State University gymnasium on Monday afternoon.
"I was born to a teenage mother. My dad left when I was 2. So I was raised by a single mother and grandparents, and they didn't have money or fame. They gave me love, an education and hope. So I talk about hope."
...He called for a $4,000 tuition credit for students who perform some form of community service, an increase in the minimum wage each year to keep pace with inflation and a mandate that insurance companies cover everyone, regardless of existing health problems.
Obama will return to Ohio sometime after today's Wisconsin primary...
Just before the rally, Obama toured RTI International Metals in Niles, which makes titanium products for aerospace and other industries and employs about 350 members of United Steelworkers Local 2155.
He acknowledged that the global economy makes it difficult to limit trade but said, "It certainly doesn't mean we have to accept unfair trade deals like NAFTA."
...He pledged to offer companies tax breaks under his "Patriot Employers" plan for adding jobs in the United States.
...Kelli Hileman, who hauled three children under 5 to the Youngstown rally and landed a front-row seat because she was pushing a stroller [said,]
"I had my mind made up a long time ago," she said. "I believe in his message of change. When he's talking to you, it feels like a friend in your kitchen. I was a die-hard Clinton fan, but this is a different fight.
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