WAYNE ALLEN
PDT Staff Writer
An estimated 700 people packed into the auditeria of Portsmouth High School Sunday to see and hear Vice President Joe Biden.
“This country faces the starkest choice for president of the United States that it has in my lifetime,” Biden said. “For all the talk Gov. Romney and Congressman Ryan have engaged in, they don’t have the courage to tell you what their policies are going to be.”
He then outlined to those in attendance several of the proposed Romney-Ryan policies.
“They talk so much about how much they care about medicare and talk about how they want to preserve it and protect it’s benefits,” Biden said. “Let me tell you what they do not tell you, their plan would immediately cut benefits for 30 million seniors. What they don’t tell you what they are proposing would cause the medicare trust fund to run out of money by 2016.”
Biden then outlined the Romey-Ryan plan for the national debt and jobs.
“The president and Gov. Romney have a very different view on the importance of where jobs are created. My president and your president believes in creating jobs here in America, keeping jobs here in America and bringing job back to America. That’s the president I believe in,” Biden said.
The Vice President asserted that under the Romney budget there would be funding cuts to programs such as Medicaid, Social Security, education and Pell Grants.
“Listen folks, the president and I have a different way forward we know the way to create jobs. Our plan would create 100,000 new math and science teachers, one million new manufacturing jobs over the next four years, cut oil imports by half by 2020, real and fair enforcement of our trade laws, creating a level playing field so that we are able to export to the world what the world wants. Products stamped made in America,” Biden said.
He said other plans include cutting the deficit and ending the war in Afghanistan.
“We see a future where everyone rich and poor does their part and has a part. We also see a future where America leads by example and not by an example of our power,” Biden said.
He said the country has been through a lot over the last four years.
“America did not give up, you got up and you know as well as I do there is no quit in America,” Biden said.
Traveling with Biden was former Scioto County resident and former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland.
“It’s great to be back, I’m always happen to be back in Scioto County and to see old friends. I feel like I am home,” Strickland said.
Strickland addressed the Democratic National Convention last week.
The part of Strickland’s speech that’s received the most attention was, ‘if Mitt Romney were Santa Claus he would sell the reindeers and outsource the elves.’
“I was trying to illustrate the point that when he was at Bain, they would buy companies, load them up with debt and sometimes drive them into bankruptcy, then sell them off. He always came out of that deal making a huge profit for himself. I did not know it was going to be so well-received. Some people have said it’s the most memorable comment that came out of the convention,” Strickland said.
Local educator Melody Ogg was chosen from the Scioto County Democratic Party to introduce Biden.
“The campaign called and I was more than happy to do this. It’s a great honor,” Ogg said before delivering her remarks. “It’s an honor to stand by our leaders, while the other side attacks the rights of workers and the middle class. President Obama and Vice President Biden stand by teachers, police officers and fire fighters to collectively bargain. Our president and vice president understands us, they share our values and out dreams for the future. They fight for us everyday, now it’s our turn to fight for them.”
Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.
Politicians, I don't understand why anyone believes anything you say, any of you!
Can you imagine what could be done to benefit the American people for what these self serving talking heads are spending to tell lies about each other.
****"An estimated 700 people packed into the auditeria"
If correct, this was a blatant violation of the law. I seriously doubt 700 could fit in there anyway.
****“Let me tell you what they do not tell you, their plan would immediately cut benefits for 30 million seniors."
Under the Romney plan, anybody over 55 would not see any change in the present plan.
****“Listen folks, the president and I have a different way forward we know the way to create jobs. Our plan would create 100,000 new math and science teachers, one million new manufacturing jobs over the next four years, cut oil imports by half by 2020, real and fair enforcement of our trade laws, creating a level playing field so that we are able to export to the world what the world wants. Products stamped made in America,” Biden said.
He said other plans include cutting the deficit and ending the war in Afghanistan"
Excuse me Mr. VP, The first 2 years of being in office you had Democrats that controlled both House & Senate. Other than having Obamacare rammed down our throats, what have you been doing the last 4 years? If you know how to do all of these things you mention, why haven't they already been done? You sound like a candidate running for office against an incumbent instead of being an incumbent.
And you Mr. Strickland, I can't believe you have the courage to come back to this part of Ohio. Not one bit of good did you do for your hometown.