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Traficant, Obama put Valley in spotlight
The Mahoning Valley was in the national spotlight on two occasions this week.
Ex-con and ex-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. appeared on CNN’s “American Morning” program Monday and then served as guest host on WKBN-AM radio’s “Dan Rivers Show.”
A day later, President Barack Obama made an historic visit to the Lordstown General Motors complex. Obama is believed to be the first sitting president to ever deliver a speech in the Mahoning Valley in a non-election year.
Traficant didn’t say much on CNN that he hadn’t already said during his other public appearances.
During his two-hour shift on WKBN, Traficant said a few outrageous things and showed he’s paid little to no attention to political issues during his seven-year federal prison sentence.
The most glaring example was his complete lack of knowledge of the Central America Free Trade Agreement.
This was particularly surprising because as Traficant said on the air, he’s “staunchly opposed to trade agreements.”
A caller from Ashtabula asked about CAFTA and controversy surrounding U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette’s vote in favor of the agreement in 2005.
LaTourette of Bainbridge, R-14th, received incorrect information from a major employer in his district that failure to pass the agreement would adversely impact the business, and switched his vote from no to yes. The bill passed 217-215.
Traficant said, “You mean NAFTA,” the North America Free Trade Agreement. Traficant and others blame NAFTA for severely hurting domestic manufacturers.
After the caller corrected Traficant, the former congressman called the agreement “SAFTA” at least twice, including once saying, “I would have voted against SAFTA for damn sure.”
He then defended LaTourette’s vote, which he knew nothing about, by saying Republicans pressured LaTourette on the issue.
No comment
Traficant has repeatedly said he won’t talk to the local print media because his comments would be edited and he doesn’t like how we’ve treated him.
When offered an unedited question-and-answer interview with this newspaper, Traficant ignored it. The offer is still there, but because we won’t throw softballs, I’m sure Traficant — who certainly talks big — will continue to duck.
As for Obama’s speech, he got a number of loud pops from the audience, primarily GM employees, for his various references to the area, specifically mentioning Youngstown, Warren, Lordstown and Canfield. Even his mention of The Vindicator in the speech was the talk of the newsroom that day.
The president put a positive spin on the economy and the automobile industry though he admitted this area’s unemployment rate — one of the highest in Ohio — is unacceptable.
There were a few funny moments.
Obama had some trouble pronouncing Ohio Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro’s name. He then recognized her.
“How are you? She’s a fireplug. I remember her,” Obama said.
Mahoning County Democratic Chairman David Betras started a few standing ovations — at least in the section where the politicians were seated.
State Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd, had trouble containing his excitement at not only seeing a president in person for the first time, but for also getting a front-row seat.
But Schiavoni’s enthusiasm couldn’t compare to the excitement of U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th.
Ryan drove late Monday night from the Mahoning Valley to Washington, D.C., so he could join Obama on Air Force One for the president’s visit to the GM complex.
With a big smile on his face, Ryan said his first time on Air Force One “was amazing. It was historic. It was really cool.”
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Comments
After the politicians were all done slobbering over each other, did anyone add up the cost of Obama's 'historic visit to the Lordstown?' Find out for us, Vindicator.
Oh brother, when Obama (or any president for that matter) doesn't visit - we here crying here "Why is he avoiding Youngstown?". When he does visit, it still isn't good enough. Has Tugboat ever met a sitting President? Regardless of the party, it is an amazing experience and the office deserves respect. If someone is gushing with excitement, good for them. I had a cousin in the Air Force that worked on AF 1 & 2. All the crew gushed over such an important job regardless of the President they served. I say take in the experience and enjoy it for all it is worth.
According to CNN, "A presidential tour has become a very expensive military operation . Accompanying any tour are at least two C-5 Galaxy heavy transport aircraft carrying the president's bulletproof limousine, a stand-by limo, a fully fitted ambulance, occasionally his personal helicopter and -- for especially sensitive areas -- several additional limos for use as decoys.
Also flying with the president are a virtual battalion of secret service agents -- uniformed and plain clothed -- as well as their vehicles, and everything else the White House needs when it is on the move.
Added to that is the presidential press corps, with a rotating group of about a dozen journalists travelling in the press section at the back of Air Force One -- sustained during the journey by M&Ms provided in custom boxes complete with the presidential seal."
Now figure in the local cost and you're at about $80K per hour. While people are "gushing" over their experiences, I just happen to look at it as money that could be better spent.
At one time, Traficant's message was refreshing. I heard him speak in 1981 at KSU Trumbull campus. He was inspiring, but then I heard stories of him as sheriff. He was a brute. The entire political arena needs a massive overhaul. Obama is still campaigning instead of doing, Our local officials get lost once they hit Washington. Our government is a lost cause. This is exactly why small independant gangs who recognize this weakness seem to think they can overthrow or at least disrupt the United Sates without too much trouble.They are right, There is so much chaos and disharmony at the governmental level. This is why year after year this country requires so much more police action and protection. The entire process is spinning out of control, and those who could do anything about it are too busy taking care of their own. Our government officials paychecks are way out of line, and the fringe benefits have caused so many to become dishonest and not true to the cause. The government was originally set up to be self-serving which means if you were a government official, you had to go without just like the citizens. Unfortunately, the milk has been spilt, and it will be impossible to put it back in the bottle unless we vote for a new form of government. The senators and congress persons make way too much money as do everyone underneath them. They are only in this for the money and fringe benefits.There is no way we can fix this because our public officials will make sure we can't.
David ... some detailed observations about your coverage of Obama/Traficant:
1) Obama ... without his teleprompter, he stumbed over Capri Cafaro's name and called her a "fireplug."
* Surely the Won meant to say "sparkplug" rather than "fireplug."
* (Like her father J.J. Cafaro, Capri appears genetically programmed to grow nearly as wide as she is tall.)
2) Betras ... Google the definition of "claque"
3) Ryan ... Tim -- like Capri -- appears to be an achievement-free narcissist, desperate for applause.
4) Traficant ... with all due respect to op-ed journalism, you and Bertram are living a dream world dominated by the boogeyman Traficant.
* You've had seven years to prepare for Traficant coverage.
* Has it never occurred to you to investigate Traficant's guilt or innocence?
* Have you read any of the trial transcript which is fully online at www.ethics.house.gov?
* Have you made any attempt to interview any of the witnesses or jurors that are easily within your orbit?
* Have you offered to take Rick Berger up on his offer to be lie-detected about witness confessions of perjury?
* When did you ever attempt to contact Okolo, Detore, or Glaser about their sworn testimony about DOJ witness and jury tampering?
* What 'hardball' questions could you possibly ask of Traficant without having talked to witnesses and/or jurors?
* You guys are sitting on the story-of-a-lifetime but you are blowing it by being obsessively adversarial instead of investigative.
* Submit to Traficant your list of your "hardball" questions and if he won't answer you, then we will give it a shot -- we have done the investigative reporting!
* We'd be glad to publish your questions, and reply to them at length, at the under-development www.TraficantPoliticalPrisoner.com based upon our insiders' knowledge of the case.
Hey Jimbo
Is this true?
"Traficant has repeatedly said he won’t talk to the local print media because his comments would be edited and he doesn’t like how we’ve treated him."
Your not talking to the media because your not that bright.
What were you reading in prison? Oh I forgot you were painting. Jimbo the world has passed you by! You are old news! You, as the leach that you always were, always gravitate to the "15 minute of fame spotlight". What are you going to do? Nothing but rant and rave with your stupid broken English accent. To much pausing between words, once again because your not that bright.
SickofJimbo; I find your ignorance beyond belief.
Throughout my life I’ve worked with the media--I have members of my family that work in the TV media and also write. Some in this country, and some in a former "Communist country", where freedom of speech is dictated too them. Can you see that difference?
“Creative writing” is not “Journalism“, however we all take some of the same college courses. Our perceptions of an issue are embedded in our "words" and in our "senses" (touch, smell, hearing, seeing and speech). In addition to that the 3 rules of writing are--"ethos, logos, and pathos". The art of research has been lost almost totally by the pure laziness of the student.
When a writer loses the roots of their basic education the words begin to take on an attitude of what THEY have become themselves and not what their subject is about.
If a writer, unlike you, sees things in Jim Traficant that you can’t see--consider yourself lost in the world of “yesterday”, antiquated.
You cannot change nor can you accept change.
Hey Hortus: (aka friend of Jimbo)
What was that?
I'll say what I want and reflect what most people are thinking.
Sometimes you have to accept a PIG is just a PIG.
Capri Cafaro smiling for Jim .
http://www.ee.unimelb.edu.au/people/m...
Elliotness........You said it for a lot of us! Great Comment!