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Tag Archives: Ohio

Engaging in a battle of wits with an unarmed Ohio senator

05 Sunday Feb 2023

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media, US Senate

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Tags

balloon, carpetbagger, China, guns, Jason Kander, JD Vance, missouri, Ohio, right wingnut, social media

Jason Kander (D) [2016 file photo]

Yesterday:

[image cropped]

Jason Kander @JasonKander
Dumb shit like this encourages dumb people to actually fire at an object that is tens of thousands of feet out of range, and those rounds come down, and sometimes they kill innocent Americans, which seems like the kind of thing a United States Senator might want to discourage.
[….]
8:50 AM · Feb 4, 2023

JD Vance (r) doesn’t have a clue:

Jason Kander @JasonKander
Nah, but I guess I could’ve moved to a state I didn’t live and then disavowed everything I’d ever claimed to believe.

But I’ve had a far greater impact on the world by doing it my way.

I can live without the title. You go enjoy it, because it’s all you have, Senator.
[….]
12:49 PM · Feb 4, 2023

Heh.

It’s a good bet that only one of the two can reassemble a rifle blindfolded.

Previously:

Are you certain it wasn’t Rick Brattin (r)? (February 3, 2023)

Maybe they’re just checking on all of their Missouri farm landholdings (February 3, 2023)

Apparently Jason Smith (r) believes China is unaware of any easily accessible map applications (February 3, 2023)

Marked “Safe” in Virginia from the Balloon (February 4, 2023)

They were searching in vain for any of the locations of your open public town halls in the district (February 4, 2023)

The adult in the room (February 4, 2023)

Anxiously trying to elbow his way to the front row (February 5, 2023)

It all looks the same from Virginia

29 Sunday Jan 2023

Posted by Michael Bersin in Josh Hawley, social media, US Senate

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

barbecue, Fascist pig, Josh Hawley, Ohio, right wingnut, sportsball, stone cold idiot, trying way too hard, Virginia

Josh Hawley (r) [2016 file photo].

Remember this?:

Claire McCaskill @clairecmc
It’s Missouri you stone cold idiot.
[….]
9:24 PM · Feb 2, 2020

Today, from the third Senator from Virginia:

Josh Hawley @HawleyMO
We settled on ribs from @JDVance1 if (and when) he loses, KC Joe’s from me in the highly unlikely event the @Chiefs don’t prevail
12:27 PM · Jan 29, 2023

Josh (r) picked the Chiefs by an eight-ender.

Some of the responses:

“KC Joe’s” is in Kansas. Not Missouri. If you’re going to pretend to live here at least use google

All 3 locations are in Kansas.

Everyone’s crying because you didnt pick a MO BBQ joint. Might consider switching from Joe’s to Jack Stack.

It is really hard to tell from Virginia.

The senator that is supposed to be representing Missouri ordering from a Kansas restaurant from his home in Virginia is what is laughable.

Have you ever stepped foot in Missouri?

How sad is that? Why not just pick a VA BBQ joint Josh? You’re much more familiar with where those are located than anything on the MO side of the state line. [….]

Do they have a location in Virginia now?

If the Chiefs lose will you incite a riot at NFL HQ in New York and then run away in fear when it gets out of hand?

Heh.

You represent Missouri why would you bet Kansas barbecue?

That’s not in Missouri.

With a side of insurrection?

That one left a mark on the Constitution.

It’s tough when you don’t live in your state.

It’s Joe’s KC and that’s from Kansas, you fucking dolt.

Claire McCaskill @clairecmc
Ummmm. Just a heads up Josh. There are many many great KC BBQ joints in MISSOURI. Kinda awkward that you bet KANSAS BBQ. You need to get to Missouri more. I’d be happy to show you around. [….]
12:56 PM · Jan 29, 2023

Claire McCaskill (D) [2018 file photo].

Good lord. At least pick a bbq restaurant in MISSOURI—you know, the state you represent. But then again you don’t live here, so……….. #fail

Dumbass

What state do you represent??? Idiot…

Virginia. Ohio. Same difference.

28 Thursday Apr 2022

Posted by Michael Bersin in Josh Hawley, US Senate

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Josh Hawley, missouri, Ohio, right wingnut, social media, Twitter, Virginia

Josh Hawley (r) [2016 file photo].

Tonight:

Josh Hawley @HawleyMO
Can’t wait to be out on the trail with @JDVance1 in Ohio this Sunday and Monday! Let’s start the countdown to victory #OHSen
8:23 PM · Apr 28, 2022

Some of the responses:

The Pale, Male, Yale Tour

Well, at least you won’t be polluting Missouri. Oh wait, you don’t live in Missouri! June 9th is going to be the start of illumination. [….]

Mark your calendar.

Pass the popcorn.

I dare you to come to Kansas City to host a town hall.

Why on Earth would Josh do something like that?

That will just cut into his time with meeting with wealthy donors.

Exactly.

At some point you are going to be in MO to meet with voters right? I mean that are going to ask you questions and not just give you money?

Virginia. Not Missouri.

Talk to your constituents in your alleged home state some time. And not just the ones donating to your campaign.

Wish you’d hit the trail to Missouri sometime. It’s just west of Illinois.

Elite Ivy League Bros Club [….]

Head out, don’t come back. Thanks!

So they’re sending out the third team for Brown Shirt rallies?

Of course you CAN wait to be on the trail to Missouri. You know, the state that you claim to represent.

Are you planning another coup?

Makes sense. You don’t spend any time in Missouri. Might as well spend a week in Ohio.

There are tapes…I wouldn’t be so enthusiastic about anything right now if I were you.

JD Vance and Charlie Kirk?
The company you keep defines you Josh.

Care to do a townhall with your constituents? Like, ever? What a joke you are.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.

Uh?

Heartland Pod: on expertise

14 Monday Dec 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Adam Sommer, Dunning-Kruger Effect, expertise, Heartland POD, Michael Sarap, missouri, Ohio, podcast

EP 41: The Cave – A discussion of expertise in a time of pandemic with Dr. Michael Sarap
DECEMBER 14TH, 2020 | 01:38:18 | E41

Adam Sommer is joined for “Let’s Have A Chat” (5:00) by Dr. Michael Sarap, a surgeon from rural Ohio with 33+ years in the field to discuss rural health care, the reaction to COVID-19, and the issue of rejection of expertise in America. Adam provides an update on the podcast and Heartland Strong (52:00) Then, Adam is joined again by Sean Diller and Zack Schwartz for a new segment called “Last Call” (54:45) where the crew dives into the issue of the death of expertise with a less political and more free formed discussion.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): try again

05 Monday Aug 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

4th Congressional District, California, Dayton, El Paso, Gilroy, gun violence, missouri, NRA, Ohio, Texas, Vicky Hartzler

In 2017 Japan had one of the lowest rates of death by gun violence in the world, 0.04 per 100,000 people. In the same year the rate of death by gun violence in the United States was 4.43 per 100,000 people. The data excluded deaths in armed conflict and by self harm.

Japan, among several other countries, has a higher per capita spending rate on video games than the United States.

In 2012:

Ten-country comparison suggests there’s little or no link between video games and gun murders
By Max Fisher
December 17, 2012

…video game consumption, based on international data, does not seem to correlate at all with an increase in gun violence. That countries where video games are popular also tend to be some of the world’s safest (probably because these countries are stable and developed, not because they have video games). And we also have learned, once again, that America’s rate of firearm-related homicides is extremely high for the developed world…

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

A statement from Representative Vicky Hartzler (r):

Hartzler Statement on Weekend Shootings
August 5, 2019 Press Release

“The murders in Texas and Ohio this weekend are symptoms of a culture of violence and anger that is gripping America. From entertainment and video games that consume the attention of our young people to murder in our cities, violence is pervasive in America and must be addressed. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the glorification of violence and murder in our society today, and our efforts to address mental health issues have just begun. My husband and I are deeply saddened at the loss of life and grieve for the families of the victims.”

“…From entertainment and video games that consume the attention of our young people to murder in our cities, violence is pervasive in America and must be addressed…”

Nope, it’s not video games. What could it be?

In a study published in 2000 (using data from 1993 and 1994):

Firearm Availability and Homicide Rates across 26 High Income Countries [pdf]
David Hemenway, PhD, and Matthew Miller, MD, MPH, ScD

Of all developed nations, the United States has the most privately owned guns, and the highest rates of homicide. Approximately two thirds of murder victims in the United States are killed with a gun.

[….]

Table 1 Homicide Rates for 26 High-Income Countries

Country Year Population (in thousands) Total Homicide Rate per 100,000 Suicides with a Firearm (%)

United States 1993 257,783 9.93 60.9
[….]
Japan 1994 124,069 0.62 0.2

[….]

…Results from our simple regressions of 26 developed nations show a highly significant positive correlation between total homicide rates and both proxies for gun availability…

…In our analysis, we find, for industrialized countries, a very strong and highly significant association between gun availability levels and total homicide rates. The relationship holds even though the number of observations is fairly small (n = 26) and the measures of gun availability are only proxies. The relationship does not seem to be attributable entirely to the United States—which has more guns and more homicides than other developed nations—because the results often hold when the United States is excluded from the analysis. More guns are associated with more homicides across industrialized countries.

“…We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the glorification of violence and murder in our society today…”

There’s glorification going on all right. Take a look at the NRA.

Try again.

Gerrymander

16 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri House, social media

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

CLEAN Missouri, gerrymandering, missouri, Ohio, redistricting reform, social media, Twitter

The intended results, in Ohio:

Alec MacGillis @AlecMacGillis
Stunning new stat out of Ohio:

We already knew that Republicans got 12 of OH’s 16 US House seats despite winning only 52% of total congressional vote.

But get this: Republicans also managed to hold supermajorities in the Ohio legislature despite LOSING the total state leg vote.
12:24 PM – 15 Nov 2018

In Missouri:

Gunnar Johanson @GunnarJohanson
A thread with some #MOleg facts:

Democratic candidates for the state’s House of Representatives received 44% of the popular vote in 2018 but only received 29% of the seats.
9:01 AM – 15 Nov 2018

The thread continued:

This is an increase of 10% of the electorate from 2016, yet only yielded one net seat gain from 2016 to 2018.

Meanwhile, the GOP lost 8% of the state house electorate but only lost one seat. One seat is .6% of the chamber.

Clear evidence that the system is rigged against 44% of the state house electorate in Missouri. Here’s to hoping @CleanMissouri is implemented and ends gerrymandering

That’s the practical impact.

What could possibly go wrong?

25 Friday Mar 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

Cleveland, convention, evil doers, guns, Ohio, paranoia, rnc

A petition:

ChangeOrg032516

Allow Open Carry of Firearms at the Quicken Loans Arena during the RNC Convention in July.

RECOGNIZE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO OPEN CARRY FIREARMS AT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION AT THE QUICKEN LOANS ARENA IN JULY 2016

SUMMARY: In July of 2016, the GOP will host its convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Though Ohio is an open carry state, which allows for the open carry of guns, the hosting venue—the Quicken Loans Arena—strictly forbids the carry of firearms on their premises.

According to the policy on their website, “firearms and other weapons of any kind are strictly forbidden on the premises of Quicken Loans Arena.”

This is a direct affront to the Second Amendment and puts all attendees at risk. As the National Rifle Association has made clear, “gun-free zones” such as the Quicken Loans Arena are “the worst and most dangerous of all lies.” The NRA, our leading defender of gun rights, has also correctly pointed out that “gun free zones… tell every insane killer in America… (the) safest place to inflict maximum mayhem with minimum risk.” (March 4, 2016 and Dec. 21, 2012)

Cleveland, Ohio is consistently ranked as one of the top ten most dangerous cities in America. By forcing attendees to leave their firearms at home, the RNC and Quicken Loans Arena are putting tens of thousands of people at risk both inside and outside of the convention site.

This doesn’t even begin to factor in the possibility of an ISIS terrorist attack on the arena during the convention. Without the right to protect themselves, those at the Quicken Loans Arena will be sitting ducks, utterly helpless against evil-doers, criminals or others who wish to threaten the American way of life.

All three remaining Republican candidates have spoken out on the issue and are unified in their opposition to Barack HUSSEIN Obama’s “gun-free zones.”

[….]

There may be such a thing as Karma.

President Obama (D): “I bet on American workers”

24 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

2012, auto industry, Obama, Ohio, preisdent

President Obama, today, in Dayton, Ohio:

Voice: Obama, we love you!

President Obama (D): ….You know, last night, Governor Romney looked you right in the eye, looked me in the eye, tried to pretend that he never said, let Detroit go bankrupt. Tried to pretend that he meant the same thing I did when we intervened and worked to make sure that management and workers got together to save the U.S. auto industry, pretended like somehow I had taken his advice. [laughter] The people don’t forget. The people of Dayton don’t forget. [voices: “No!”] The people of Ohio don’t forget. [voices: “No!”]

If Mitt Romney had been president when the auto industry was on the verge of collapse, we might not have an American auto industry today. We’d be buying cars from China instead of selling cars to China.  And you know how important that is to Ohio. The auto industry supports one in eight Ohio jobs. It’s a source of pride to this state.  It is a source of pride to our country. It’s a source of pride to generations of workers. I refused to walk away from those workers.I bet on those workers. I refused to walk away from those jobs. I understood that Americans can compete. I wasn’t about to let Detroit go bankrupt, or Toledo go bankrupt, or Lordstown go bankrupt. I bet on American workers. I bet on American manufacturing. I would do it again because that bet has paid off for Ohio and America in a big way. [cheers, applause]….

Take that, Mitt (r).

Public Policy Polling in Ohio: refining the Crazification Factor

10 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

2012, Bin Laden, Obama, Ohio, pollong, PPP, president, Romney

Via Mother Jones, Public Policy Polling (PPP) did a survey [pdf] of 1,072 likely voters in Ohio September 7th through the 9th, 2012. The margin of error is 3%.

Some evil genius came up with a question for the poll. The crosstabulations are very interesting.

Q15 Who do you think deserves more credit for the killing of Osama bin Laden: Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?

Base [all]

Barack Obama – 63%

Mitt Romney – 6%

Not sure – 31%

Democrat

Barack Obama – 86%

Mitt Romney – 1%

Not sure – 13%

Republican

Barack Obama – 38%

Mitt Romney – 15%

Not sure – 47%

Independent/Other

Barack Obama – 64%

Mitt Romney – 1%

Not sure – 36%

[emphasis added]

That’s interesting. It’s curious that it’s not 27%.

President Obama (D): You want to talk about class warfare?

23 Friday Sep 2011

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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class warfare, jobs bill, John Boehner, Kentucky, Mitch McConnell, Obama, Ohio

Finally.

“….Now, the Republicans, when I talked about this earlier in the week, they said, well, this is class warfare.  You know what, if asking a billionaire to pay their fair share of taxes, to pay the same tax rate as a plumber or a teacher is class warfare, then you know what, I’m a warrior for the middle class.  (Applause.)  I’m happy to fight for the middle class.  I’m happy to fight for working people.  (Applause.)  Because the only warfare I’ve seen is the battle against the middle class over the last 10, 15 years….”

The White House transcript:

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 22, 2011

Remarks by the President on the American Jobs Act — Cincinnati, OH

Hilltop Basic Resources-River Terminal, Cincinnati, Ohio

2:55 P.M. EDT

       THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Cincinnati!  (Applause.)  Well, it is good to see all of you.  It is good to be back in Cincinnati.  (Applause.)  I have to say I drove by the Bengals’ practice — (laughter.)  And I was scouting out some plays in case they play the Bears — (laughter.)  Did I hear somebody boo the Bears?

       AUDIENCE:  Booo!  (Laughter.)  

       THE PRESIDENT:  We’ve got some folks I just want to make sure are acknowledged here today.  First of all, the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, is in the house.  Give him a round of applause.  (Applause.)  We’ve got the mayor of the great city of Cincinnati — Mark Mallory is here.  (Applause.)  We’ve got the mayor of Covington, Mayor Denny Bowman.  (Applause.)  Senator Rand Paul is here.  

       AUDIENCE:  Booo –…

…THE PRESIDENT:  Rand is going to be supporting bridges, so we’ve got to — (applause.)  And we’ve got Congressman John Yarmuth in the house.  (Applause.)  

       Now, it is good to be back.  I was just in Columbus a little while ago, and I figured I couldn’t get away with not giving     Cincinnati a little bit of love.  (Applause.)

       I want to thank the good folks at Hilltop Concrete for having us here today.  I especially want to thank Ron for his introduction.    

       Companies like Hilltop, construction companies, have been hit harder by this economic crisis than almost any other industry in America.  And there are millions of construction workers who are still out there looking for a job.  They’re ready to work, but things have been a little tough.  That doesn’t mean that there is not plenty of construction waiting to get done in this country.  

       Behind us stands the Brent Spence Bridge.  It’s located on one of the busiest trucking routes in North America.  It sees about 150,000 vehicles every single day.  And it’s in such poor condition that it’s been labeled “functionally obsolete.”  Think about that — functionally obsolete.  That doesn’t sound good, does it?  

       AUDIENCE:  Nooo!

       THE PRESIDENT:  It’s safe to —

       AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Kind of like John Boehner.  (Laughter.)  

       THE PRESIDENT:  It’s safe to drive on, but it was not designed to accommodate today’s traffic, which can stretch out for a mile.  Shipping companies try to have their trucks avoid the bridge.  Of course, that only ends up costing them more money as well.  

       The thing is there are bridges and roads and highways like that throughout the region.  A major bridge that connects Kentucky and Indiana just closed down for safety reasons.  Another aging bridge that crosses over the Ohio River in Ironton could be replaced right now.  There are rail stations in Cleveland and Toledo in desperate need of repair.  And the same is true in cities and towns all across America.  It makes your commute longer.  It costs our businesses billions of dollars — they could be moving products faster if they had better transportation routes.  And in some cases, it’s not safe.

       Now, we used to have the best infrastructure in the world here in America.  We’re the country that built the Intercontinental Railroad, the Interstate Highway System.  (Applause.)  We built the Hoover Dam.  We built the Grand Central Station.  (Applause.)  So how can we now sit back and let China build the best railroads?  And let Europe build the best highways?  And have Singapore build a nicer airport?  At a time when we’ve got millions of unemployed construction workers out there just ready to get on the job, ready to do the work to rebuilding America.  (Applause.)

       So, Cincinnati, we are better than that.  We’re smarter than that.  And that’s why I sent Congress the American Jobs Act 10 days ago.  (Applause.)  This bill is not that complicated.  It’s a bill that would put people back to work rebuilding America — repairing our roads, repairing our bridges, repairing our schools.  It would lead to jobs for concrete workers like the ones here at Hilltop; jobs for construction workers and masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, architects, engineers, ironworkers — put folks back to work.  (Applause.)  

       There is work to be done, and there are workers ready to do it.  So let’s tell Congress to pass this jobs bill right away.  (Applause.)

       AUDIENCE:  Pass this bill!  Pass this bill!  Pass this bill!

       THE PRESIDENT:  Pass this bill!  (Laughter.)  Pass the bill!

       Tell them to pass the jobs bill, and not only will we start rebuilding America, but we can also put thousands of teachers back to work.  (Applause.)  

       I was with the President of South Korea — I was up at the United Nations.  We were doing a bunch of stuff.  And he’s told me in the past — I’ve asked him, I said, what’s your biggest challenge?  He says, oh, education.  I said, well, what are you dealing with?  He said, well, you know what, we’re hiring so many teachers we can barely keep up, because we know that if we’re going to compete in the future we’ve got to have the best teachers.  (Applause.)  And we’ve got to have our kids in school longer.  And we’ve got to make sure that they’re learning math and science.

       Well, while they’re hiring teachers in droves, what are we doing?  We’re laying off teachers.  It makes no sense in this new global economy where our young people’s success is going to depend on the kind of education that they get.  So for us to be laying off teachers doesn’t make sense for our kids, it doesn’t make sense for us, it doesn’t make sense for our economy.  

       Pass this jobs bill and put teac
hers back in the classroom where they belong.  (Applause.)

       AUDIENCE:  Pass this bill!  Pass this bill!  Pass this bill!

       THE PRESIDENT:  They need to go and pass it.  

       Tell Congress to pass this jobs bill, and companies will get tax credit for hiring America’s veterans.  (Applause.)  We’ve been through a decade of war now.  Almost 2 million people have served.  And think about it.  They’re suspending their careers; they’re leaving their families; they’re putting themselves in harm way — all to protect us.  The last thing they should have to do is fight for a job when they come home.  (Applause.)  And if we pass this jobs bill it makes it easier for employers to hire those veterans.  That’s why we need to tell Congress to do what?  To pass the bill.

       AUDIENCE:  Pass this bill!  Pass this bill!  Pass this bill!

       THE PRESIDENT:  The American Jobs Act will cut taxes for the typical working family by $1,500 next year.  It will cut taxes for every small business in America.  It will give an extra tax cut to every small business owner who either hires more workers or raises those workers’ wages.  How many people here would like a raise?  (Applause.)

       And we know that most small businesses are the creators of new jobs.  We’ve got a lot of folks in Congress who love to say how they’re behind America’s job creators.  Well, if that’s the case, then you should be passing this bill, because that’s what this bill is all about, is helping small businesses all across America.

       Everything in this jobs bill has been supported in the past by Republicans and Democrats.  Everything in this jobs bill is paid for.  The idea for a big boost in construction is supported by the AFL-CIO, but it’s also supported by the Chamber of Commerce.  Those two don’t get along on much, but they agree we should rebuild America.  (Applause.)

       And, by the way, thanks to the reforms that we’ve put into place, when we start rebuilding America we’re going to change how business is done.  No more earmarks.  No more boondoggles.  No more bridges to nowhere.  We’re going to cut the red tape that prevents some of these construction projects from getting started as quickly as possible.  And we’ll set up an independent fund to attract private dollars and issue loans based on two criteria:  how badly is a construction project needed, and how much good will it do for the community.  Those are the only things we should be thinking about.  Not politics.  (Applause.)  And, by the way, that’s an idea that’s supported by a Massachusetts Democrat and a Texas Republican.  It’s a good idea.  

       So my question is, what’s Congress waiting for?  Why is it taking so long?  Now, the bridge behind us just happens to connect the state that’s home to the Speaker of the House —

       AUDIENCE:  Booo —

       THE PRESIDENT:  — with the home state of the Republican leader in the Senate.

       AUDIENCE:  Booo —

       THE PRESIDENT:  Now, that’s just a coincidence.  (Laughter.) Purely accidental that that happened.  (Laughter.)  But part of the reason I came here is because Mr. Boehner and Mr. McConnell, those are the two most powerful Republicans in government.  They can either kill this jobs bill, or they can help pass this jobs bill.  (Applause.)  And I know these men care about their states. They care about businesses; they care about workers here.  I can’t imagine that the Speaker wants to represent a state where nearly one in four bridges are classified as substandard — one in four.  I know that when Senator McConnell visited the closed bridge in Kentucky, he said that, “Roads and bridges are not partisan in Washington.”  That’s great.  I know that Paul Ryan, the Republican in charge of the budget process, recently said that “you can’t deny that infrastructure does creates jobs.”  That’s what he said.  

       Well, if that’s the case, there’s no reason for Republicans in Congress to stand in the way of more construction projects.  There’s no reason to stand in the way of more jobs.  

       Mr. Boehner, Mr. McConnell, help us rebuild this bridge.  (Applause.)  Help us rebuild America.  Help us put construction workers back to work.  (Applause.)  Pass this bill.  

       AUDIENCE:  Pass this bill!  Pass this bill!  Pass this bill!  Pass this bill!

       THE PRESIDENT:  Let’s pass the bill.

       AUDIENCE:  Pass this bill!  Pass this bill!  Pass this bill!

       THE PRESIDENT:  Now, some folks in Congress, they say, well, we don’t like how it’s paid for.  Well, it’s paid for as part of my larger plan to pay down our debt.  And that’s why I make some additional cuts in spending.  We already cut a trillion dollars in spending.  This makes an additional hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts in spending, but it also asks the wealthiest Americans and the biggest corporations to pay their fair share of taxes.  (Applause.)

       Now, that should not be too much to ask.  And by the way, it wouldn’t kick in until 2013.  So when you hear folks say, oh, we shouldn’t be raising taxes right now — nobody is talking about raising taxes right now.  We’re talking about cutting taxes right now.  But it does mean that there’s a long-term plan, and part of it involves everybody doing their fair share.  (Applause.)

       THE PRESIDENT:  Now, this isn’t to punish success.  What’s great about this country is our belief that anybody can make it. If you’re willing to put in the sweat, if you’re willing to roll up your sleeves, if you’re willing to work hard, you’ve got a good idea, you’re out there taking a risk — God bless you.  You can make millions, you can make billions of dollars in America.  This is the land of opportunity.  (Applause.)  That’s great.  All I’m saying is, if you’ve done well — I’ve done well — then you should do a little something to give something back.  (Applause.) You should want to see the country that provided you with this opportunity to be successful, and be able to provide opportunity for the young people who are going to be coming up behind you.  (Applause.)

       And all I’m saying is that everything should be fair.  You know, you learn the idea of fairness when you’re two, three years old.  Right?  You’re in the sandbox and you don’t want to let somebody play with your truck — (laughter) — and your mom or your daddy go up and they say, “No, hon, that’s not fair, you’ve got to share.”  Isn’t that what they say?  Things have to be fair.  So all I’m saying is that Warren Buffett’s secretary should not be paying a lower [sic] tax rate on her income than Warren Buffett.  (Applause.)  That doesn’t make any sense.  A construction worker who’s making 50 or 60 grand a year shouldn’t be paying higher tax rates than the guy who’s making $50 million a year.  (Applause.)  And that’s how it’s working right now.  Because they get all these loopholes and tax breaks that you don’t get.

       So for me to say, let’s close those loopholes, let’s eliminate those tax breaks, and let’s make sure that everybody is paying their fair share — there’s nothing wrong with t
hat.  (Applause.)  

       Now, this is about priorities.  It’s about making choices.  If we just had all kinds of money and everybody was working, and we hadn’t gone through the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, then maybe we wouldn’t have to make choices.  But right now we’ve got to make some choices.  We’ve got to decide what our priorities are.  If we want to pay for this jobs plan, and close the deficit, and invest in our infrastructure, and make sure we’ve got the best education system in the world, the money has got to come from some place.  Would you rather that the oil companies get to keep their tax loopholes?  

       AUDIENCE:  No!

       THE PRESIDENT:  Or would you rather make sure that we’re hiring thousands of construction workers to rebuild America?  (Applause.)  Would you rather keep in place special tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires?  

       AUDIENCE:  No!

       THE PRESIDENT:  Or would you say, let’s get teachers back in the classroom so our children can learn?  (Applause.)  

       Now, the Republicans, when I talked about this earlier in the week, they said, well, this is class warfare.  You know what, if asking a billionaire to pay their fair share of taxes, to pay the same tax rate as a plumber or a teacher is class warfare, then you know what, I’m a warrior for the middle class.  (Applause.)  I’m happy to fight for the middle class.  I’m happy to fight for working people.  (Applause.)  Because the only warfare I’ve seen is the battle against the middle class over the last 10, 15 years.

       It’s time to build an economy that creates good, middle-class jobs in this country.  It’s time to build an economy that honors the values of hard work and responsibility.  It’s time to build an economy that lasts.  And, Cincinnati, that starts right now.  That starts with your help.  (Applause.)  Maybe some of the people in Congress would rather settle their differences at the ballot box than work together right now.  In fact, a while back, Senator McConnell said that his “top priority” — number-one priority — was “to defeat the President.”  That was his top priority.

       AUDIENCE:  Booo —

       THE PRESIDENT:  Not jobs, not putting people back to work, not rebuilding America.  Beating me.  Well, I’ve got news for him, and every other member of Congress who feels the same way.  The next election is 14 months away, and I’ll be happy to tangle sometime down the road.  But the American people right now don’t have the luxury of waiting to solve our problems for another 14 months.  (Applause.)  A lot of folks are living paycheck to paycheck.  A lot of folks are just barely getting by.  They need us to get to work right now.  They need us to pass this bill.  (Applause.)

       So I’m asking all of you — I need everybody here to lift your voices — not just in Cincinnati, but anybody who’s watching TV, or anybody who’s within the range of my voice — I want everybody to lift up their voices.  I want you to call.  I want you to email.  I want you to tweet.  I want you to fax.  I want you to visit.  If you want, write a letter — it’s been a while. (Laughter.)  I want you to tell your congressperson that the time for gridlock and games-playing is over.  Tell them you want to create jobs, so pass this bill.  (Applause.)  

       If you want construction workers rebuilding America — pass this bill.  (Applause.)  If you want teachers back in the classrooms — pass this bill.

       AUDIENCE:  Pass this bill!

       THE PRESIDENT:  If you want to cut taxes for middle-class families — pass this bill.

       AUDIENCE:  Pass this bill!

       THE PRESIDENT:  If you want to help small businesses, what do you do?

       THE AUDIENCE:  Pass this bill!  

       THE PRESIDENT:  If you want veterans to share in the opportunities of this country, what should you do?

       THE AUDIENCE:  Pass this bill!

       THE PRESIDENT:  Now is the time to act.  Because we are not a people that just sit back and wait for things to happen.  We go ahead and make things happen.  We’re tougher than the times we live in.  We are bigger than the politics that we’ve been seeing these last few months.  Let’s meet this moment.  Let’s get back to work.  Let’s show the world once again why America is the greatest nation on Earth.  

       God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

END 3:12 P.M. EDT

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