UPDATE Obama s event under way in Hampton
Post on: 2011-11-02 By: admin
In introducing the president, first lady Michelle Obama had announcedthat members of the American Logistics Association,likeConAgra, inconjunction with the Joining Forces Initiative, willhire 25,000 veterans or family members of service members by the endof 2013.
"They do not want to miss out on your potential," the first lady said. "They want America's businessesto have the best, most talented, most hardworking employees around."
This commitment includes 270 companies of all shapes and sizes, which makes itthe largest coordinated effort by the private sector to hire veterans that we'veseen in years, Mrs. Obama said.
Businesses who hire veterans are showing that they care about thecountry and those who serve it, the president said, in an address to acrowd of 2,400 people, according to an estimate from Miles Brown, chiefof public affairs, Joint BaseLangley-Eustis.
"Just think about how manyveterans have led their comrades on life-and-death missions by the time theywere 25.That's the kind of responsibility every business in America shouldwant to take advantage of.Those are the Americans every company should want tohire," the president said.
"Now, of course, as Michellementioned, there are far too many veterans who are coming home and having tostruggle to find a job worthy of their talents.There are too many militaryspouses who have a hard time finding work after moving from base to base andcity to city.
"That's not right.Itdoesn't make any sense.It doesn't make sense for our veterans.It doesn'tmake sense for our businesses.It doesn't make sense for our families.And itdoesn't make sense for America.
"If you can save a life in Afghanistan, youcan save a life in a local hospital or in a local ambulance.Ifyou can oversee millions of dollars of assets in Iraq, you can help a businessbalance its books here at home.If you can juggle the demands ofraising a family while a husband or wife are at war, you can juggle any demandsof any job in the United States of America.
"We ask our men and women inuniform to leave their families -- our Guardsmen and Reservists to leave theirjobs.We ask you to fight, to sacrifice, to risk your lives for our country. The last thing you should have to do is fight for a job when you come home.Nothere.Not in the United States of America."
In praising the first lady's efforts, the president said: "She does all this and she looks cute."
Various representatives from the companies participating inthemilitary hiring were seated behind the president under an "American Jobs Act" banner.
The president touted his jobs bill in whole, and focused specifically on his "Returning Heroes" proposal, which would provide taxcreditsfrom $5,600 to $9,600 for companies who hire unemployedmilitary veterans.
"So far the Congress hasn't acted on this proposal, butI want you to know that I'm pushing a little bit," he said.
Senior Master Sgt. Jay Builler with the Virginia AirNational Guard said he appreciated the focus of the president's remarks.
"I like the fact that they'relooking into the health and welfarebenefits of veterans after their commitmentswith the armed services,"he said. "I think that's long overdue."
"I'm glad they're out therechallenging local companies to hireveterans, to train veterans, I think that'sa very positive thing to doand a very right thing to do," added Builler, whocommutes toLangley-Eustis from his home in Mechanicsville.
Early in his remarks, the president acknowledged Gov. Bob McDonnelland Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell for attending the event.. Healso noted that Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D-3rd, is in attendance.
The McDonnellsmet privately with the Obamas for approximately 10minutes in what was described as a "friendly visit" by McDonnellspokesman Tucker Martin.
The conversation ranged from Louisa County disaster aid to a parkdesignation for Fort Monroe to the focus of the event, veterans.
McDonnell and the first lady welcomed the Obamas to Virginia and thegovernor thanked the president for making the hiring of veterans apriority.
"The governor let the president know that there is much common groundto be had on this important issue and he looks forward to hearing thepresident's proposals on the matter," Martin wrote in an e-mail."Ensuring that our veterans who have selflessly served our nation canfind the good paying jobs they deserve is a top priority of theMcDonnell administration."
McDonnell also made the case again for federal disaster aid forLouisa County residents who had property damage from the Augustearthquake, and the two discussed Virginia's planned appeal of theinitial rejection by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
McDonnell also spoke to Obama "about the strong support in thiscommunity and across the commonwealth for making Fort Monroe a NationalPark, and his strong personal support of such a designation."
Other politicians present included Hampton Mayor Molly Ward, Newport News Mayor McKinleyPrice,Dels.Mamye E. BaCote, D-Newport News and JeionA. Ward, D-Hampton and stateSens. John C. Miller, D-Newport News and Mamie E.Locke, D-Hampton.
In introducing the president, Mrs. Obama said: "It is my honor tointroduce a man who is fighting for youevery day." She added: "Getyour camerasready!"
The president took the stage and thanked various militarypersonnel after his wife.
"I hate following Michelle," he said. "She's so good."
The president recognized many groups in attendance, including theTuskegee Airmen, who earned huge applause.
Gov. Bob McDonnell said after theevent that he approved of the president’s message in Hampton.
“I really liked what he had to saytodaythe fact that he’s focusing on getting veterans back to work,” the governor said.“It’s critically important for Virginia. We’ve got more veteransthan any other state, 830,000.”
McDonnell said that he saw “commonground in a lot of the areas” of the jobs bill like veterans hiring and smallbusiness tax credits, but objected to many others.
“My problem is really many of theother provisions, which are just more spending,” McDonnell said. “It’s more stimulus,it’s more short-term gain but not anything that’s going to create a sustainedeconomic recovery.”
McDonnell also criticized thepresident’s what he termed the president's original all-or-nothing approach to selling the plan.
“I wish that he had not taken theapproach that he did in August, which is, ‘Here’s my bill, pass the bill. If youdon’t pass the whole thing, I’ll go campaign against you.’ That didn’t sit wellwith Republicans or Democrats and the president’s been in this business for 10years, he knows better than to throw down a gauntlet like that.”
McDonnell said Obama, who in 2008 became the first Democratic presidential nominee in 44 years to carry the state, would have ahard time winning Virginia again next year. McDonnell said the key is independentvoters, whom the governor says the president has alienated.
“I think he’s gotten much morepartisan, much more negative and much more hostile to the job creators,” hesaid. “I think we’ve got a blame surplus and we have a results and leadershipdeficit. That’s the problem.”
Regarding Virginia’s push for the recently shuttered Fort Monroe to be made anational monument, McDonnell said: “I’m hopeful that that’s somethingthat’s going to happen. He didn’t make anycommitments, but I think he understands the issue and understands that there’sbroad community support."
President Barack Obama's event in Hampton is under way, with firstlady Michelle Obama honoring the daily sacrifices of military families
Mrs. Obama announced that the American Logistics Association iscommitting to hiring 25,000 military veterans and military spouses inthe next two years.
The first lady, dressed casually in a stripedshirt, took the stagefollowed closely by President Barack Obama, who tooka seat to allowhis wife to speak first.
"Hey everyone!" she said. "I never get to do anything with myhusband. I haven't seen him in three days."
The Obamas were introduced by Melissa Lee, an Army Reserveofficer and corporate lawyer for Tysons Foods.
Tysons is one of the 270 companies under the AmericanLogistics Association.
The commitment by the American Logistics Association is part of thefirst Lady and Jill Biden'sJoining Forces initiative to supportveterans and military families.
Those jobs amount to a quarter of the president's challengeto theprivate sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013.
The frst lady touted the announcement as the largestcoordinated effort to hire military veterans in many years.
"This is huge enough that you need to be involved," she saidto her husband, who laughed.
Ahead of the president's event in Hampton, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling,chairman of Mitt Romney's Virginia presidential campaign, issued asatement about Obama's visit to Virginia.
"It is always a pleasure tohave the president visit our state, andwe hope he has a wonderful time inVirginia," Bolling said. "However,at a time when millions of Americans are suffering as aresult of hisfailed leadership and failed policies, I wish the president wouldspendmore time in Washington, working to create jobs for the Americanpeople,rather than spending three days on a campaign tour that isbeing financed bytaxpayers and is designed to save his own job."
On the third day of his bus tour, President Barack Obama will focuson hiring veterans at a private event this morning at Joint BaseLangley-Eustis in Hampton
On Tuesday in Emporia, he pitched his jobs plan — and the cash itcould direct to teachers, police and firefighters — and criticizedRepublican efforts to block the package.
After this morning's event in Hampton, Obama will head to theRichmond area, where he will visit a Chesterfield County fire station inHouse Majority Leader Eric Cantor's district.
Inside the 94th Fighter Squadron Hangar at Langley, a brass band played while a crowd of hundreds formed in front of a stage awaiting Obama.
First Lady Michelle Obama will join the president today for the firsttime on his bus tour and is expected to announce a commitment by theAmerican Logistics Association, a trade group of 270 private companies,to hire 25,000 veterans and their spouses by the end of 2013.
Obama in August set a goal of hiring 100,000 veterans and spouses by2014. So far, 12,000 have been hired under the Joining Forces initiativeled by the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden.
Gov. Bob McDonnell is expected to join the Obamas here today.McDonnell is slated to meet with President Obama for about 20 minutesprior to event.
Most attendees not wearing camouflage are sporting a darker shade ofgreen as a show of solidarity for a bipartisan push to make part of therecently shuttered Fort Monroe a national park.
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb, D-Va., have introduced legislation that would accomplish exactly that.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled today. If approved, thelegislation would make a portion of the fort,built in 1819, a national monument and part of the National ParkService.
Hampton Mayor Molly Ward canceled her trio to D.C. for the hearingtoday to meet with the president and make a case for the economicadvantages for the city and region.
The Governor and First Lady Maureen McDonnell will present thePresident and First Lady Michelle Obama with a bottle of BarboursvilleChardonnay as part of a small gift basket to include homemade cookiesfrom the governor's mansion and two wine glasses.
(END OF UPDATE)
Emporia, a majority African-American city in Southside Virginia, wasamong the localities that went for Obama in 2008 and helped him becomethe first Democratic presidential nominee in 44 years to carry thestate.
At Greensville County High School on Tuesday, Obama bounded up to thepodium before a hand-picked crowd that was vocal and supportive. Anestimated 1,300 people gathered in the school's gymnasium, mainlystudents, parents, invited guests — and teachers who haven't had a raisein at least four years.
"It doesn't seem like your voices are heard enough in Washington,"Obama said. "They don't seem to be listening," he said, mocking SenateRepublicans for scuttling the $447 billion jobs measure last week byrefusing to debate it.
"All over the country, including here in Virginia, budget cuts areforcing schools to lay off teachers in disturbing numbers," thepresident said. "Here in Greensville County, you've lost some teachers.You could lose more if we don't pass this jobs bill, and that's notright."
He told the audience that his plan would mean nearly 11,000 education jobs in Virginia.
"So I need all of you to tell the Senate 'Put those teachers back to work.' "
Virginia would receive more than $740 million of the $30 billion inthe American Jobs Act to prevent teacher layoffs, which would support10,800 jobs in the state, according to White House figures. TheGreensville County school system would receive about $1.6 million ofthat.
Greensville biology teacher Jami Clements drew huge applause duringher introduction of the president when she mentioned teachers'frustration that they hadn't seen a raise in years.
Cynthia Barnes, a 21-year-veteran special-education teacher at aGreensville County elementary school, said after the speech that she hasgone without a raise for roughly five years.
The plan, she said, "sounded good, but whether he can do it or not is something else."
Linda Edwards of Emporia walked out of the speech hoping people would get on board with the president's plan.
"He just needs the Republicans to work with him," she said. "Everybody needs to work with him — support the jobs act."
Obama could take a similar message today to Cantor's district on the second day of his trip.
Republicans painted the trip as a taxpayer-funded, campaign-styletour through two battleground states — North Carolina and Virginia —that the president won three years ago and is making a play for again.
In an interview Monday with a Charlotte TV station, Obama said, "Myintention is to win North Carolina again like we did last time."
"It will be close because obviously folks are frustrated with the challenges that we still face in the economy," he said.
In Virginia, that frustration contributed to the president's 52percent job disapproval rating in an early October state poll byQuinnipiac University.
Although some Virginia Democrats in tough legislative races havedistanced themselves from the president, several Democratic lawmakerswere in the Emporia audience, including Sens. Henry L. Marsh III,D-Richmond, and L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and Dels. Roslyn C.Tyler, D-Sussex, and Rosalyn R. Dance, D-Petersburg. Brian Moran,chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, also was present.
As his entourage crossed the North Carolina border into Virginia onTuesday afternoon, the president received a mixed welcome, according toreports filed by journalists who are traveling on the bus tour.
Crowds flocked to the side of the road in South Boston to watch themotorcade pass by. Three men stood in a truck bed holding signs thatread "Job?" and "liar." A sign at a bowling alley offered: "Presidentsbowl free," while near Clarksville, a woman stood in a front yard andheld a large Confederate flag.
On the way to Emporia, Obama stopped at Bluestone High School inSkipwith, south of Chase City, to tour a robotics classroom, marvelingat "Skrappy," a 5-foot-tall, trapezoidal robot.
Obama's travels then took him along U.S. 58, past Parkview HighSchool, where students, including the football team, lined the road. Onegroup held an American flag and a Virginia state flag, with the stateflag held at an angle to salute the president.
The president's entourage made an unannounced stop in Brodnax, where Obama shook hands with people waiting by the road.
Virginia State Police reported that a state trooper on a motorcycle,who was securing the roadway for the president's Emporia stop, sufferedminor injuries in a crash on southbound Interstate 95.
omeola@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6812
omeola@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6812
No tags are associated with this article
Not what you're looking for?Try our quick search:
More from this channel:
Chesterfield's Bellwood Elementary receives national honor
Jury selection under way in Richmond elder abuse trial
Robert Wood Jr., found in Hanover woods, remains in hospital
*Facebook Account Required to Comment. If you are not already logged into Facebook, please click the comment button to do so.
Deal of the DayAdvertisementVCU Rams' GearGet all your Rams' gear right here.AdvertisementDaily Email NewsletterGet the morning's top headlines delivered directly to your inbox every morning. Sign up now!Top Videos8:54I-95 bridge replacement near...02:46Culinary Clues: Roasted...01:12President Obama's arrival amid...00:27Views from the search for Robbie...02:40Search for Robbie Wood00:54VDOT VIDEO: I-95 bridge...02:17Mike's Take:Doing it right03:47World of Woody: Death-defying...03:53Jeff's Notes: Low turnout in...0Most Popular1.UPDATE: Occupy Richmond protesters discuss next steps2.Man found guilty in wreck that killed Richmond nun3.State says computer model for bay cleanup has problems4.80-year-old falls into sinkhole while getting Sunday papers5.Ordinance would create Historic Broad Street Arts DistrictPurchase RTD PhotosNew hands, new hopeProtesters trying to regroupA woman who 'lived up to her potential''He is a strong little fella'War turned Richmond into the hospital cityUser Submitted Photos More of your photosTrick or treaters in Carver0Trick or treaters in Carver0Trick or treaters in Carver0Trick or treaters in Carver0Trick or treaters in Carver0Trick or treaters in Carver0Trick or treaters in Carver0Around the Bend5Storming the field! (2009)0
DealTaker.com Promo Codes
Advergaming and Branded Media
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Subscribe to the Newspaper
Calais - Powered by Thomson Reuters
Article original from: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/oct/19/22/tdmain01-in-emporia-obama-pushes-his-jobs-plan-ar-1392803/
