Obama Rouses Locals' Support at Tampa Rally
Supporters from all over the Tampa Bay area came to see President Barack Obama at Hillsborough Community College on Friday as he tried to stir up support and motivate Democrats to "do their part" in helping him get re-elected.
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The battle for Tampa Bay's voters heated up Friday as President Barack Obama came to town to talk about his second run at the White House and the future of the nation.
Obama made a stop at Hillsborough Community College's Dale Mabry campus in Tampa for a Friday afternoon appearance. More than 2,700 Floridians came from all around the Gulf Coast to snatch up free tickets to see the president at the school's gymnasium.
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn stirred up the crowd, leaving the stage to chants of "four more years" just minutes before Obama took the stage. The president was humorous throughout many parts of his speech, particularly when referring to Mitt Romney campaign ads that will run ahead of November's election.
"Tampa, it's up to you," Obama said. "The other side is going to spend more money than we've ever seen on ad after ad with scary voices and me looking old and broke down, but I need you to still believe in me."
He drew a laugh from the crowd when a crash of thunder hit while he attempted to discredit Romney's policies. "See?" the president said.
Other topics ranged from infrastructure, American industry and the outsourcing of U.S. jobs.
"Today it was reported in The Washington Post that the companies his firm owned were 'pioneers' in the outsourcing of American jobs to places like China and India," Obama said. "Pioneers! Let me tell you, Tampa, we do not need an outsourcing pioneer in the Oval Office. We need a president who will fight for American jobs and fight for American manufacturing. That’s what my plan will do. That’s why I’m running for a second term as president of the United States."
South Tampa resident Alaine Procko-Oliveri was inspired by the president's take on party politics and his pledge Friday to work "with anyone, Democrat or Republican, who shares my vision."
"I think the fact that he wants to work with everyone, not just Democrats is what makes him special," Procko-Oliveri said. "I like his ideas for manufacturing jobs domestically and not sending them overseas like his opponent."
The issue of mass transit stirred a cheer with the Floridians in attendance. Obama's ideas on the country's future infrastructure were greeted with delight from 27-year old Michael Fitzwater of Seminole Heights.
"I thought he said a lot of great things about our infrastructure from our ports to our roads," Fitzwater said. "He wanted to give us the money to bring in high speed rail to Orlando, and I think that is important. Tampa is a blue-collar city, and that would bring those kinds of jobs."
For Colleen Upshaw of Temple Terrace, her support of the president is based on her belief that he is the best candidate for the future of blue-collar jobs.
"That speech was very motivating, and now I'm fired up," Upshaw said. "I voted for him the last time, and I'll do it again. I think when you look at projects like the connector that we're building from I-4 to the Port of Tampa, you see the kinds of projects he is all about. That stuff just means more jobs for everybody."
Driving up from Sarasota, Jean Spaeth went the extra mile to see the president and said she was impressed by his demeanor. Spaeth is hoping to see Obama re-elected so that he can continue his work to change the face of the nation, she said.
"He was very uplifting and wonderful as always," Spaeth said. "He's very clear about what he stands for, unlike Romney, who I have no idea where he'd go. It makes all the difference. I also back him because he wanted to improve our transit systems here in Florida, which in a state where you don't have a lot of young people staying here, that's important. I really do believe that he wakes up every day with our best interests at heart."
John Galloway
9:27 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012
Very well written article on the president's visit today. Patch is, in my opinion, the best objective news source in Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay Times is in the pocket of the Obama campaign and the hapless Tribune is not sure what it is they are supposed to do every day so Patch is my source for local news. Keep it up Patch.
Patrick Bateman
9:23 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Actually the tickets were pre-assigned and delivered to select, dedicated supporters. What stood out to me was how the President spoke as if he has not been President for nearly four years, bleeding on about what need be done to fix present ills as if he hasn't had the opportunity despite being President--despite having total democrat control of congress for over a year.
I am not a supporter and wasn't last election, but neither was I one of McCain's (I saw no path to victory for him, no chance of reform or competence even, and thought sitting out a cycle and waiting for Romney as the best thing to do since Obama was either going to have to happen in '08 or '12). But I am a fair arbiter and what I heard from Obama is the same rhetoric he espoused in 2008. He has complemented this with occassional class warfare against Romney and this evil 1% supporters (as if Obama himself is neither elite nor wealthy) hypocritically as he takes in mega cash hauled continually from Hollywood, corporate America (including a record amount from BP and GE and Goldman), the lawyer lobby and the .1% that is George Soros. At least Romney earned his wealth by working for it instead of by virtue of doing favors for powerbrokers from elected office.
Patrick Bateman
9:25 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
And when he's not doing this, he's telling people it's still Bush's fault as if no president has ever inherited a mess before. A closer review, however, finds that Obama doesn't do much of anything differently than W. Both spent too much both in programs and stimulus efforts. Obama retained both the economic and war teams Bush implemented. Bush had a two front war in the Mid East, and Obama has expanded that to a six front war in the Mid East. Bush gave us $3-4 gas and Obama gave us $4-5 gas. If 5% unemployment was bad under Bush, then 8-9% is bad under Obama. If $5T in new debt over 8 years under Bush was bad, then $6T and counting under Obama in 3 and a half years is bad under Obama.
So, I don't think most voters can tolerate this type of hypocrisy nor the arrogance behind thinking you can get away with it. I am not saying no one has a basis from which they can support Obama, it just doesn't exist in any of this. Meanwhile, we have every reason to conclude Romney's entire basis is grounded in stability, work and moral ethic, a type of supercompetence (see turning a $3B deficit in MA into an over $1B surplus in one term while installing that state's healthcare reform (which is a big improvement and popular) all without raising taxes-- plus similar turnarounds in business and the Olympics) and, well, happiness.
Will Walsh
10:50 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Misguided, uninformed neoconservatives should get a life, or get help. I see the Tea Party has not yet faded into obscurity, but we're patient. Patrick misses the fact that while Obama started at the bottom of the food chain, Romney was born into highly-elevated privilege. It's simple: Romney serves corporate elite; Obama serves people.
Mike Wolf
1:47 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Hey Will, you're a useful tool. For you to call anyone unimformed is a crime. This is the worst and most inept and corrupt administration in US History. anyone that is stupid enough to vote for four more years of what he's done in the past 4 deserves what they get. Even most idiots learn from their mistakes. Do us and the world a favor and tear up your registration. The lame Bush's Fault excuse doen't fly anymore.
100 rounds of gold and counting so far.. remember when you were complaining about GW?
Mike Tully
12:18 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Obama serves the people? Really Bill? Hollywood "A" listers and Wall Street investment bankers (both his ardent supporters) are "The Common Man"? You bought into the myth of Obama, now it's time to wake up and face the reality.
Mike Wolf
1:50 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
I knew we had a lot of Mindless Idiots in the TB area but 2700 of them? They'll be tearing up the pictures when their kids ask them what they did to stop the drunken spending and corruption of the Kardashian President.
Patrick Bateman
2:33 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
I love characters like Will. Their entry level participation in matters of debate inflicts ten times more harm to their agenda than they think it contributes to their cause. Look at what his reponse was: namecalling and ire and skin color smacktalk! Hilarious! And the namecalling was not even relevant. Uninformed? I cited facts that anyone can look up. Neocon? How, by pointing out Obama expanding "Bush's" 2-front war to a 6-front war? Romney's lily white upbringing? So having successful parents who happen to be white is bad, but only their kids are also white, since, well, since Obama went to elite prep schools in Hawaii before he went to two Ivy League universities but he is exempt from the evil, wretched nature of being brought up this way. Tea Party? Everyone with an IQ of 80 knows the Tea Party Movement isn't a monolith, but what its various parties or groups have in common is the desire to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse from the US Government.
I know there are some like Will here who are so steeped in the sport of political partisanship that they either disregard reality or fool themselves into disbelieving tangible facts that expose his side's hypocrisy and failures, but most responsible American voters are not that way, which is why Romney will defrock Obama in mere months now. Can't wait!
Cheers.
Will Walsh
2:38 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Whine, but vote.
Asher King
9:00 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Well said Patrick & Mike(s).
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