Posts Tagged ‘barack obama’

TueApr9

Mason girl, 8, charms president

Posted by rrichardson April 9th, 2013, 12:09 pm Post a Comment
Nina Centofanti

Mason second-grader Nina Centofanti has a giggle as President Barack Obama signs her drawing honoring the March of Dimes. Provided: Official White House Photographer Pete Souza

Michael D. Clark reports:

Second-grader Nina Centofanti is a miracle going on eight years.

Born prematurely with little hope of surviving, the Mason girl instead thrived and was recently chosen as the 2013 national ambassador for the March of Dimes.

Nina and her family are spending the year traveling across the country and recently returned from a visit with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office.

Picked from hundreds of applicants last year, Nina was chosen as the 2013 poster-child and national “face” for March of Dimes in part because of her remarkably healthy condition despite her challenging birth. She is the first child from this region in decades to be honored with the national ambassadorship, which officially began Jan. 1.

Born nine weeks early in 2005, Nina’s first days were grim. She weighed 2 pounds, 15 ounces, and suffered from a life-threatening respiratory condition.

For five weeks at Good Samaritan Hospital, her world was a sealed neo-natal unit of needles, intravenous tubes and worried loved ones hovering over her while she battled for each breath.

Today, her amazing life includes sharing laughs with the president last month, banging a gavel to roaring applause to close the New York Stock Exchange and traveling the country as a celebrity.

Of course, that’s when she’s not playing on the swing set in her family’s backyard.

“I got to see the president,” says Nina, rocking back and forth on a rope ladder. “And I drew a picture of me as a baby and a picture of me now.”

(more…)

no comments yet

Posted in: Community, News |

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , ,

WedMar27

Gun-control advocates to rally Thursday

Posted by rrichardson March 27th, 2013, 11:23 am Post a Comment

Gun-control advocates from across the region will hold petition drives at two events in Greater Cincinnati Thursday as part of a national campaign calling for stricter gun control laws.

Volunteers will gather at Fountain Square downtown and in Mason to collect signatures as part of the National Day to Demand Action to end gun violence.

Activists are calling for support on legislation requiring universal background checks for gun sales, a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity gun magazines and for tougher penalties for gun trafficking offenses.

The national campaign is organized by Organizing for Action, a nonprofit group formed by former aides to President Barack Obama to support his legislative agenda, and Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a bi-partisan coalition of more than 900 mayors who support a number of gun control initiatives.

“We’re demanding action on gun violence,” said Beth Smith, volunteer leader of the Warren County chapter of Organizing for Action.

Locally, volunteers are hoping to gather enough support and signatures to pressure Ohio Sen. Rob Portman (R-Terrace Park) and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Westwood) to support the legislation, said Smith.

Lawmakers are expected to take up the issue of gun control legislation soon after the Senate returns from its Easter and Passover recess April 8.


Downtown event

What: Cincinnati Petition Drive for Universal Background Checks
When: 1-2 p.m. Thursday
Where: Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., downtown

Mason event

What: Mason/Warren Co Gun Control Signature Collection
When: 6-8 p.m. Thursday
Where: Mason Community Center, 6050 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason

 

 

no comments yet

Posted in: Events, Political events |

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

WedNov7

Election really did come down to Ohio

Posted by rrichardson November 7th, 2012, 11:09 am Post a Comment

Dave Sevat of North Avondale celebrates as President Barack Obama’s victory was announced during the Democratic election watch party at Cincy’s on 6th Street in downtown Cincinnati. Photo by Jeff Swinger.

Jane Prendergast reports:

With the whole country watching, Ohioans on Tuesday helped re-elect President Barack Obama, continuing the battleground state’s decisive role in a race of unprecedented intensity.

Obama defeated Mitt Romney, with some states still to come in, once he hit the 270 electoral college votes. That total came while the race was still tight in Ohio, but the networks went ahead and called the race for Obama because the still-out Ohio counties were in urban areas that were expected to go for Obama anyway.

The president acknowledged the win at 11:19 p.m., via Twitter, saying: “We’re all in this together. That’s how we campaigned, and that’s who we are. Thank you. -bo.” He also tweeted a picture of him hugging his wife, Michelle.

He emailed supporters, telling them Tuesday’s decision was not fate.

“I want you to know that this wasn’t fate,” he wrote, “and it wasn’t an accident. You made this happen.”

The Romney campaign initially refused to concede they’d lost Ohio. Gov. John Kasich said at almost midnight that he was waiting for more information before making any statements.

As of midnight, with 88 percent of Ohio precincts in, Obama had 49.6 percent to Romney’s 48.7 percent, a difference of about 50,000 votes. Obama carried Ohio with 51 percent of the vote in 2008, over U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Hamilton County, which Obama won in 2008, went for him again, 51.7 percent to 46.9 percent.

Chris Redfern, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, said four words will go down as one of the most important reasons that Romney fell short in Ohio. Those words: “Let Detroit go bankrupt.”

Obama portrayed Romney in visits to Ohio as an auto-industry killer who’s out of touch with hard-working folks. He and Vice President Joe Biden hammered hard on their bailout of the auto industry, repeating over and over that one in eight jobs in Ohio is related to making vehicles

Redfern, asked about a Democratic opponent for Kasich in 2014, said, “We’re coming. We are coming…We’ll celebrate for a few days and then we’ll get back to work.”

Republicans were leaving their party at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Columbus even as Treasurer Josh Mandel was conceding defeat. Worse news was coming, and they knew it. Obama won Ohio and the presidency.

Party leaders disappeared, retreating one floor up from the second floor ballroom to their war room, where the press was not allowed. Before midnight, crews were tearing down risers, shutting down the sound system and lights.

One of the few Republican leaders to emerge from the third floor was Ohio Sen. President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond. Term-limited, Niehaus was looking more relaxed than most folks at the Republican gathering. He was pleased with his party maintaining a significant majority in his chamber.

He said Romney’s problem in Ohio was that his message about improving the country’s economy didn’t resonate as well here.

(more…)

no comments yet

Posted in: Election, News |

Tags: Tags: , , , , ,

TueNov6

Heavy voter turnout reported in Mason

Posted by rrichardson November 6th, 2012, 11:25 pm Post a Comment
Voting

Poll workers report voter turnout of around 85 percent at the Mason Municipal Center on Election Day. The Enquirer/Rachel Richardson

Voters turned out in force in Mason today, with as much as 85 percent of registered voters casting ballots at many precincts.

Lines at the Mason Municipal Center snaked out the door early Tuesday morning, while people waited in line for more than an hour at Grace Baptist Church, said poll workers there.

“It’s a bigger turnout than usual,” said Kathleen Drake. ” It’s been nice to keep so busy.”

“Its been an awesome turnout,” added Tony Bradburn. “All of the booths have been filled.”

Some voters heading to the polls brought their children along with them, showing them what its like to vote.

Larry Mortashed came out to vote with his wife, Moria, and daughters Sara and Elisabeth, a first-time voter.

“I was pretty excited,” said Elisabeth. “I was really into it and reading up on it.”

Mozel Jones brought her 9-year-old daughter Bella. She cast her ballot for Barack Obama.

“I don’t want my rights taken away or that of my daughter,” she said of her support for the incumbent.

In Mason, voters cast their ballots for two charter amendments.

Issue 6 would amend the city’s charter to alter deadline for nominations of city council members from 75 days before an election to 90 days before an election. The change would bring the city’s deadline in conformance with the statutory deadline for Ohio.

Issue 7 would combine a property tax levy with an increase in the city’s income tax for nonresidents to support safety services. The proposed amendment would add a 0.12 percent income tax on top of the city’s existing 1 percent income tax, though only for nonresidents.

The amendment includes a limit of 5 mills for the property tax. Both rates will be adjusted annually, giving City Council the flexibility to set the rate of the proposed levy and the fire income tax.

Mason councilwoman Char Pelfrey and Mason Mayor David Nichols braved the cold in front of Grace Baptist Church to urge voters to support Issue 7.

“It balances the burden of fire/EMS to minisculely raising taxes on people who work in the city, but don’t live there,” said Pelfrey. “It makes it all balanced with all sharing the burden.”

Pelfrey, who also campaigned for GOP contender Mitt Romney, said she found a receptive audience.

“This is a very Republican area. It’s been an easy polling place,” she said.

no comments yet

Posted in: Election, News |

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

FriNov2

More details about Romney’s massive West Chester rally tonight

Posted by rrichardson November 2nd, 2012, 11:15 am Post a Comment

Mitt Romney encourages people to vote early as he speaks at Jet Machine in Roselawn last Thursday, Oct. 25. Photo taken by Leigh Taylor. Romney will be in West Chester Friday, Nov. 2, just a few days prior to Election Day.

Kid Rock will join GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a massive rally in West Chester this evening.

Doors for the Romney rally now open at 3:30 p.m.  The event’s at The Square in Union Centre and the adjacent grass area.

Parking is available at nearby Lakota West High School, the West Chester Library and the Union Centre Boulevard pavilion (the old bigg’s shopping center) at Union Centre and 747 (shuttle service available at this location), among other areas designated for parking.

Businesses will remain open during tonight’s event.  Attendees are encouraged to use designated parking areas only.

Road closures are already in place and will remain in place throughout the event.  Centre Point Drive is closed from west of the AK Steel/Duke/West Chester Towne Square entrance and just east of the Library entrance. West Chester Towne Centre Drive is closed south of Centre Loop, including the roundabout. The Square at Union Centre has also been closed.

Heavy traffic and long delays are expected near the I-75 interchange at Union Centre Boulevard.

Among those expected to be at the event are:  U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-West Chester;  U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park; former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal; former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge; U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida; U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota; U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.;  U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minnesota; Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus; former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani; U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona; U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.; U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah;  U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, R-Alabama; Texas Gov. Rick Perry; and Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.

(more…)

no comments yet

Posted in: Election, Events, News, Political events |

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ThuNov1

Cintas CEO among those warning of their Obama fears

Posted by rrichardson November 1st, 2012, 8:38 am Post a Comment
Scott Farmer

Scott Farmer, CEO of Mason-based Cintas / Enquirer file photo

Cindi Andrews reports:

The CEO of Mason-based Cintas, a top Republican donor, sent an email to employees obliquely sharing his concerns about a second Obama term.

One Florida executive flatly told his 7,000 workers that there would be layoffs if his taxes increase as a result of the election, and another asked his employees to give money to GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

The line between business and politics seems to be blurring as the too-close-to-call presidential election approaches, to the dismay of some employees. The Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which removed limits on corporate campaign contributions, has allowed business leaders to go further in urging their employees to vote a particular way, and Romney himself has encouraged business leaders to do so.

But the boss is treading in tricky territory when he or she talks politics with employees, some warn.

Advocates say it’s helpful for employees to know the potential impact of an election on their company. But management and political experts say partisan emails from the boss are both bad business and questionable politics – more likely to create a workplace distraction than to change anyone’s vote.

“All it does is invite dissension,” said Ralph Katerberg, a management professor at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Business.

Scott Farmer, leader of the uniform and document management company Cintas, detailed his concerns about Obama’s health care law and the possibility of more taxes and regulation in an email to employees Oct. 19.

“The over-regulation that business is facing today from the various administrative agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Security Exchange Commission (SEC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and others is suffocating many companies,” Farmer wrote. “This uncertainty felt by many of our customers about their ability to run and grow their businesses prevents them from adding jobs which hurts our ability to grow and add jobs.”

Farmer, who has given $52,500 to Romney and the Romney Victory committee this year, never told employees how to vote.

The email was made public when a friend of an employee posted the text of it on her blog, calling it “employee intimidation.” Cintas spokeswoman Heather Maley confirmed Farmer sent the email but said employees – referred to at Cintas as “partners” – haven’t objected to it.

(more…)

no comments yet

Posted in: Business, Election, News |

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

TueOct30

Protesters rally outside Obama campaign office

Posted by rrichardson October 30th, 2012, 4:20 pm Post a Comment
Veterans for Truth

Demonstrators, who call themselves Veterans for Truth, march outside the Barack Obama re-election campaign office in Mason on Oct. 30, 2012 to protest what they call a “cover-up” of the events in Benghazi during an attack on a U.S. consulate there last month. The Enquirer/Rachel Richardson

Conservative activists in Mason gathered outside the Obama re-election campaign office Tuesday to protest what they say is an Obama administration “cover-up” of the events in Benghazi during an attack on a U.S. consulate there last month.

The group of about eight demonstrators, who call themselves Veterans for Truth and dub their campaign the Libya Truth Project, organized independently, but come as part of statewide effort taking place through Election Day.

The Mason group will march again from 3-6 p.m. Tuesday and again on Wednesday outside the office at 108 West Main Street.

In Cincinnati, tea party activists and others will gather at Fountain Square downtown Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. for a press conference, prayer and march to protest “the growing deception surrounding Benghazi and honor those killed in this terrorist attack,” according to a news release issued by organizers.

“We’re veterans, we’re patriots and we think we deserve answers from the Commander in Chief,” said Don Prince, a Vietnam veteran who’s organizing the Mason demonstrations.

Veterans for Truth

Don Prince, a former Mason mayor and councilman, marches outside the Barack Obama re-election campaign office in Mason on Oct. 20, 2012 to protest what he says is a “cover-up” of the events in Benghazi during an attack on a U.S. consulate there last month. The Enquirer/Rachel Richardson

The Sept. 11 attack on the consulate, which resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, has become a heated campaign issue between President Barack Obama and GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Several White House officials initially attributed the violence to protests over an anti-Mohammad video made in the U.S. that caused massive protests across the Middle East, and said it was not premeditated. Obama and other officials have since said the incident was a deliberate terrorist attack.

Romney and other Republicans have accused the Obama administration of trying to cover up details of the attack, in part because it would weaken one of Obama’s key campaign selling points. In campaign speeches, Obama has cited the killing of Osama bin Laden as one of the campaign pledges he has fulfilled.

White House officials have rejected the criticism, saying their explanations changed as more information about the attack became available. The FBI, a Clinton-appointed panel and Congress are investigating the attacks.

Prince, a Mason city councilman and former mayor, said he was concerned about news reports that claim the White House Situation Room viewed real-time video stream of the attacks. White House officials say there was no video stream available.

“I heard (reports) on Fox News, on Hannity, on Glenn Beck,” said Prince. “They were fully aware of what was going on. If that’s true, it’s a disgrace that we didn’t help those people.”

Another demonstrator, Scott Pierce, of Mason, criticized the Obama administration for refusing to explain lax security at the consulate and whether pleas for help on the ground in Libya were denied during the attack.

When asked similar questions by reporters in recent days, Obama has repeated his call for a thorough investigation

“Our country deserves answers from the Commander in Chief,” said Pierce, who served in the U.S. Navy for six years in the 1970s. “The president’s number one job is to defend our sovereign soil. I respect him, I honor that position and all I want to know is, sir, why did we not respond when they asked for help?”

no comments yet

Posted in: Election, News |

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

TueOct16

Supreme Court OK’s Ohio early voting

Posted by rrichardson October 16th, 2012, 2:53 pm Post a Comment

Barry M. Horstman reports:

The U.S. Supreme Court today cleared the way for Ohioans to cast early in-person absentee ballots on the final three days before the Nov. 6 election.

In a major legal victory for President Barack Obama’s campaign, Justice Elena Kagan denied Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s request to overturn or put on hold lower federal court rulings that authorized early voting on the final Saturday through Monday before Election Day.

Shortly after the court ruled, Husted set uniform early voting hours for those days in all 88 counties: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m-2 p.m. Monday.

The U.S. Supreme Court today sealed a legal victory for President Barack Obama’s campaign in the pivotal state of Ohio, leaving intact a ruling that restored early voting rights for the weekend before the Nov. 6 election.

Ohio Republicans had sought to cancel early voting that weekend for everyone except members of the military. A U.S. appeals court in Cincinnati blocked the plan last week, saying it probably violated the constitutional rights of non-military voters. In a one-sentence order, the Supreme Court rejected a challenge to that ruling, filed by Ohio’s Republican secretary of state and attorney general.

Democrats and Republicans have jockeyed in Ohio for months over early voting, an option used heavily by blacks, women, the elderly and low-income people, according to the appeals court. A trial judge cited an estimate that 100,000 Ohioans would vote in the three days leading up to Election Day.

No Republican has ever won the White House without capturing Ohio, which controls 18 of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.

(more…)

no comments yet

Posted in: Uncategorized |

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MonOct8

Ohio early voting to stay, appeals court says

Posted by rrichardson October 8th, 2012, 3:06 pm Post a Comment
Voting

Margaret Schwartz of Mason casts her ballot at the Mason Municipal Center on Tuesday, March 6, 2012. The Enquirer/Rachel Richardson

Barry M. Horstman reports:

A federal appeals court Friday handed the Obama campaign a major legal victory, ruling that Ohioans may cast early in-person absentee ballots during the final three days before the Nov. 6 election.

Upholding a late August decision by U.S. District Judge Peter Economus, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati authorized early voting on the final Saturday through Monday before Nov. 6.

A major factor in its unanimous decision, the court said, was evidence suggesting that early voting restrictions would be especially harmful to women, minorities, older voters and those with lower incomes and less education.

Friday’s decision, however, may not be the final word in the nationally-watched case. Late Friday, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s office released a statement saying that he intends to spend the next few days deciding “how to proceed legally” – a course of action that conceivably could see an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the 2008 presidential election, turnout was heavy in the three-day period at issue in the case, particularly among Democrats. Despite the popularity of that option – or, from Democrats’ viewpoint, because of it – the Republican-controlled state legislature this year eliminated early voting during that final pre-election weekend, except for military members and Americans overseas.

That prompted a lawsuit by the Obama campaign, the Democratic National Committee and the state Democratic Party. In his decision, Economus sided with them in overturning the state’s “arbitrary” early voting restrictions, saying “the public interest is served” by allowing all Ohioans to vote on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday before Election Day.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine appealed, but the 6th Circuit judges agreed with Economus’ ruling.

(more…)

no comments yet

Posted in: Election, News |

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

WedOct3

Join cincinnati.com’s live coverage of the presidential debate

Posted by rrichardson October 3rd, 2012, 8:30 pm Post a Comment

Watching the presidential debate tonight? See what other viewers and saying and join the discussion here.



no comments yet

Posted in: Election, News |

Tags: Tags: , , , , , ,

Connect with MasonBuzz

Subscribe

Get community news delivered straight to your inbox.

Featured Businesses

Reach the Audience That Matters Most to You!

We can deliver the highly targeted audience your business needs to attract new customers. Start building your ad now!

Send us Photos

  • Attach a JPEG (.jpg) photo to your story. Maximum file size is 4 MB.
  • Add a caption, include names & communities of people pictured. (Caption limit: 500 characters, including spaces)

Recent Photos

Diamondback Mason graduation George Wolf Tika and Travis Burton Coasting for Kids The Beach Justin Baker Mason Elyria vs. Mason softball
View more photos >