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Subscribe to RSSCOLUMBUS, Ohio -- President Obama sure loves those Buckeyes.
At the last stop of his four-state tour touting his energy policies, President Obama made several personalized overtures to the residents of this key swing state, which he won by a slim 51-47 percent margin in 2008.
Speaking in a cavernous gymnasium at Ohio State University here, the president almost immediately cheered the Buckeyes' No. 2-seeded basketball team in their game tonight although he did insist he did it strictly on the merits of the team, rather than any other ulterior political motives.
“I did have the Buckeyes heading to the Final Four,” Obama said. “And I promise you, I didn’t do it because I knew I was coming here, because I am cold-blooded when it comes to filling out my brackets,” he joked.
Obama also gave honorable mention to those other Ohio teams in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen -- there are valuable votes in the rest of the state too, after all.
“You’ve got Ohio State, Ohio University, Xavier… Xavier is in… Cincinnati,” he said, as the crowd booed loudly. (Ohio State plays another in-state team, the University of Cincinnati tonight.)
Obama also praised the ingenuity of Ohioans, making special note in a routine campaign line that the state was breeding ground for some of the country’s most innovative minds.
“We are inventors; we are builders; we're makers of things,” Obama said. “We're Thomas Edison and the Wright brothers and Steve Jobs… By the way, the Wright Brothers are from Ohio,” he continued.
And he didn’t leave the stage before making Ohio State’s trademark “O-H-I-O” signal with his arms, similar to the “Y-M-C-A” dance, as the crowd chanted, “Four more years!” as they have at other events the White House deems strictly apolitical.
Despite his fondness for the locals here, there was one Buckeye that the president seemed less than enamored with: a heckler, brandishing a book he wanted the president to read, whom Obama engaged with directly.
“Excuse me, sir,” he said sharply. “Show me some courtesy. I’ll be happy to take your book, but don’t interrupt everyone else,” he continued as the crowd cheered and carried the heckler’s book to the front of the stage, as he was escorted out of the event site by police.
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Newt?
Was that YOU?
Wouldn't surprise me now that Newt's
campaignbook selling tour is coming to an end!Gotta pay those Tiffany's bills somehow....
Speaking in a cavernous gymnasium at Ohio State University
In other words it looked like when Romney spoke at Ford Field. Where are the pictures with the story FR?
You managed to get them in for Romney's speech.
I guess the optics don't fit your cheerleader template, eh?
Please all knowing one - tell us where the cavernous gymnasium was less then a quarter filled! lmao!
Nice try WCA - but by all means keep banging your head off the wall - it would be a much needed improvement sweetie!
Nice to see at least once in your miserable life - you weren't stealing time from your employer... peaches...
Sure wish he was "cold-blooded" about taking our energy policies serious.
He was at The Ohio State University Recreation and Physical Activity Center. They picked a smaller facility because OSU is on Spring Break and the basketball
arena is being used for the State High School basketball championships.
Michael,
No President since Nixon has had a National energy policy.
I think Willard may have picked up someone holding a Will Work for Food sign and paid him to attend today's rally.
If I didn't know any better, I'd think #1.4 & 1.5 contradict each other.
Go Buckeyes!
25% of the Sweet 16 are Ohio teams: Ohio State, Ohio, Xavier and Cincinnati.
Ohio State plays Cincy tonight.
I'm supposed to believe this? Sorry, but mr. campaign always has ulterior political motives. Chalk it up to another Obama lie.
Go Big Blue!
Kentucky WildCats, All the Way Baby!
You Betcha!
Occupy SoggyBottom!
[I'm supposed tobelieve this?]
Wouldn’t expect you to!!
Feisty, It might have been Karen Santorum she's going to need the money. Her husband just commited political suicide.
Hey Lisa!
Welcome back - trust everything went even better then planned with the wedding!
Feisty, Thanks for the welcome back. The wedding was fairytale beautiful. I'll drop by the DDI and tell you all about it
I'm so happy for you & your daughter plus new son in law.
Of course, the father of the bride as well!
Can't wait! ☺
The poor cant depend on gov, but the rich can depend on gov with tax cut.
Anybody really believe Obama is now in favor of the Keystone XL Pipeline. One week ago the man was touting Algae as our future and Scumbaggers like Feisty were drooling. Today he's an oil man, and we're all supposed to fall for that bull$hit. His desperation is starting to become really comical.
Desperate? With the GOP self-destructing, as the GOP's two remaining contenders for the nomination tear each other's character to pieces, and as the number of registered Republicans stay away from the polls in near-record numbers during a hotly contested primary race, President Obama is anything but desperate. Jubilant and confident would more appropriately describe his mood.
President Obama by default in November! The Republican Party is in the process of collapsing and it will not make it to the elections!
It looks like all you have left are your fantasies, Sphinx. They are sad, bleak, and fragile, but they are all you have to cling to, aren't they?
Jody,
You have posted the same ad over 7 times today on FR
Nothing else...
I lived in Ohio and I lived in Wisconsin and I do not think Ohio people are as stupid or can be fooled as much by this liar Obama.
First he blames Bush now he blames congress. Listen to the figures he gives on oil production even his fellow democrats are telling him he is a liar. This is a man that will lie to be president and make false statements even though anyone can look up the facts. By the way, this portion of the "so called pipe line" had been scheduled years ago to be reviewed by the Corps of Engineers. It has nothing to do with the Canadian deal that now runs to Vancouver where shipments will be made to China.
Lets put one issue to rest since I was an options dealer. The democrats that support these statements need to understand approximately 20% of the increase is no speculation and $80% on the price. Since the value of the dollar is so low oil and all commodities even though in fact they are in increased demand, huge demand worldwide, is paid in dollars per barrel. More dollars as a result of this governments stimulus push on other so called inefficient green energy like wind and the poor dollar is the other 80% of the equation on the increase OBAMA has caused. One may also mention because of the huge demand for oil at higher prices in other countries the third tier suppliers once in the USA have left and most first tier are incorporating outside the USA. Last the government has decreased the drilling of oil since Obama on government land. The increase is on private land Obama can not touch. In fact all Government drilling increases were the result of Bush.
Go green but it will take too long to be efficient in your lifetime. Wind is a Joke as one can see from all the wind turbines in China that have done nothing to decrease their manufacturing need for oil. Solar has potential but as spain found out when they stopped the Government program for every job Solar Energy replaced 5 were lost in other industries. The Auto industry will never produce a care with a dirty battery that is efficient as gas.
The liberals should all be made to join the military and die since they are learning nothing at the universities and love a president that cares only for his own re-election. Fools. China can dream and can afford research and future space exploration. Socialist fools Obama and Dr. Joe.
With no record to run on all this president can do is lie again.
Geeze I wonder if obama knows OHIO is pretty much his presidency along with those gators he is probably going to honor soon enough in Florida..
Energy policies.
He has no energy policy.
No President since Nixon has had an energy policy.
Hey Pres, Thanks for praising the inventors! There's one more INVENTOR you must talk with and give him a MEDAL OF HONOR! His name is Troy Reed and he has something of value for your family and the 99% American People's families!
Go against the OIL & Electric corporates, we'll stay behind you and Michelle all the way!
It's time for change, and that time is NOW! NOT LATER, but right NOW!!!
Gonna be the best game of the weekend up here-'Cuse v. OSU. How's the bracket Mr. President. You know its better than the guys on the Right!!!