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Fleecing the rich and famous is new trend

Los Angeles County police are investigating accusations that Justin struck a photographer, which, if true, would violate California Penal Code 242 even if the striking blow was, well, glancing. Detectives want you to call them if you saw the brawl or if Justin attacked you, as well.
06/07/2012 | Comments 0

Roses popular, easy to grow in Oklahoma

Roses are one of the most popular plants in Oklahoma gardens, and many are relatively easy to grow, especially the newer varieties like the Knock Out® rose. Roses offer color and fragrance in the garden, and many make wonderful cut flowers. If you have a garden, you should try your hand at growing roses!.
03/22/2012 | Comments 0

From ‘Long Black Limousine’ to Elvis

That would change years later. For the next seven years, band members came and went. Finally, Black put together a group of musicians that have been with him for more than 20 years. They include guitarist Graham Pugh, bass player Rick Alongi, drummer Bob Gorley and keyboard player Phil Sapper, formerly of Harvey and the Wallbangers.
03/01/2012 | Comments 0

Young artist generates new ideas for veterans memorial expansion

“This will not be done with any public money,” said Howe, an Air Force pilot who flew B-52s during the Vietnam war. “Each statue will cost $40,000, but this type of art puts us in a different realm. It will take us into the world of art, which opens new avenues for giving.
02/23/2012 | Comments 0

Fleck and Flecktones to perform April 10 at Rose State

The extraordinary initial line-up of his incredible combo are touring to support their latest recording, “Rocket Science.
02/17/2012 | Comments 0

Real Life

In my presentation, I told the club members about the importance of supporting their local newspaper. After all, we received numerous compliments about our publication and its new appearance, content and local ownership. In this business, compliments can be few and far between, so we enjoyed all of the positive remarks.
02/17/2012 | Comments 0

‘General’-ly speaking

In fact, every night when he goes home, the general’s hat comes off – if only temporarily – and suddenly the commander of one of the most critical U.S. Air Force bases turns into father, husband, scuba diver and avid fan of New England sports teams..
02/10/2012 | Comments 0

Longtime MWC fire department spokesman Jerry Lojka retires

Lojka spent 29 years at the Midwest City Fire Department and served in several roles, including firefighter, inspector, investigator, public education officer, public information officer and fire marshal.

His favorite job was that of department spokesman as he answered questions from the press, and conveyed important fire prevention tips to the public.

02/03/2012 | Comments 0

Real Life: Lojka will be missed at fire department

This week’s retirement of Midwest City Fire Marshal Jerry Lojka reminded me how an effective and well-intentioned PIO does his job. During the past 14 months I’ve discovered that he knows his job and he understands the role reporters play in the world of news and information.
02/03/2012 | Comments 0

MWC grad, Hudson to receive national awards

Midwest City School graduate Lester Claravall will receive the prestigious Lewis Hines Award for Service to Children and Youth during a ceremony in New York City on Monday.

The award will be presented by the National Child Labor Committee, which serves as the sponsor for the Lewis Hines awards...

01/26/2012 | Comments 0
Home / Articles / News / Politics and Government / Obama’s ‘Julia’ a woman in need of...
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May 10th, 2012

Obama’s ‘Julia’ a woman in need of protector


By Eastword Staff
 

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country,” President John F. Kennedy famously said in his inaugural address.

In his bid for re-election, the hope-andchange president, Barack Obama, clearly has decided to ditch JFK’s country-first approach. The Obama-Biden campaign is all about what this country can do for voters.

Last week, the Obama campaign introduced “The Life of Julia,” a slide show about a fictional American that contrasts and compares the programs and services that would be available for her from age 3 under an Obama administration with those that would be available under a Mitt Romney White House.

GOP budget hawk Paul Ryan called the “Julia” infographic “creepy” and “demeaning.”

He’s right. Creepy? Until her son goes to kindergarten, Julia’s cartoon world does not depict any males, except one, as shown in this quote: “Under President Obama: Julia decides to have a child.”

Demeaning? The slide show sends the message that Julia needs Obama to protect her from cradle to grave — which, in Julia’s world, means from Head Start to Medicare.

When Julia does succeed, it’s not because she worked hard and prevailed but because a paternalistic program was there to support her. She gets into college, for example, because her high school is enrolled in Obama’s Race to the Top education reform.

When Julia graduates, she easily pays off her student loans because “Obama capped income-based federal student loan payments and kept interest rates low.” Under what Team Obama calls a “Romney/Ryan” budget, however, student loan interest rates double.

PolitiFact.com found that claim to be “false,” as Romney supports keeping Stafford loan interest rates at 3.4 percent.

What happens if Julia cannot pay off her low-interest loans because she cannot get a good job in a moribund economy? “The Life of Julia” does not illustrate its heroine moving back into the home of her parents, whom we never see.

Does Julia ever pay federal income tax? Don’t know.

The Tax Foundation estimates that 41 percent of tax filers pay no federal income taxes. The infographic is mute on how much Julia pays in taxes. Thus, all benefits appear as if conjured by a wave of Obama’s wand, not thanks to American taxpayers.

“The Life of Julia” closes when Julia is 67. She retires and signs up for Social Security. With no fear of running out of money, thanks to Obama, Julia is free to volunteer at a community garden. Under Romney, the infographic warns, Julia’s benefits could be cut by 40 percent. Washington Post fact checker Glenn Kessler found that frame to be “fairly misleading” — as the Social Security system is on the road to insolvency. Social Security will need to be cut one way or another; the only question is when and by whom.

Back to Julia and Obama’s role as her champion in what Democrats like to call the GOP’s war against women. “From cracking down on gender discrimination in health care costs to fighting for equal pay,” the infographic ends, “President Obama is standing up for women throughout their lives.” Yes, he’s standing up for women as men have done for millenniums: He’ll say anything.

 
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