Hot issue: base closings

The Democratic candidates support a two-year delay in base closings.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
WARREN -- U.S. Sen. John Edwards, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, told a sweaty but enthusiastic crowd that he would "fight" for the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, a hot-button issue in an area struggling to recover economically.
"We're going to stand up against these air base closings, and we'll fight for the one in your community," Edwards told the crowd of about 4,000 people at the Warren Community Amphitheater Wednesday.
Edwards was short on specifics during the speech. But U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, who spoke to the North Carolina senator before and after the rally, said Edwards and U.S. Sen. John Kerry, the party's presidential nominee, "are committed to keeping [the air base] here for us, and doing what they've got to do within the confines of the process to make that happen."
Brendon Cull, spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Coordinated Campaign, said after the speech that Kerry and Edwards are in favor of a U.S. House proposal to delay the base closure process by two years.
The closure process, which would shut down about 25 percent of the nation's military bases, is supposed to begin next year, and President Bush says he would veto any legislation that delays the process.
Youngstown Mayor George M. McKelvey, a Democrat, said one of the main reasons he is supporting Bush, a Republican, for re-election is to save the air base from being closed. The air base in Vienna employs more than 2,400 people.
'Two Americas'
During Edwards' 22-minute speech Wednesday, he touched on numerous topics, bouncing from one to another in rapid fire. He repeated portions of his "Two Americas" speech -- the haves and have-nots of the country -- he used during his failed presidential bid earlier this year.
Edwards said if he and Kerry are elected, they would spend every day fighting for Americans.
"We know what needs to be done," he said. "Every family in America is struggling and having a hard time getting by."
Edwards attacked Bush for the loss of jobs in Ohio during his administration, and said Kerry has a real plan for jobs. The plan includes eliminating tax breaks for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans, eliminating tax cuts for companies that relocate outside of the country, enforcing trade agreements, and creating a trade policy that works.
Edwards also said Kerry would provide a health care plan equal to the one given to U.S. senators, will push through legislation to make unions stronger, raise the minimum wage, improve school systems, and treat military veterans better.
Except for repealing the tax breaks for the wealthy and fining companies that relocate overseas, Edwards didn't discuss funding for any of the proposals.
GOP response
"John Kerry and John Edwards are relentlessly and endlessly engaged in negative preaching about Ohio's economy," said Kevin Madden, a Bush-Cheney spokesman. "They will do anything and everything, including misleading voters and distorting facts, in an effort to assign blame."
Edwards also said Kerry would build coalitions around the world to fight terrorism, and improve relationships with countries damaged by the decision to invade Iraq.
"John and I believe to our core that tomorrow will be better than today," he said.
Edwards was about 30 minutes late to the rally because he was delayed at an earlier event in Cleveland.
But the hot crowd was excited to see him. With the Sam and Dave classic, "Soul Man" playing, which got quite a few chuckles from reporters and photographers, Edwards got on stage. Edwards' theme song during the presidential campaign was John Mellencamp's "Small Town."
"Man, it's hot," Edwards said as he opened his speech. "I just got here and I can feel it."
One woman had to be taken out of the amphitheater on a stretcher by paramedics. Police said she had heat exhaustion.
Trumbull County was good to Edwards during the March 2 primary, something repeated by local political and labor officials prior to the nominee's speech. Trumbull was the only county out of 88 in Ohio that went to Edwards. He beat Kerry by 1 percent in Trumbull, and later that day pulled out of the presidential race.
skolnick@vindy.com