Saturday, July 24, 2004
Ryan said he doesn't think U.S. troops were fully prepared to go to Iraq.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Corporate greed, Medicare and the soaring costs of health care and college education were on the minds of visitors at a town hall meeting Saturday hosted by U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan.
But the hot-button topics among more than 30 people at Austintown Township Hall were the Iraq war and American companies' shipping jobs overseas.
The 90-minute gathering was the fourth in a series of town hall meetings held by Ryan, of Niles, D-17th. It was marked by often spirited debate spurred by a man who chided Ryan for his stance on economic issues.
The man, who refused to give his name, called Ryan's remarks "pabulum," and accused the Democratic congressman of simply "spouting the Democratic line."
The remarks angered many in the pro-Ryan audience, but the congressman was unfazed.
"I don't mind anyone challenging me," he said. "I'll tell you where I stand. If you don't like it, don't vote for me."
Ryan said he was opposed to sending U.S. troops into Iraq because he doesn't think the troops were prepared with adequate equipment or a plan for what to do after the capture of Baghdad.
Blames administration
Though the soldiers performed admirably, the snags have been caused by "men in suits" making decisions in Washington, D.C., he said. He also said troops were sent into Iraq before the mission in Afghanistan was finished.
"Right in the middle of the project in Afghanistan, we just picked up and moved to Iraq," he said. "Our foreign policy has attention-deficit disorder."
On the economic front, Ryan said Ohio lost 14,000 more jobs in June, and the unemployment rate rose from 5.6 percent to 5.8 percent.
"Yet the president comes to Ohio and says the economy is doing great," he said. "That's the kicker."
He said the United States refuses to trade with Cuba because the human rights of its people are violated by its leadership.
"But at the same time we trade with China, which has enormous human-rights violations," he said, drawing applause from the audience.
He said federal tax breaks should be given only to American businesses that promise to create jobs in the United States, not to large corporations that move work and jobs overseas.
bjackson@vindy.com