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Traficant, Obama put Valley in spotlight
The Mahoning Valley was in the national spotlight on two occasions this week.
Ex-con and ex-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. appeared on CNN’s “American Morning” program Monday and then served as guest host on WKBN-AM radio’s “Dan Rivers Show.”
A day later, President Barack Obama made an historic visit to the Lordstown General Motors complex. Obama is believed to be the first sitting president to ever deliver a speech in the Mahoning Valley in a non-election year.
Traficant didn’t say much on CNN that he hadn’t already said during his other public appearances.
During his two-hour shift on WKBN, Traficant said a few outrageous things and showed he’s paid little to no attention to political issues during his seven-year federal prison sentence.
The most glaring example was his complete lack of knowledge of the Central America Free Trade Agreement.
This was particularly surprising because as Traficant said on the air, he’s “staunchly opposed to trade agreements.”
A caller from Ashtabula asked about CAFTA and controversy surrounding U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette’s vote in favor of the agreement in 2005.
LaTourette of Bainbridge, R-14th, received incorrect information from a major employer in his district that failure to pass the agreement would adversely impact the business, and switched his vote from no to yes. The bill passed 217-215.
Traficant said, “You mean NAFTA,” the North America Free Trade Agreement. Traficant and others blame NAFTA for severely hurting domestic manufacturers.
After the caller corrected Traficant, the former congressman called the agreement “SAFTA” at least twice, including once saying, “I would have voted against SAFTA for damn sure.”
He then defended LaTourette’s vote, which he knew nothing about, by saying Republicans pressured LaTourette on the issue.
No comment
Traficant has repeatedly said he won’t talk to the local print media because his comments would be edited and he doesn’t like how we’ve treated him.
When offered an unedited question-and-answer interview with this newspaper, Traficant ignored it. The offer is still there, but because we won’t throw softballs, I’m sure Traficant — who certainly talks big — will continue to duck.
As for Obama’s speech, he got a number of loud pops from the audience, primarily GM employees, for his various references to the area, specifically mentioning Youngstown, Warren, Lordstown and Canfield. Even his mention of The Vindicator in the speech was the talk of the newsroom that day.
The president put a positive spin on the economy and the automobile industry though he admitted this area’s unemployment rate — one of the highest in Ohio — is unacceptable.
There were a few funny moments.
Obama had some trouble pronouncing Ohio Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro’s name. He then recognized her.
“How are you? She’s a fireplug. I remember her,” Obama said.
Mahoning County Democratic Chairman David Betras started a few standing ovations — at least in the section where the politicians were seated.
State Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd, had trouble containing his excitement at not only seeing a president in person for the first time, but for also getting a front-row seat.
But Schiavoni’s enthusiasm couldn’t compare to the excitement of U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th.
Ryan drove late Monday night from the Mahoning Valley to Washington, D.C., so he could join Obama on Air Force One for the president’s visit to the GM complex.
With a big smile on his face, Ryan said his first time on Air Force One “was amazing. It was historic. It was really cool.”