Joe Biden talks tax cuts during visit to Fort Myers

By BETTY PARKER
Special to news-press.com
September 4, 2008

Vice presidential nominee Joe Biden brought Barack Obama's Democratic campaign to a Republican stronghold Wednesday, stopping in Fort Myers to promise tax cuts for 95 percent of Americans.

About 500 people invited by the campaign - people who've volunteered to work for the Obama ticket or have been involved in past Democratic efforts - came to the Harborside Event Center to hear the U.S. senator from Delaware discuss what the Obama ticket will do to help working families deal with the economic crisis.

"This election is about restoring the middle class," Biden told the crowd. "Has there ever been a time when the middle class has been so apprehensive? ... I've never seen a time when so many people have been knocked down and government has done so little to help them back up."

Rather than continue the tax cuts he said the Bush administration has provided in the past, and he said GOP nominee John McCain plans to continue, Biden said he and Obama "will cut taxes for 95 percent of everybody who gets a paycheck."

Senior citizens who make less than $50,000 a year will pay no taxes and not even have to file returns, he added.

Speaking in a folksy, down-to-earth manner and without notes, Biden strolled back and forth on the stage, talking for almost 30 minutes before turning over the microphone to several citizens who related their personal issues.

Alan Stockton, a pastor in Fort Myers, told of how many of his congregation have lost jobs and homes, and face health problems while having no insurance. Electrical contractor Patrick Hosey talked about how his business has declined so much he's had to lay off almost all his employees. Nancy Hendrix discussed her problems finding work even though she has a doctorate and Joan Lewis-Patterson of Lehigh Acres told of how many of her neighbors have lost their homes, and others seek help at food banks.

Biden took the stage for another 20 minutes after the speakers finished, indicating that while such stories are heartbreaking, "everywhere I go, I hear similar stories. These are people who worked like heck and bought in to the American dream," yet still face life-changing problems.

Several in the crowd praised Biden's straightforward speech.

Amy Padilla said she found Biden's speech inspiring.

"I'm a Republican, but this is the campaign that wants to make things better for the 95 percent of us who are working and still struggle to make mortgage and insurance payments, " she said. "It's so inspirational to be in a room filled with people like this and hear how everyone is excited for this ticket."

Fort Myers Mayor Jim Humphrey, a Republican, welcomed Biden, and in his remarks to the crowd said that Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope," has been an inspiration for him.

After citing foreclosures in Fort Myers, and the jobs lost to city residents, Humphrey said "we need a change. ... The objectives (Obama and Biden) have to remove the divisiveness between the parties and bring us together" are something all voters can support.

Biden said Humphrey told him just before coming onstage about the fatal shooting of Fort Myers police officer Andrew Widman. Such tragedies could be prevented, Biden said, if a database existed to show judges quickly whether a person before them has outstanding warrants as did the man who shot Widman.

Setting up such databases is expensive, Biden said, but he indicated that such costs could be worth it.

"If you can't be safe walking down the street, then all the other liberties we have don't mean much," he said.

He also touched on another issue critical to Southwest Florida voters: offshore oil drilling. Because oil companies are not drilling in many of the leases they already own in the Gulf of Mexico, he asked, why should they get permits to drill elsewhere?

Alternative energy needs to be developed, he said, and their administration plans to spend $150 billion over 10 years to develop new energy sources, which should in turn create 5 million new jobs.

Biden recalled past visits to Fort Myers. His brother-in-law once owned a home here, Biden said. During one of those visits, he said, he spent time in Lee Memorial Hospital having his gallbladder removed.

Biden never mentioned his Republican counterpart, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain's choice as his running mate.

The Fort Myers' event was the first on the second day of a Biden Florida tour. He drove from Fort Myers to Sarasota, for an afternoon event there.