The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Gingrich makes southwest Ohio stop at chili restaurant

Sam Grier Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich appeared at Price Hill Chili this morning for the first of three stops today in Ohio.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: Gingrich campaigns in area

Man drowns in Caesar Creek Lake
Updated 3 min. ago
CHCA students win Math Olympics awards
1:17 p.m.
Lakota to discuss open enrollment proposal
12:30 p.m.
Beach Waterpark sued for failure to deliver
12:25 p.m.
Road closing for railroad repairs
11:51 a.m.
> More headlines

Sam Grier Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich appeared at Price Hill Chili this morning for the first of three stops today in Ohio.

By Eric Schwartzberg, Staff Writer Updated 7:50 PM Tuesday, February 7, 2012

CINCINNATI — Republican president candidate Newt Gingrich used a popular Cincinnati restaurant Tuesday to lambast his political opponents and detail his plan for America.

Talking from a stage in Price Hill Chili, Gingrich was especially critical of the Obama administration, saying lower unemployment numbers are inaccurate because they do not include those not presently seeking work.

“That’s why I’ve said over and over again, this is the best food stamp president in American history.

“You want an example of choice? I’m running because I’d like to be the best paycheck president in American history,” Gingrich said.

Ohio Democratic Party spokesman Seth Bringman said there’s a reason why Gingrich believes he can win Ohio.

“Mitt Romney has shown Ohioans time and time again that he is far out-of-touch with mainstream Ohio – embracing Senate Bill 5, championing the wishes of the ultra-wealthy over the needs of middle-class Ohioans and suggesting that we let the American auto industry go bankrupt,” Bringman said.

“Just 28 percent of Ohioans like what they see in Gov. Romney, and Newt Gingrich doesn’t fare much better.

“Ohioans need a president who stands up for our workers, our auto industry and our middle-class families. That’s not Newt Gingrich and that’s not Mitt Romney. That’s Barack Obama.”

Gingrich, who is looking to amass early votes ahead of Ohio’s March 6 primary, also criticized former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the current front-runner for the Republican Party’s nomination.

“I don’t think that a moderate can defeat Obama because they don’t have enough space to debate,” he said. “I think if you look at RomneyCare and ObamaCare, they’re too similar, and if you look at his record as governor, they’re too similar.”

Gingrich, who said he was the only candidate able to “carry a campaign of large-scale change,” outlined his plan for America, which includes revising the tax code, reducing the corporate income tax to 12.5 percent, abolishing the death tax, repealing “Obamacare” and allowing companies to write off 100 percent of their expenses for new equipment.

Gingrich also detailed his plan to modify unemployment compensation, which would require those who receive the benefit to enroll in a business-based training program to teach a new skills.

Approximately 300 people showed up at Price Hill Chili, a favorite campaign spot for past presidential candidates, to cheer the former Speaker of the House, listen to his remarks and shake hands with him and wife Callista.

JoAn Sides, 71, of Highland Heights, Ky., said she initially was undecided and leaning toward Rick Santorum, but Gingrich’s message “resonated in her heart” and factored greatly in swaying her support.

“He’s talking about today, what he’s going to do,” Sides said. “When you’re doing debates, they’re arguing with each other or talking about Barack Obama. I want to know point by point what he’s going to do. He laid some of that out today.”

Gingrich also made “meet and greet” stops Tuesday in Dayton and Columbus.

Lara Khalil, 25, of Hamilton, stood outside the restaurant holding a sign for Ron Paul, one of Gingrich’s opponents for the nomination.

“I wanted to show the world that people are voting for Ron Paul,” she said. “He is electable. Khalil said she loves that Paul “does not sugarcoat anything.”

“He’s honest, he’s blunt and he’s not afraid to tell you the truth. That’s what’s so scary about other politicians,” she said.” They tell you what you want to hear and the sad thing is, they’re not going to give it to you.”

Share this article