http://www.connotea.org/article/fa7cbf90f70bb860664dd0e2d8f57031
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Kicking off a two-day Sunshine State barnstorm Saturday, President Barack Obama tapped into key parts of what he hopes will be a winning Florida coalition similar to but larger than the one he assembled in 2008.
At stops in Seminole and Kissimmee, Fla., the president, who won the Sunshine State by just 50.9 percent in 2008, targeted the votes of senior citizens, warning that their Medicare benefits would be harmed by a plan put forward by his Republican opponents Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
“I want you to know, AARP, I would never turn Medicare into a voucher,” Obama said at a civic center here, making an explicit play for members of the 50-and-up club. “I believe no American should ever have to spend their golden years at the mercy of insurance companies.”
Obama lost Florida seniors to John McCain in 2008 but is seeking to do better with them this time around, focusing mainly on appealing to their support of federal entitlements. They’re a lucrative demographic in Florida, having made up 22 percent of the total vote in 2008.
Vice President Joe Biden also brought the “Medicare good, Republicans bad” message to Zanesville, Ohio, where he told a crowd there that Romney and Ryan are “not actually preserving Medicare. They’re for a whole new plan, ‘vouchercare.’"
The Romney campaign pushed back on Biden’s attack on Medicare, saying in a statement that Biden “knowingly and deliberately leveled false and discredited attacks.”
Besides seniors, the president also tailored his pitch Saturday to Hispanic voters, who tended to lean Republican in Florida before 57 percent of them voted for Obama in 2008. Introducing him in Kissimmee was Viviana Margarita Janer, a woman who was born in Puerto Rico but has lived in the United States since she was 6 months old.
Janer urged the audience of 3,000 to register to vote, noting that the website gottaregister.com, which Obama frequently hawks on the stump, is also available in Spanish.
“When you put the ‘I voted’ sticker on, you’re going to feel great pride knowing that you gave this man, this great leader, four more years to finish what he started,” she said.
And earlier in Seminole, Obama praised Hispanic voters as part of the patchwork that gave him a win in Florida in 2008.
“I look out on this crowd, I am reminded you were the change,” he said to a crowd of 10,000 at the Seminole campus of St. Petersburg College, noting “folks… from every walk of life -- black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, young, old, gay, straight, abled, disabled,” he said.
The president blazed through friendly territory throughout Saturday, first in Pinellas County, home to Seminole, where he won 54 percent of the vote in 2008. And Osceola County, where Kissimmee is, gave him 60 percent of the vote.
Kissimmee has special resonance for the Obama campaign given Bill Clinton’s post-convention status as Obama has been putting it “Secretary of Explaining Stuff:” Kissimmee was the first place the two campaigned together after Obama bested Clinton’s wife, Hillary, in the 2008 Democratic primaries.
During that Oct. 30 speech, Clinton, perhaps still a bit raw from the bruising primary his wife endured, praised Obama as a good decision-maker in part because he had the good sense to consult the Clintons during the financial crisis.
“He talked to his advisers — he talked to my economic advisers, he called Hillary. He called me,” Clinton said. “You know why? Because he knew it was complicated and before he said anything, he wanted to understand,” Clinton said, four years before he would get a bear hug from the now-president after delivering one of the strongest defenses ever of the latter’s policies.
Friday 14 September 2012
China-US Standoff over Dissident Chen - blogger - connotea
http://www.connotea.org/article/93089796c602c7ba7e9f28f7d256062d
The decision of US to let the blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng return into China’s fold following his escape from authorities is straining ties between the two countries as diplomatic dialogues opened in Beijing.
The 40-year old Chen who is now considered a dissident became an international human rights inspiration to many Chinese after earning the ire of the local government for exposing forced abortions in line with the country’s one-child policy. The self-taught lawyer took to the US embassy after his escape, apparently to ask for help but was eventually ushered into the Beijing Hospital.
According to a senior official’s statement to Springhill Care Group, Chen has indeed went into the embassy that day and has requested for medical treatment for his injured foot. American medical personnel have then conducted medical tests and made appropriate treatment during the time he was there.
Immediately after the incident, the Chinese government has expressed its disapproval about the entire affair, demanding an apology from the US for taking Chen in.
“What the U.S. side should do now is neither to continue misleading the public and making every excuse to shift responsibility and conceal its wrongdoing, nor to interfere in the domestic affairs of China,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin.
This incident came just when the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is visiting Beijing in a meeting with Chinese officials on security and trade talks. And although no one mentioned Chen’s name, it is evident in their statements that the incident is on the spotlight as the 2 nations struggle to maintain common ground.
Clinton said in her opening statement, “The United States believes that no state can legitimately deny the universal rights that belong to every human being – or punish those who exercise them. A China that protects the rights of all its citizens will be a stronger, more prosperous partner for the United States.”
Dai Bingguo issued a rebuttal on behalf of China, saying, “I wish to point out in particular the fundamental way to manage state-to-state relations is to abide by the basic norms of international relations, namely to respect China’s sovereignty, core interests and choice of social system.”
Meanwhile, Chinese President Hu Jintao made his point known in his opening speech during the 4th round of US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogues. He remarked that US and China should know how to respect each other despite their disagreements and also appealed to its counterpart to break the conventional belief that superpowers are bound to engage in conflicts.
“Given our different national conditions, it is impossible for both China and the United States to see eye to eye on every issue. We should properly manage the differences by improving mutual understanding so these differences will not undermine the larger interests of China-U.S. relations,” said Hu.
Springhill Care Group reports that the Chinese leader seems to be open in creating new and creative ways to foster better relations between the major nations.
“We should, through creative thinking and concrete steps, prove that the traditional belief that big powers are bound to enter into confrontation and conflicts is wrong and seek new ways of developing relations between major countries in the era of economic globalization,” he added.
The decision of US to let the blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng return into China’s fold following his escape from authorities is straining ties between the two countries as diplomatic dialogues opened in Beijing.
The 40-year old Chen who is now considered a dissident became an international human rights inspiration to many Chinese after earning the ire of the local government for exposing forced abortions in line with the country’s one-child policy. The self-taught lawyer took to the US embassy after his escape, apparently to ask for help but was eventually ushered into the Beijing Hospital.
According to a senior official’s statement to Springhill Care Group, Chen has indeed went into the embassy that day and has requested for medical treatment for his injured foot. American medical personnel have then conducted medical tests and made appropriate treatment during the time he was there.
Immediately after the incident, the Chinese government has expressed its disapproval about the entire affair, demanding an apology from the US for taking Chen in.
“What the U.S. side should do now is neither to continue misleading the public and making every excuse to shift responsibility and conceal its wrongdoing, nor to interfere in the domestic affairs of China,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin.
This incident came just when the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is visiting Beijing in a meeting with Chinese officials on security and trade talks. And although no one mentioned Chen’s name, it is evident in their statements that the incident is on the spotlight as the 2 nations struggle to maintain common ground.
Clinton said in her opening statement, “The United States believes that no state can legitimately deny the universal rights that belong to every human being – or punish those who exercise them. A China that protects the rights of all its citizens will be a stronger, more prosperous partner for the United States.”
Dai Bingguo issued a rebuttal on behalf of China, saying, “I wish to point out in particular the fundamental way to manage state-to-state relations is to abide by the basic norms of international relations, namely to respect China’s sovereignty, core interests and choice of social system.”
Meanwhile, Chinese President Hu Jintao made his point known in his opening speech during the 4th round of US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogues. He remarked that US and China should know how to respect each other despite their disagreements and also appealed to its counterpart to break the conventional belief that superpowers are bound to engage in conflicts.
“Given our different national conditions, it is impossible for both China and the United States to see eye to eye on every issue. We should properly manage the differences by improving mutual understanding so these differences will not undermine the larger interests of China-U.S. relations,” said Hu.
Springhill Care Group reports that the Chinese leader seems to be open in creating new and creative ways to foster better relations between the major nations.
“We should, through creative thinking and concrete steps, prove that the traditional belief that big powers are bound to enter into confrontation and conflicts is wrong and seek new ways of developing relations between major countries in the era of economic globalization,” he added.
Saturday 1 September 2012
Home Instead Senior Care Launches Senior Fraud Awareness Campaign/svejo
http://bookmarkerportal.com/story.php?title=home-instead-senior-care-launches-senior-fraud-awareness-campaign-pymnts-com
Home Instead Senior Care, the nation’s largest provider of in-home companion care services, today announced the launch of its Protect Seniors from FraudSM program. This new initiative empowers older Americans and their families by arming them with the information and tools they need to help protect themselves from con artists targeting the elderly.
These scammers are proving successful with victims of elder financial abuse currently estimated to experience an annual financial loss of $2.9 billion.* Often retired, less mobile, more reliant on others and home for unannounced calls or visits, seniors are frequently perceived as “easy prey” by scammers. Seniors are also quickly becoming the largest population segment. Coupled, these trends increase the risk for a number of crimes —particularly those involving identity theft, Medicaid/Medicare fraud and financial exploitation.
“Increasingly, scams targeting seniors are a threat to the financial stability and safety of our nation’s seniors, putting many at risk for losing their life savings or homes—not to mention their trust in others,” said Jisella Dolan, Vice President and General Counsel, Home Instead, Inc., the franchisor for Home Instead Senior Care. “But there are easy steps seniors and their families can take to help prevent these crimes. Protect Seniors from Fraud will help reduce the risk by educating potential victims.”
The Protect Seniors from Fraud program, developed with expert advice from senior-crime prevention organization the National Association of Triads, Inc., provides a number of free online resources, including a Senior Fraud Protection Kit with scam prevention tips, risk assessment tools, and advice on what to do if you or a loved one is scammed. Specific precautions found in these materials, which seniors and their families can implement to help avoid falling victim to con artists, include:
Shredding any documents useful to criminals, such as bank statements, credit card statements and offers,
Registering on the national Do-Not-Call Registry and hanging-up on all solicitation calls, and
Being wary of individuals who have newly befriended you or a loved one, and make an effort to get to know them.
Perhaps even more alarming than the crimes themselves, is the fact that many seniors are reluctant to report them, which makes it difficult for authorities to capture these con artists. A recent AARP study** revealed that only 25 percent of crime victims over age 55 have reported to authorities they’ve fallen for a scam.
“These seniors may be afraid to be seen as vulnerable by the law, and those in a position to tell them that perhaps they are not fit to continue living by themselves,” said Ed Hutchison, Director of the National Association of Triads, Inc. “It’s a perceived threat of a loss of independence that drives many to keep quiet.”
With the free tips and the campaign resources made available through Protect Seniors from Fraud, however, seniors, their families and caregivers don’t have to be unwitting victims of those seeking to take advantage of them. For more information about the program, and to access the free online materials, visit www.ProtectSeniorsFromFraud.com.
Home Instead Senior Care, the nation’s largest provider of in-home companion care services, today announced the launch of its Protect Seniors from FraudSM program. This new initiative empowers older Americans and their families by arming them with the information and tools they need to help protect themselves from con artists targeting the elderly.
These scammers are proving successful with victims of elder financial abuse currently estimated to experience an annual financial loss of $2.9 billion.* Often retired, less mobile, more reliant on others and home for unannounced calls or visits, seniors are frequently perceived as “easy prey” by scammers. Seniors are also quickly becoming the largest population segment. Coupled, these trends increase the risk for a number of crimes —particularly those involving identity theft, Medicaid/Medicare fraud and financial exploitation.
“Increasingly, scams targeting seniors are a threat to the financial stability and safety of our nation’s seniors, putting many at risk for losing their life savings or homes—not to mention their trust in others,” said Jisella Dolan, Vice President and General Counsel, Home Instead, Inc., the franchisor for Home Instead Senior Care. “But there are easy steps seniors and their families can take to help prevent these crimes. Protect Seniors from Fraud will help reduce the risk by educating potential victims.”
The Protect Seniors from Fraud program, developed with expert advice from senior-crime prevention organization the National Association of Triads, Inc., provides a number of free online resources, including a Senior Fraud Protection Kit with scam prevention tips, risk assessment tools, and advice on what to do if you or a loved one is scammed. Specific precautions found in these materials, which seniors and their families can implement to help avoid falling victim to con artists, include:
Shredding any documents useful to criminals, such as bank statements, credit card statements and offers,
Registering on the national Do-Not-Call Registry and hanging-up on all solicitation calls, and
Being wary of individuals who have newly befriended you or a loved one, and make an effort to get to know them.
Perhaps even more alarming than the crimes themselves, is the fact that many seniors are reluctant to report them, which makes it difficult for authorities to capture these con artists. A recent AARP study** revealed that only 25 percent of crime victims over age 55 have reported to authorities they’ve fallen for a scam.
“These seniors may be afraid to be seen as vulnerable by the law, and those in a position to tell them that perhaps they are not fit to continue living by themselves,” said Ed Hutchison, Director of the National Association of Triads, Inc. “It’s a perceived threat of a loss of independence that drives many to keep quiet.”
With the free tips and the campaign resources made available through Protect Seniors from Fraud, however, seniors, their families and caregivers don’t have to be unwitting victims of those seeking to take advantage of them. For more information about the program, and to access the free online materials, visit www.ProtectSeniorsFromFraud.com.
Scam Alert: Bogus Home Rental Ads On Craigslist/svejo
http://bookmarkerportal.com/story.php?title=wpec-tv-cbs12-news-news-top-stories-scam-alert-bogus-home-rental-ads-on-craigslist-1
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. -- A warning going out to home buyers or renters tonight. There's another scam to watch out for. This one involves properties advertised on Craigslist.
A local woman nearly fell for the scam and would have been out hundreds of dollars. But thanks to her due diligence and the help of a real estate agent, she found out the whole thing was a hoax.
A yellow, two-bedroom house in a nice Boynton Beach neighborhood for rent on Craigslist for just $700. It may sound too good to be true. That's because it is.
"This guy was trying to scoop up a couple of people real quick I think, to fall for it," said homeowner Boyd Boggess.
Boyd Boggess owns the house on Southwest 23rd Terrace, spoke to us on the phone. He's trying to sell or rent the house for about twice that amount, but he didn't place the ad on Craigslist. Someone posing as him did.
"He said I am Boyd Boggess. I need someone responsible. I'm away on a Christian fellowship three year tour," said Boggess.
The homeowers listing agent says he found out about the scam after getting a call from a woman about to send money to the person who the Craiglist Ad that's when he went online and discovered the bogus posting.
"He told her thats a scam the owner is out of the country," said Boggess.
These scam artists are going to real estate web sites and doing a simple right click, save as, copying the pics taking listing information and creating these craigslist postings," Stephanie Slater, Boynton Beach Police Department.
Boynton Beach police haven't yet received any complaints from people who have fallen for the scam. But they do warn potential buyers or renters using Craigslist to do their homework.
"Verify if its a licensed realtor and go to other sites to see if can find same property," said Slater.
Boynton Beach police say they're investigating, but admit these cases are difficult to prosecute.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. -- A warning going out to home buyers or renters tonight. There's another scam to watch out for. This one involves properties advertised on Craigslist.
A local woman nearly fell for the scam and would have been out hundreds of dollars. But thanks to her due diligence and the help of a real estate agent, she found out the whole thing was a hoax.
A yellow, two-bedroom house in a nice Boynton Beach neighborhood for rent on Craigslist for just $700. It may sound too good to be true. That's because it is.
"This guy was trying to scoop up a couple of people real quick I think, to fall for it," said homeowner Boyd Boggess.
Boyd Boggess owns the house on Southwest 23rd Terrace, spoke to us on the phone. He's trying to sell or rent the house for about twice that amount, but he didn't place the ad on Craigslist. Someone posing as him did.
"He said I am Boyd Boggess. I need someone responsible. I'm away on a Christian fellowship three year tour," said Boggess.
The homeowers listing agent says he found out about the scam after getting a call from a woman about to send money to the person who the Craiglist Ad that's when he went online and discovered the bogus posting.
"He told her thats a scam the owner is out of the country," said Boggess.
These scam artists are going to real estate web sites and doing a simple right click, save as, copying the pics taking listing information and creating these craigslist postings," Stephanie Slater, Boynton Beach Police Department.
Boynton Beach police haven't yet received any complaints from people who have fallen for the scam. But they do warn potential buyers or renters using Craigslist to do their homework.
"Verify if its a licensed realtor and go to other sites to see if can find same property," said Slater.
Boynton Beach police say they're investigating, but admit these cases are difficult to prosecute.
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