Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/57825
Friday, March 9, 2012 – Daily News 7A WORLD BRIEFING Some Deep South voters skeptical about Romney JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mitt Romney faces a tough sell in the Deep South. With Mississippi and Alabama primaries coming up next Tuesday, there's concern that he's too slick, not really a con- servative. In a region where the evangelical vote is important, some are skeptical about his Mormon faith. But if Romney wins the Republican nomina- tion and it's a November choice between him and Democratic President Barack Obama, the for- mer Massachusetts gover- nor may be just good enough for some South- erners. ''If push comes to shove and he gets the nomination, I'll go in the voting booth like this and vote for him,'' says Mis- sissippi retiree David Wilke, holding his nose. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who rep- resented Georgia for 20 years and now lives in Virginia, needs to win every state from South Carolina to Texas to get to the convention this sum- mer, spokesman R.C. Hammond says. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum's staff says he'll be aggres- sive in states where Gin- grich expects to perform well. Syrian oil minister defects BEIRUT (AP) — Syria's deputy oil minister appeared tense as he looked at the camera and announced in a video that he has defected from Pres- ident Bashar Assad's regime, acknowledging he expects government forces to ''burn my home'' and ''persecute my family.'' Abdo Husameddine, a 58-year-old father of four, on Thursday became the highest-ranking civilian official to join the opposi- tion, and he urged his countrymen to ''abandon this sinking ship'' as the nation spirals toward civil war. In the YouTube video, Husameddine seemed to address Assad directly, accusing him of vast crimes in the past year as government forces pum- mel the opposition with tanks and snipers. The U.N. estimates 7,500 peo- ple have been killed since the uprising began. ''You have inflicted on those you claim are your people a full year of sor- row and sadness, denied them their basic rights to life and humanity and pushed the country to the edge of the abyss,'' said Husameddine, wearing a dark suit and tie. He appeared to be reading from a script, casting his eyes down to find the words. ''I do not want to end my life servicing the crimes of this regime,'' he said. ''I declare that I am joining the revolution of the dignified people.'' police says the gunman and one other person died in the shooting and seven other people were injured. Gingrich "tired" but loose in Mississippi TUPELO, Miss. (AP) — It was an ominous introduction for Republi- can Newt Gingrich, whose future as a presi- dential candidate rests in Mississippi and Alabama. ''I can tell you right Senate rejects GOP plan to overturn Obama policies WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate killed Republican-backed attempts to overturn several of President Barack Obama's environmental and energy policies Thursday as lawmakers worked against a March 31 deadline to keep aid flowing to more than 100,000 transportation con- struction projects around the country. The two-year, $109 bil- lion transportation bill before the Senate has wide, bipartisan support, but has become a magnet for law- makers' favorite causes and partisan gamesmanship. Among the amendments batted aside were GOP pro- posals to bypass Obama's concerns about the Key- stone XL oil pipeline, to delay tougher air pollution standards for industrial boil- ers and to expand offshore oil drilling. Action on those and other amendments came under an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., aimed at clearing the way for passage of the transportation bill next week. Obama lobbied some Senate Democrats by tele- phone ahead of the Key- stone vote, urging them to oppose an amendment by Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., that would have prevented the president from interven- ing in decisions related to construction of the pipeline and would have speeded its approval. Pointing to the administration's environ- mental concerns about the project, which would carry tar sands oil from Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast, Republicans accused Obama of standing in the way greater oil supplies at a time when Americans are coping with rising gasoline prices. But some Democrats, especially those from oil producing states, were torn between support for the pipeline and their support for the president. Obama's health overhaul still unpopular WASHINGTON (AP) — Attacked as a rationing scheme and praised as a lifesaver, Rent Special $ March Madness fir500 OFF st month rent! TEHAMA ESTATES PROVIDES: ◆ Independent Living ◆ Private Apartments ◆ Three Nutritious Meals Daily ◆ 24 Hour Secure Environment ◆ House Keeping Services ◆ Warm & Friendly Staff ◆Recreational Programs ◆Scheduled Transportation ◆Private & Formal Dining Rooms A Retirement Community for the Active Senior Citizens EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY President Barack Obama's health care law remains as divi- $75 in Discount Coupons were published last week in the D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY … And that does not count all the ads offering percentage discounts, two-for-ones and Free-with-Purchase offers! Don't miss a day of it! Subscribe Today 750 David Avenue, Red Bluff • 527-9193 527-2151 It pays for itself. sive and confusing as ever. But a new poll finds Americans are less wor- ried that the overhaul will undermine their own care. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear argu- ments on the constitution- ality of the Affordable Care Act, the Associated Press-GfK poll shows that Americans are less con- cerned their own personal health care will suffer as a result of it. Shortly after the law passed in 2010, nearly half — 47 percent — said they expected the quality of their care to worsen. Now just 32 percent say that's their worry. Most of the law's major changes have yet to take effect, and dire pre- dictions — of lost jobs, soaring premiums and long waits to see the doc- tor — have not material- ized. Provisions that have gone into effect, including extended coverage for young adults on their par- ents' insurance and relief for seniors with high pre- scription costs, only had a modest impact on health care spending. Lee Sisson, 63, a semi- retired businessman from Winter Haven, Fla., says he figures that he might be better off personally as a result of the overhaul. For example, it would limit how much health insurance companies can charge older adults. But self-interest hasn't made Sisson a supporter. Witnesses hid like 'sitting ducks' in deadly shooting PITTSBURGH (AP) — A man who was in a waiting room when gun- fire erupted at a psychi- atric clinic at the Univer- sity of Pittsburgh says people scrambled to hide and decided they'd rush the gunman if he entered the room. Gregory Brant says he and six other people in the room heard Thursday afternoon's gunfire and barricaded themselves inside but didn't feel safe because there were doors with windows along adja- cent walls. He says they felt like ''sitting ducks'' but luckily the gunman didn't see them. He says the ordeal lasted about 20 minutes. A University of Pitts- burgh Medical Center spokesman briefed by now, he's tired. He needs your prayers,'' former state Sen. Lee Yancey told a half-full Jackson hotel ballroom before the for- mer House speaker took the stage. Gingrich's aides have said the candidate needs to win Alabama and Mis- sissippi Tuesday to justify staying in the race. He scrapped weekend plans to campaign in Kansas ahead of the Saturday caucuses to stay in the South, his adopted home and the only place he's won in the 2012 cam- paign. ''I want your help next Tuesday so we can win the Republican nomina- tion,'' Gingrich flatly told the group, his voice a lit- tle rough. ''This race has been a roller coaster, up and down. I believe with your help next Tuesday when we win here and we win in Alabama we'll be back up again.'' What few in the crowd of about 100 knew is that the night before, Gingrich took some time to enjoy himself. He shed his jack- et and tie, sipped some wine and danced with his wife, Callista, in the bar, a carefree respite with staff that ran into the early hours of Thursday. New Marine sales pitch focuses on Corps' kinder, gentler side WASHINGTON (AP) — They've long been known as devil dogs, leath- ernecks and ''the first to fight.'' But U.S. Marines, with their self-described expertise in ''killing people and breaking things,'' now want to promote their kinder side as well. A new Marine Corps advertising campaign start- ing this weekend takes its cue from research showing today's recruit-age genera- tion is interested in helping people. So the campaign is crafted to show Marines not only as warriors but as humanitarians and peace- keepers; not only as coura- geous but also as compas- sionate. Photos and videos to be distributed on television, in American movie theaters, on YouTube and elsewhere show Marines talking with children; bringing food, water and medical supplies to Haitian earthquake vic- tims, and clearing rubble from a tsunami-devastated Japanese village. These missions aren't a new role for the Marines, but they are ones the force expects to do more of as it's freed from a decade of fighting land wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and returns to its seafaring, expeditionary roots. Entitled ''Toward the Sounds of Chaos,'' the campaign seeks to explain that in an uncertain world, Marines ''need to be ready to engage in whatever activ- ity our country needs us to engage in,'' Brig. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman, head of the Marine Corps Recruiting Command, said in a recent interview. Biggest solar storm in years engulfs Earth with 'benign' start WASHINGTON (AP) — One of the strongest solar storms in years engulfed Earth early Thursday, but scientists say the planet may have lucked out. Hours after the storm arrived, officials said there were no reports of problems with power grids, GPS, satellites or other technologies that are often disrupted by solar storms. But that still can change as the storm shakes the planet's mag- netic field in ways that could disrupt technology but also spread colorful Northern Lights. Early indications show that it is about 10 times stronger than the normal solar wind that hits Earth. The storm started with a massive solar flare Tuesday evening and grew as it raced outward from the sun, expanding like a giant soap bubble, scientists said.