Obama’s proposed budget threatens the exact same Ohio Air National Guard Base in Mansfield, OH, where Air Force One lands tomorrow so that Obama can campaign in Mansfield. Unfortunately, for Mansfield, OH, the White House Press Secretary had no clue about all this when asked at today’s White House briefing. He even tried to blame sequestration but this cut isn’t related to sequestration. Apparently, Obama is more interested in giving campaign speeches in Mansfield than he is in talking about what concerns the people of Mansfield. Check out the SHOT/CHASER below:

SHOT: White House Not Aware That Obama’s Proposed Defense Cuts Threaten Ohio Air National Guard Base At Mansfield, Ohio, Where He Campaigns Tomorrow:

REPORTER: “Can you talk a little bit about why the president is going back to the same area of Akron, Ohio tomorrow that he has visited before? And in Mansfield the local paper is reporting if President Obama has his way his Air Force One arrival would be one of the final flights into the Mansfield airport, because the president wants to do away with the mission for the 800 guardsmen at the Mansfield.” WH Spokesman Jay Carney: “I’ll have to take the question, I’m not aware of that particular issue. In terms of why is he is going to Ohio and Akron -” REPORTER: “But that area of Ohio, Mansfield and Akron, I mean he was just there on the bus tour.” CARNEY: “There is not an inch of Ohio that the president does not love to visit. It’s a great state, my wife’s home state.” REPORTER: “In terms of Mansfield, can we get you to take that question?” CARNEY: “Sure. I’m not aware of even the policy implications or what issue this is.” (Jay Carney, Press Briefing, Washington, DC, 7/31/12)

CHASER: Mansfield News Journal Today: “Air Force One To Land At Threatened Mansfield Base”

CHASER 2: Mansfield News Journal Editorial: “A Few Questions For The President”

Full Background:

Obama Will Jeopardize 551 Part-Time And 204 Full-Time Airmen’s Jobs At Mansfield Air National Guard Base As His Defense Cuts Would Eliminate The C-27J Program, Leaving The Wing Without A Flying Mission. “President Barack Obama has cited an aircraft flown by the Mansfield Air National Guard Base as an example of ‘unnecessary’ defense programs and recommended it for termination… Elimination of the program would leave the 179th Airlift Wing without a flying mission. It could jeopardize the future of the unit, which has 551 part-time and 204 full-time airmen. The Mansfield base has two of its four C-27Js deployed in Afghanistan. It received the planes last summer, and was the first base in the country to deploy to Afghanistan with them.” (Bryan Bullock, “Mansfield Base’s C-27js Called ‘Unnecessary,’” The Mansfield News Journal , 2/14/12)

• “Legislators Have Said The C-27J Aircraft — A Twin-Engine, Multipurpose Cargo Plane — Has Proven Cost-Effective And Important For National Security.” (Bryan Bullock, “Mansfield Base’s C-27js Called ‘Unnecessary,’” The Mansfield News Journal , 2/14/12)

Mansfield News Journal Editorial Board: Mansfield “Cannot Sustain” The Loss Of the 179^th Air National Guard Base. “It is critical that Congress reverse it. Mansfield cannot sustain another loss of this magnitude. The blow we took from the General Motors plant closing put several thousand people out of work. Taking jobs away from Mansfield by ending the 179th Airlift Wing’s mission is simply an irrational decision.” (Editorial, “Mansfield Cannot Stand To Lose 179^th,” Mansfield News Journal, 2/16/12)

• The Mansfield Guardsmen “Have Become A Valuable Part” Of The Community. “These highly skilled Guardsmen have become a valuable part of our community. They bring with them a strong work ethic and an understanding of their value to our city. Lahm Airport itself benefits greatly from having an air base share many of its facilities.” (Editorial, “Mansfield Cannot Stand To Lose 179^th,” Mansfield News Journal, 2/16/12)

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): “We’ve Saved Mansfield Once Before. My Hope Is We Can Do It Again.” “The good news from last week’s meetings included a bipartisan agreement that Obama’s proposal is a bad idea that would hurt Ohio’s economy. ‘We’ve savedMansfield once before,’ said Sen. Sherrod Brown, referring to the 2005 base closure process whenMansfield was targeted. ‘My hope is we can do it again.’” (Editorial, “Mansfield Cannot Stand To Lose 179 ^th,” Mansfield News Journal, 2/16/12)

• Brown: Eliminating The C-27J Program In Mansfield Is “Pound Foolish.” “‘Our message to Secretary Donley was clear: eliminating the C-27J program is pennywise but pound foolish. In addition to affecting roughly 800 jobs in Mansfield, eliminating the C-27J program would affect domestic relief efforts and shift Air Force operations to cargo planes that are more expensive to operate,’ Brown said.” (Press Release, “Sens. Brown, Portman Organize Ohio Delegation Meeting With Air Force Secretary To Urge Preservation Of C-27J Program,” Sen. Sherrod Brown , 3/21/12)

• Brown: Eliminating The C-27J Would Be Detrimental To The Mansfield Community. “On Monday, I traveled to Mansfield to meet with the men and women of Ohio’s Air National Guard. While we do need to make some tough decisions on how to continue to meet our national security needs while reducing our deficit, the C-27J is more cost-efficient than other aircraft and it is a vital part of our military mission-and that’s why eliminating the C-27J would be detrimental to both our national security and the Mansfield community.” (Press Release, “Sens. Brown, Portman Organize Ohio Delegation Meeting With Air Force Secretary To Urge Preservation Of C-27J Program,” Sen. Sherrod Brown , 3/21/12)

When Obama Visits Mansfield, The Mansfield News Journal Would Like To Ask Him About The C-27J Program At Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport. “Our first question to the president would be: What about the C-27J program at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport? The Air National Guard base where Air Force One will land remains threatened by Obama’s proposed cuts to the military budget. With no replacement mission for the 179th, the cargo planes that served so valiantly in Afghanistan could be scrapped next year.” (Editorial, “A Few Questions For The President,” Mansfield News Journal , 7/29/12)

• Mansfield News Journal: “Please Explain To The People Of Mansfield Why The U.S. Government Wants To Eliminate Such A Worthwhile Part Of Our Community And Nation.” “Beyond the threat to national security, Mansfield stands to lose nearly 1,000 jobs if the president gets his way. So, Mr. President, please explain to the people of Mansfield why the U.S. government wants to eliminate such a worthwhile part of our community and nation.” (Editorial, “A Few Questions For The President,” Mansfield News Journal , 7/29/12)

Obama Will Land At The Mansfield-Lahm National Guard Base On Wednesday When He Campaigns In Ohio - The Very Base He Has Threatened By His FY2013 Defense Budget Cuts. “The 179th Airlift Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard base where Air Force One will land Wednesday morning remains threatened by President Barack Obama’s proposed cuts to the military budget.” (Lou Whitmire, “Air Force One To Land At Threatened Mansfield Base,” Mansfield News Journal, 7/31/12)

• The Threatened C27-Js Will Be Positioned So Obama Will See Them When Air Force One Lands. “The C27-Js will be positioned at the base so Obama sees them when Air Force One taxis in, Col. Michael Howard, 179th Airlift Wing vice commander, said Monday.” (Lou Whitmire, “Air Force One To Land At Threatened Mansfield Base,” Mansfield News Journal, 7/31/12)

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): “When The President Travels To Mansfield On Wednesday, I Hope He Will Get A Better Sense Of Just How Vital The C-27J Program Is To The Air National Guard Base At Mansfield And The Economy Of North Central Ohio.” “Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, said he too hopes the president takes note. ‘When the president travels to Mansfield on Wednesday, I hope he will get a better sense of just how vital the C-27J program is to the Air National Guard Base at Mansfield and the economy of north central Ohio,’ Brown said.” (Lou Whitmire, “Air Force One To Land At Threatened Mansfield Base,” Mansfield News Journal, 7/31/12)