Small Business is Big News at 2012 RNC
Small business has been a major theme both inside and outside the Tampa Bay Times Forum this week.
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Small business has been a major theme both inside and outside the Tampa Bay Times Forum this week.
With events tied to the 2012 Republican National Convention taking place in all parts of the Tampa Bay area, many local business owners prepared to have the biggest money making week of their year.
At the beginning of the convention, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and the 2012 Tampa Host Committee projected a $150 – 175 million boost to Tampa’s economy because of the 2012 RNC.
"The way the City (of Tampa) and the Downtown Partnership put it out, we'd have 50,000 visitors and we'd be swamped," said Marc Zolkowski earlier this week. Zolkowski is the co-owner of the Metro Lounge and Restaurant in downtown Tampa. His neighboring business owner, Eftechios Xanthoudakis, said he expected to conduct five times as much business at his Samaria Café than he would during a typical week.
Entrepreneur.com reports that small business owners in Charlotte, North Carolina hold similar expectations for the 2012 Democratic National Convention, which takes place in that city next week.
However, for many Tampa area businesses, the 2012 RNC has been a disappointment with traffic, crowds and weather keeping both visitors and locals away.
Inside the Forum, the topic of small business took center stage first with a short speech on Tuesday by Phil Archuleta, a small business owner from New Mexico, followed by Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan’s speech on Wednesday in which he responded to President Obama’s controversial comments last month in Roanoke, Virginia about the amount of credit entrepreneurs deserve for the development of their business.
In that speech, President Obama implied that all successful business owners received outside support at some point in time. “There was a great teacher somewhere in your life,” he began.
The controversy stemmed from his subsequent statements about the role government plays in building small businesses. “Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive,” the President said. “Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.”
Ryan responded to that statement during Wednesday’s RNC session.
“If small business people say they made it on their own, all they are saying is that nobody else worked seven days a week in their place,” he said to the crowd of GOP delegates and media. He closed with the statement, “Yes, you did build that.”
What do Tampa area small business owners think of the RNC’s impact on the community and of Obama’s and Ryan’s statements regarding entrepreneurs? Tell us in the comments.
Both BarackObama.com and MittRomney.com have quotes addressing small business owners prominently displayed on site, and small business owners have organized Facebook groups in support of each candidate:
Manta, an online community for small business owners, released poll results last week from a survey of nearly 2,000 small business owners stating that sixty-one percent currently plan to vote for Mitt Romney in the upcoming presidential election.
The 2012 RNC wraps up Thursday night, and the 2012 DNC kicks off in Charlotte Tuesday after a long Labor Day weekend. That will be the next place to watch for platform statements affecting America’s Main Street.
Round-Up of Small Business Stories During the RNC in Tampa:
- Local Business Hopes to Cash in on RNC
- RNC’s Impact on Downtown Business Light So Far
- Coffee Shop’s Business Brisk as RNC Gets Going
- Downtown Restaurants Don’t See increase in Business
- Lack of RNC Crowd Leaves Business Owners Upset
- South Tampa Instructor Bringing Yoga to RNC Visitors
- Mayor Bob Buckhorn: Downtown Business Owners Could Sink or Swim During RNC
- While Some Businesses Suffer During RNC, Hattricks Scores
- Buddy Brew Brings Local Flavor to RNC
- At Least One Business Benefitting from RNC – A Pub Near the Forum (TBO)
- RNC No Boon to Some Downtown Businesses (TBO)
- Tampa Bay Partnership Creates Biz Buzz with Web Show from RNC (TampaBay.com)
- RNC Slows, Complicates Business in Downtown Tampa (TampaBay.com)
- Small Business a Common Theme at Republican National Convention (WashingtonPost.com)
rick barasso
8:01 am on Friday, August 31, 2012
Anybody else see that coming?
Promises of help for small business that never came.
So have we learned anything this week?
Like if this group of self serving bigots take over our government, we are all screwed..
JS
11:31 am on Friday, August 31, 2012
Thats funny, cause it was the Democratic Mayor and City Council of TAMPA promising all of us small business owners we would get a huge boost and the security measures would not dampen our traffic. Those darn self serving bigots.
Walt Kowalski
12:26 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
With any luck - THEY WILL!
rick barasso
11:48 am on Friday, August 31, 2012
Really? I seem to remember Ricky Scott and the RNC team saying it.
Chris Taylor
2:45 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Rick, what do you recall them saying? I want to make sure I'm clear on what you mean.
JS
4:07 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Your memory is very selective. A common disease of a liberal hack: For months, city leaders and GOP host committee officials have insisted that Tampa would reap the benefits of having a convention in its city. Buckhorn estimated that the event would generate some $150 million to $175 million in revenue, from the security expenses to delegate spending to the host committee contracts with local caterers and other businesses.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=157&sid=21949819&s_cid=rss-157
Krystal
11:54 am on Friday, August 31, 2012
Let's be honest, Buckhorn is hardly a D in his politics.
Timothy Harden
1:44 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Ahora, permítanme ser claro para que nadie entiende mal. nuestro
problema con el presidente Obama no es que sea una mala persona. Por todo
cuentas, él también es un buen esposo, un buen padre, y gracias a
mucha práctica, un buen golfista.
Marco Rubio
Republican
Timothy Harden
2:34 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Estas son grandes ideas cansadas y viejas gubernamentales que tienen
no todo tiempo y en todas partes han sido juzgados. estos
son ideas que la gente viene a Estados Unidos para escapar.
Estos - son ideas que amenazan con hacer a Estados Unidos más
como el resto del mundo en lugar de ayudar al resto de la
mundo cada vez más como Estados Unidos.
Marco Rubio
Senator-Florida
Republican
Michael D.
3:22 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Remember the RNC isn't a tool for this past week. it is a marketing tool for revenue in the future. For people to come down again on non-business travel. Where there is time to enjoy the stores, restraunts, and shops.
Lynda
3:42 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
I believe there were promises made by the convention host committee (which was dominated by GOP politicians and donors and not the Tampa mayor/council) that immediate economic benefits would be felt in the Tampa Bay area. Visiting Tampa Bay in August is not likely to entice many visitors to stroll around the shops or enjoy the outdoor restaurants during another visit. Other cities whose local vendors were also promised benefits that never came could have shared their experiences with Tampa prior to the convention bid. Political conventions are never worth the expense and disruption.
Timothy Harden
4:00 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Y nosotros somos especiales - somos especiales porque somos unidos -
estamos unidos, no como una raza u origen étnico común, estamos obligados
unidos por valores comunes. La familia es lo más importante
institución en la sociedad.
Marco Rubio
Senador, Florida
republicano
Timothy Harden
4:18 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Como el primer gobernador hispano mujer en la historia, las niñas a menudo vienen a mí en el supermercado o al centro comercial. Se ven y punto, y cuando tienen la valentía, se preguntan "¿Eres Susana?" y corren hacia arriba y me da un abrazo.
Y yo me pregunto. ¿Cómo sabes quién soy?
Pero lo hacen. Y estas son las niñas.
Es en momentos como estos cuando me acuerdo de que cada uno de nosotros allanar un camino. Y para mí, se trata de pavimentar un camino para que esas niñas a seguir.
No hay más barreras.
Susana Martínez
Gobernador de Nuevo México
republicano
John
4:50 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
When will people wake up and see that the Republican Party has become so ideological and hateful that its putting average Americans at great risk. You can either stay ignorant or you can stand your ground and tell them to go to he11.. If you're someone who still votes based on Republican or Democrat your way behind the times, please learn how to vote
Rollo Tomasi
5:25 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
I'll say it, F the poor!! I care nothing about people who are basically drains on society. I have worked to make a success and because I worked harder than these slobs you want to take from me and give it to them free of charge. If there is an administration who lets me keep more of my money then they get my vote.
Walt Kowalski
5:27 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Yep Rollo, you sure enough said it :)
Timothy Harden
5:36 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Ahora, mi padre se aseguró de que podía cuidar de mí mismo.
Yo llevaba una Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum - la pistola pesaba más que yo!
Mis padres crecieron tan pequeño negocio, desde un 18-años de edad, que guarda un bingo a más de 125 personas en tres estados.
Y, por supuesto, no había ayuda en el camino. Pero mis padres tomaron el riesgo. Se puso de pie. Y es mejor creer "que la construyó".
Susana Martínez
Gobernador de Nuevo México
republicano
Timothy Harden
5:37 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Hay un candidato en esta elección que va a proteger ese sueño, un líder que luchar duro para mantener la promesa de Estados Unidos para la próxima generación.
Y es por eso que debemos ponernos de pie y hacer Mitt Romney el próximo presidente de los Estados Unidos.
¡Gracias!
Susana Martínez
Gobernador de Nuevo México
republicano
Timothy Harden
10:05 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
There is one candidate in this election is going to protect that dream, a leader to fight hard to keep the promise of America for the next generation.
And that is why we must stand up and make Mitt Romney the next president of the United States.
Thank you!
Susana Martinez
Governor, New Mexico
Republican
Rollo Tomasi
6:06 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
hey pedro you are on the wrong board
rick barasso
7:07 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
My guess would be, as Rollo is obviously not very bright, he has nothing, has never had anything and the only people he can feel superior to and blame for his worthless life is the poor and minorities. Welcome to the typical tea party member...
Rollo Tomasi
7:21 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Not a tea party member but a hater of things liberal. Liberals are pin headed, full of themselves and think they are the chosen people to bring light to the masses. In reality you are the disease you are the scourge. I have plenty in my life but I have to spend a lot of it trying to keep it from you and your socialist friends. Give us your address Barasso we'll send all the needy your way, you claim to care about the bums keep em, you better than thou liberal snob. I doubt you have done anything for your brothers on the streets.
rick barasso
7:35 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Rollo
Nice fake name by the way, cowardly lion might be a better one for you.
Have you EVER been correct about anything in your life? My guess is, nope never...
Rollo Tomasi
8:37 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Pot meet kettle
rick barasso
10:27 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Come on Tim I had just had a sip of juice when I read "There is one candidate in this election is going to protect that dream, a leader to fight hard to keep the promise of America for the next generation.
And that is why we must stand up and make Mitt Romney the next president of the United States." Now there's juice all over the floor. Not even the Republicans think he's a leader that will "fight hard". Hell, they're praying he follows Koch brothers game plan and not flip flop as he usually does...
Bulldog
8:43 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012
Definitions:
Liberal: Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded. Tending to give freely; generous: a liberal benefactor. Generous in amount; ample.
Conservative: Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
Traditional or restrained in style, Moderate; cautious, Conservative Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism, One favoring traditional views and values, favouring the preservation of established customs, values, etc., and opposing innovation..
To sum it up: liberal = good conservative = stick in the mud
:)