Romney replaces Kerry at mayors conference when Kerry refuses to cross pic

[Kadie]

Romney replaces Kerry at mayors conference when Kerry refuses to cross picket line

THEO EMERY, Associated Press Writer
Monday, June 28, 2004


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(06-28) 07:18 PDT BOSTON (AP) --

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney replaced Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry as a speaker for the nation's mayors on Monday after Kerry canceled a speech rather than cross a police union picket line.

Romney, a Republican, said he would cross the picket line to speak to the U.S. Conference of Mayors as a show of support for Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. The Boston Police Patrolmen's Association has been working without a contract for two years.

"Executive leadership requires tough decision-making, and that's true whether you're a mayor, a governor or the president of the United States," Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/06/28/politics1018EDT0558.DTL

[bushisanidiot]

1. Hey repukes.. here's the rope. Do what you want with it.

idiots.. heh..

[Tight_rope]

17. You beat me to the punch!

He just helped to put the noose around the Republican party. It's not like they ever cared about the little people!

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!:kick:

[TriMetFan]

2. As a Member of a Union

Good For Kerry. This should show any Union member that is a Republican that Republicans like Romney don't give a shit about us. This also should make any cop out see who is on our side. For these cops to go for 2 yrs. without a contract and then have both the Gov. and Mayor cross the line it is a slap in the face. Just remember that these men and women put their lives on the line day after day weather you like cops or not. :mad:

[Ernesto]

3. "Unions are a detriment to the economy"

A quote from the chimp

[damnraddem]

4. Good for Kerry! I hope Romney goes down in flames.

Whenever he next faces election, union workers in MA need to have long memories.

[livinginphotographs]

5. Good for Kerry.

It always confused the hell out of me why a union-member could ever vote Republican. The anti-union stance of the GOP is just another example of the economic fear-mongering ("Those evil poor people and minorities are coming to steal your money!")that causes so many people to vote Republican, even when the Democratic party would help them so much more.

I hope voters remember this come November....the Republicans rule on fear and exclusion. Here's even more proof of that.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. How many Democratic Mayors crossed the picket line?

:shrug:

[AspenRose]

10. Albuquerque mayor Martin Chavez

http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/news04/062604_news_chavez.shtml

[Forkboy]

7. Kerry did good.As always Mitt Robme didn't.

[Raven]

8. I'm really pissed off at Tom Menino!

He's a big city mayor. He knows how these things go. He ought to know that Kerry had no choice but to do what he did. So he invites Romney to replace Kerry and gives Romney a platform to bash Kerry. Menino should be ashamed of himself!

[AspenRose]

9. Nice to see the soon-to-be ex-wife of Albuquerque's mayor

is in good company with Kerry.

She refused to cross the line, while her husband went inside.

[Forkboy]

11. That was awesome...it made my night when I saw that

the daughter stayed with mom too :)

[Bombero1956]

12. recently news

The city I work for is $20 million short and in danger of going into recievership. The Gov proposed a $20 million grant and $30 million in no interest loans. The Gov would appoint a 5 member board to oversee the city's finances. Now here's the kicker, the Gov wanted to remove civil service rights and protections and remove collective bargaining rights from all the city's unions. At 6:00 PM tonight I will be marching with all my brother and sister union members in a Unity March in front of City Hall to show Gov. Mitt where to stick that crock of shit proposal. He also recently tried to reclassify certain state workers as managemnent so as to take away their rights as union members. To the Gov I say, can you say 1 term?

[Kat45]

15. What city do you work for?

If you don't want to post it here, PM me. (I'm just curious because I'm in MA and I don't think I've heard about this one.)

[Rebellious Republican]

16. Jeb did all that to state employees in his first term, AFSCME.......

was worthless down here. No power what so ever.

[The_Casual_Observer]

13. Mitt romney is a no good SOB scab lover bastard

And I might add, a Judas.

May he fry in hell.

[Sean Reynolds]

14. bleh

[Bombero1956]

18. had a good turn out

We had speakers from other unions as well. The president of the state association spoke and the President of the IAFF came up from Washington who put Romney and the politicians on notice that if one of our membership is injured or killed the entire 265,000 membership will march on Boston.

[0rganism]

19. Kerry could have taken the opportunity to join the police picket

That's the perfect chance to show some solidarity with the unions -- and the police unions tend to be conservative, too. Such a gesture would have gone a long way, if he could have done it without seeming too "photo-oppish".