IAFF - Firefighters: Kerry most electable candidate.

[blm]

Post 9-11 this is one of the most important endorsements a candidate can get. Their word goes a LONG way. Firefighters are also FIERCE activists in every community.


Firefighters Union Will Throw Support to Kerry, Officials Say

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

The International Association of Fire Fighters will endorse Senator John Kerry for president next week, union officials said yesterday, making it the first union to endorse a Democratic presidential candidate other than Representative Richard A. Gephardt.

Harold Schaitberger, the firefighters' president, declined to discuss his union's plans, but labor leaders who have talked with him said the union would back Mr. Kerry because its leaders thought the senator was the most electable Democrat.

The firefighters' endorsement, which is expected to be announced on Wednesday in Washington, is bound to hurt Mr. Gephardt's efforts to win the coveted endorsement of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., union leaders said.

http://nytimes.com/2003/09/19/politics/campaigns/19ENDO.html

[JI7]

1. GREAT ONE

good one for senator kerry.

[joeybee12]

2. I don't agree he's the most electable Democrat

I think he's one of the weakest right now.

And as for people throwing out comments about electabilty or non-electability, KNOCK IT OFF.

The more people who comment on that (in the press), the more ammo to the Rethugs. This will be used against us if one of the Dems--whom the no-nothing insiders are calling "unelectable"--is nominated.

We can bitch about it here, but punidts and Dems in leadership have to get off this story line--it will hurt us in the future. Right now someone somewhere has uttered comments about the unelectability of all candidates which the Rethugs will play ad-nauseum in their commericals.

[JI7]

3. isn't that what you just did ?

you start off by talking about how you don't think he is the most electable and that he is one of the weakest, then go into something about how we should not talk about that because it will give the other side something to use.

[blm]

4. If you were more familiar with Kerry

and how he campaigns, you would know that he lets the other guy build up a head of steam first.

Weakness is in the eyes of the beholder.

[KC21304]

9. Yes, you guys. How dare you say Kerry is electable.

And stop using those initials too. Knock it off. LOL

[JI7]

10. hahha

yup

[blm]

16. What initials?

JK? JFK? POTUS?

[quinnox]

5. Another heavyweight endorsement

First Feinstein, then RFK Jr., now the firefighters union. I'm starting to see a pattern here...

[blm]

8. Firefighters were Gore's staunchest supporters.

I don't see Gore separating himself from them.

[TheDonkey]

6. based off his record he is one of the most electable...

and people who know politics sadly realize "electability" is a major issue in running for office. Always has been, always will be.

But I don't think Kerry is the only one who can beat Bush, I do think he has one of the best chances too.

[blm]

11. I have always maintained that ANY Dem CAN beat Bush...

the vote fraud problem means the Dem must win DECISIVELY in a landslide, and bring in a new Congress with him. Any close election tilts automatically to Bush.

[Forkboy]

7. Thats a big one

Score one for Kerry.

[kwolf68]

12. Good News

...plus no Kerry bashing. Maybe things are coming around here at DU

[Gman]

13. No union works harder than the IAFF

The IAFF endorsement is probably the most sought after endorsement in alef=" labor.

This is BIG for Kerry. Very big.

[blm]

15. Yes...this will signal the NH and Iowa firefighters to finally activate.

.

[sangh0]

14. Good going, Senator

Well deserved.

[FlemingsGhost]

17. What happened to supporting a candidate...

whose platform reflect your political views?
Instead, they arrive at a decision with "electability" in mind.

Having come from a lo-oooooong line of firefighters, (and even serving as a volunteer for a spell,) I was never impressed with the political "sophistication" exhibited by many of the brethren.

[blm]

18. Kerry has a long history

of crafting profirefighter legislation.

I think they also like the fact that he knows firsthand what it is like to risk your own life to save others.

Why would you assume that Kerry's platform wouldn't reflect their political views? He wrote the strongest proposal for first responders. I imagine they liked that.

They are being kind by not pointing fingers at who they don't want and why they don't want him. You should appreciate their diplomacy.

[FlemingsGhost]

26. The stated reason for the endorsement:

"Harold Schaitberger, the firefighters' president, declined to discuss his union's plans, but labor leaders who have talked with him said the union would back Mr. Kerry because its leaders thought the senator was the most electable Democrat."

I am not rgistered at NY Times.com, so I am only going by the snips. There is no mention of Kerry's wonderful work on behalf of firefighters. Only that he is the "most electable."

That is hardly diplomatic. In fact, it could very well be percieved as a subtle swipe at the other candidates...

[blm]

30. If you studied the candidates fairly

and spent some time examining their records, then you would have known that Kerry was the natural choice for them.

You have scrutinized the candidates' ACTUAL records of governance haven't you?

[FlemingsGhost]

32. I have! But then again, when it comes to politics...

you and I aren't typical Americans.

Most folks will pick up a newspaper and see that IAFF is supporting Kerry because he is the "most electable." And then, turn the page...

Hardly a ringing endorsement.

[seaglass]

19. Kerry has been supporting firefighters for a long time, he

has co-sponsored at least one bill that directly supports firefighters, he has spoken before the IAFF Legislative conference and I have heard multiple mentions of the need to ensure that first responders have adequate resources.

So he is both electable and a strong supporter.

Nice generalization about firefighters, tell me do the police have politial "sophistication", do machinists, do dock workers, do any rank and file union members have political "sophistication", or is it just the firefighters who have earned your disdain?

[blm]

20. Good question.

And glad you posed it.

I'm the sister of a firefighter who lost part of his nose to frostbite while battling a fire in below zero weather. He helped save 7 lives that day. I think that family would not judge his "political sophistication" as harshly.

[FlemingsGhost]

24. Thats neither here, nor there...

No one questioned the bravery exhibited by firefighters.

Only their political prowess.

[FlemingsGhost]

29. There is no mention of Kerry's close involvement.

Only that he is the "most electable."

My apologies for the generalization, but I've spent my life surrounded by firefighters, and experience is what led to the slight.

It's no excuse... but the manner in which the union has communicated there reasons for endorsement illustrates just what I'm asserting. Why no mention of all those wonderful things Kerry has done in their interests? Why did it take folks on an on-line form to offer such important information?

If you ask me, they missed a great opportunity to really showcase the Senator.

[blm]

31. They will when they endorse him formally

next week.

[George_Bonanza]

21. "Political sophistication"?

Get real. Kerry has been a noble proponent for the firefighters throughout his career. This is not just some calculated move by the firefighters to endorse whoever's the most electable. Kerry definitely has a rapport with them. Firefighting is among the most dangerous jobs in the world, so pardon them if they're not exactly sophisticated enough for you.

[Fabio]

25. To Wit

JK will AGAIN be skating in Dennis Leary Foundations's annual firefighter fundraiser on Sept 28. He's done it most years since it started.

[FlemingsGhost]

27. See post # 26. (n/t)

Dems

[oasis]

22. The "electability" of a candidate should be the number one concern

of anyone wanting Chimpy ousted from the White House. But then, there are those starry-eyed idealists.

[blm]

23. I'm a starry-eyed idealist

and am very happy with my Special Ks....Kerry and Kucinich.

[oasis]

28. As things stand at present, Kerry gives us a better shot at winning the WH

than any other candidate. He is more of a practical choice for me.