Cops, firefighters turn on GOP in labor fight

[kpete]

Source: Politico

Many cops and firefighters have thrown their allegiance to the GOP for years – union members who frequently stray from labor’s longtime support for Democrats.

......................

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and others took aim at the GOP’s most powerful labor antagonists but ended up hitting some of the party’s best friends too — leaving public-safety unions fearful this year’s attack on teachers might easily be next year’s attack on them.

It’s a political shift that could have significant repercussions, and not just because these right-leaning union members vote for Republicans in sizable numbers. Angry cops and firefighters make for bad PR – especially after Republicans under President George W. Bush aligned themselves so successfully with the heroes of 9/11 in the years since then.


............

“Who are these evil teachers who teach your children, these evil policemen who protect them, these evil firemen who pull them from burning buildings? When did we all become evil?” said Canterbury, whose union endorsed Bush in 2000 and 2004 and John McCain in 2008.





Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52359.html#ixzz1IHY1R4C1

[Zoeisright]

1. Why ANYONE who is not wealthy would vote repuke is beyond me.

Especially cops and firefighters. That makes NO sense at all.

[lonestarnot]

2. They had to learn the hard way.

[No Elephants]

9. For one thing, Rethugs sided with cops when police brutality was charged.

For another, Rethugs were not hung up on things like the Bill of Rights--reasonableness of searches and seizures, Mirandas, presumption of innocence--all that kind of stuff that gets in the way of "law and order."

Besides, union members MAY know Democrats did not pass EFCA. Do they also know about Blue Dogs, Lieberman, filibusters and the rest of the excuses, er, I mean, reasons why certain things never get done? I don't know if they know. However, if they do know, do they give a rap? Why should they?

Point is, when all is said and done, BOTH parties have allowed unions to be weakened over the years and have transferred wealth from workers to, essentially, 400 people.

If both parties seem to side with big business more than with workers, maybe workers prefer voting for the Party with a reputation--however undeserved--for lowering taxes, careful spending of tax dollars etc. And, yes, family values, patriotism, law and order and national security probably don't hurt either--if you buy it. Maybe neither Party lives them, but Rethugs will at least say the things you may want your kids to hear. And, if you're religious....


So, yeah, I can see it. I don't agree by a long shot, but I can see it.

[bluesbassman]

3. Whoops.

The teachers were an easy target - the right has been maligning them for years due to their more progressive attitude, but making political enemies of the police and firefighters is significant in that the rest of the rank and file repubs have no pre-established grounds to support attacking them.

[hatrack]

4. Are we learning now? Are we?

Good!

[Stuart G]

5. Finally...yes they are learning...about time.........nt K and R.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Well, it's about freakin' time.

I have 2 step sons who are State policemen. When/IF this shit starts in Illinois, I'll be anxious to see what they do. THEY'RE BOTH REPUBLICANS with their lawyer brother, ANOTHER REPUBLICAN, a STATE SENATOR!

One of the Republican State troopers told their dad, my husband (a bleeding heart, tree hugging, commie pinko LIBERAL), he needed to start voting his pocketbook...when my husband was complaining about Capital Gains taxes one day. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HE DOES WHEN THIS SHIT STARTS IN ILLINOIS.

Can't say that we didn't warn these people. You NEVER vote Repuke and THIS is why. They're PURE EVIL PERSONIFIED.

[No Elephants]

10. I feel for you. I don't know what I'd do if my son were Republican.

On seond thought, maybe I do. One of my nephews is Republican. He was born when I was 16 and I babysat him a lot, very literally from day one. All I do about his politics is love him and try very hard not to hurt his feelings.

[Historic NY]

7. My local guys are now having an I told you so moment.

Repuke run town. Its all over, contracts that kept the boys quiet don't work anymore. It always been that way in hard time but now they're taking negotiating rights and collective bargaining away. It a lose, lose situation.

[gratuitous]

8. When did you all become evil? When you endorsed Bush and McCain

Fortunately, there is redemption, and you're taking those first hard steps toward remembering why you formed a union in the first place. Get off the path of fear and hatred, run from those who would make you suspicious and resentful towards your sisters and brothers in the work force. Capital uses Labor for whatever wealth it can extract from the sweat of our brows. Let's move toward a society where those who produce the wealth get a greater share of that wealth.