New York firefighters endorsement of Bush (WTF!!)

[Cascadian]

Can somebody explain to me how and why the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York endorsed the Chimp in Chief? How on earth did this happen? I thought the FDNY was angry with Bush especially after he cuts funding for first responders. I am just baffled. Surely, not all the members of the FDNY are happy with this endorsement. I am at a loss.

on edit: I cannot see how any cops or firefighters can support a man who goes against their own best interests. I really don't.

John

[Jesus H. Christ]

1. Apparently all the local unions are for Kerry.

That is, all the real firefighters are for Kerry. While some guy in a suit with a briefcase full of small, unmarked bills is for Bush.

[Cascadian]

2. kick

[Oilwellian]

3. There are 3 NYFD unions

The other 2 support Kerry.

[seaglass]

4. FDNY really thought a lot of Bush showing up at Ground Zero.

My husband is a FF, went to NY to help with search and rescue on 9/12. He has been back to NY multiple time for FF funerals, staying overnight at NY firehouses.

He was really upset with this news but not surprised and the explanation above is the only one he can figure out. In his own union there are Bush supporters - people sometimes make their decisions based on emotions not necessarily what's best for them, right?

[69KV]

5. UFA is a small group

The IAFF, International Association of Firefighters (AFL-CIO), represents most firefighters in New York and around the nation, and they endorsed Kerry early in the race. The IAFF is a real union, in that they represent common workers.

The UFA, Uniformed Firefighters Association, represents a few higher-ups, fire chiefs and so on. They're only a "union" in the same sense that a membership organization representing managers of retail stores would be a "union". UFA is also not the only such group in New York, there is another one that endorsed Kerry. I'm not even sure the UFA represents all that many of the higher-ups compared to the other group. The conservative media is playing this endorsement up as a big coup for the Bush regime - but so what? The real tragedy is that your average person is going to hear the TV sound bites and come away with the false impression that NYC firefighters endorsed Bush, which is not the case.

One thing to watch out for is movement conservatives creating bogus right-wing "unions", which endorse conservative Repukes and are used to attempt to bust the existing AFL-CIO unions. They are trying this with the teachers union right now too. The idea is to get enough teachers who have conservative views to join the bogus "union" and then push for a NLRB vote to decertify the real teachers union and to certify the bogus right-wing one. Fortunately those bogus "unions" have a tiny membership and little success to date.

The UFA doesn't look like one of those bogus right-wing "unions", they seem legit, but they represent bosses, not workers and they are a small group. But any time you see a union endorsing anti-labor right-wing candidates, it's an obvious red flag.

[Ernesto]

6. Is nothing sacred?

These assholes would eat their own children if they thought it would hurt the Democrats.