Posted on 09/01/2004 12:32:17 PM PDT by areafiftyone
NEW YORK (AP) The union representing the city's 8,600 firefighters will endorse President Bush Wednesday night at a social club in Queens, bolstering the Bush campaign's efforts to focus the nation's attention on the president's leadership following the Sept. 11 attacks.
Uniformed Firefighters Association president Steve Cassidy said he will announce the union's endorsement as he stands beside Bush at the Italian Charities of America hall in Elmhurst. Cassidy and Bush will share a meal of pizza and sodas with about 100 firefighters and watch Vice President Dick Cheney's address to the Republican National Convention, Cassidy said.
``The reason we're supporting President Bush is leadership,'' Cassidy said. ``Post-9/11 we needed someone who had the courage and the integrity to do what was right for this country. The president said he would take the fight to the terrorists and he has done that.''
The UFA's endorsement is loaded with symbolism. The Fire Department of New York lost 343 members on Sept. 11. One of the most enduring images of President Bush has come from footage of him with his arm around a firefighter at ground zero addressing rescue workers through a bullhorn.
The union, which has traditionally backed both Republicans and Democrats in local and state elections, did not make an endorsement in the 2000 presidential race.
This year, the Bush campaign has been working to evoke Bush's response to the attacks without opening the campaign to criticism that it is exploiting a tragedy for political ends.
Bush is scheduled to arrive in New York on Wednesday and address the convention Thursday night. A Republican Party source, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said Bush would also visit two firehouses Wednesday night. A fire department spokesman said the campaign had made no formal arrangement to visit a firehouse.
The International Association of Fire Fighters has endorsed Democratic Sen. John Kerry, along with the union representing the city's 2,900 fire lieutenants, captains and other officers.
A spokesman for the Bush campaign did not immediately return a call for comment, nor did a spokesman for the Kerry camp.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1204958/posts
Interesting. That "other bulletin board" was harping about Kerry getting their endorsement. HAHAHAHAHA!
Nam Vet
Whoa!
MAJOR MEGA BUMP! In NYC, this is really big.
Great news especially coming out of the Hildabeast's territory.
Another one he'll never recover from....
Yay! Did the NYPD really endorse him too? I hadn't heard that. Great news!
I just caught Al Franken with Joe Scarborough, saying how Kerry recieved the endorsement of the National Firefighters Association. This should be a firm slap in Kerry's face. Love it!
he he he,
Ya gotta love it.
Yes during the first night of the convention.
Thanks for the info.
And the union for the NYPD endorsed W too?
Very cool, thanks
I was an IAFF member for twenty years, and the IAFF represents the AFL-CIO and union interests, not firefighters.
what is this?
New York Fire Fighters Overwhelmingly Endorse Kerry
http://www.firefightersforkerry.com/campaign/story_72.php
Suicide watch at the DNC, Kerry campaign and the MSM. This has been a very bad week for the Rats and their buddies in the media. I never thought it would have been this bad for them about a month ago.
Yes during the first night of the convention one of the New York Delegates did it. It's on the thread of the first night of the RNC Convention, WARNING!! It's a loooooong thread! ;-)
BWAAAAA-HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
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