Complain to NY Firefighters about Bush endorsement

Arrrrgh -- bastards:

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. ..

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. ..

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.silive.com/newsflash/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1094066641189940.xml&storylist=sime tro

Well, as a New Yorker I refuse to take this lying down.

I called the Firefighters union, and said to the person answering the phone:

"I'm a New Yorker, and I'm very disappointed in the Union's endorsement of Bush in the Presidential election.  I don't think Bush represents the views of New Yorkers, and I think he's exploiting 9/11 for political gain.  I've always supported the firefighters union in the past in its battles with the City, but now I will no longer do so"

I then gave her my name and telephone number, and the person answering the phone said she would pass the message along.  I hope the rest of the New Yorkers reading this do the same:

Uniformed Firefighter's Association
204 East 23rd Street, NY, NY 10010
or call the UFA office at 212-683-4832

Or you can send email (this is the only one I can find):

[e-mail]

The union is locked in a vicious battle with the Mayor's office right now and, in my opinion, will be sensitive to a dramatic loss of support among the NYC population.  Let's show them the downside of such an atrocious endorsement.

•  I live down the street...

  and My neighbors and I are all going to welcome Bush with a big FUCK YOU, YOU'RE FIRED!!

  by machadez on Wed Sep 01, 2004 at 03:02:52 PM PDT

•  This is probably a result of a union battle

  My guess is that the Uniformed Firefighter's Association is a rival of the much larger IAFF and they endorsed Bush so as not to be on the same side as their rivals.

  I would hope more than a few of the firemen represented by the union are disgusted by this endorsement.

  by Bob Johnson on Wed Sep 01, 2004 at 03:05:08 PM PDT

•  anyone know

  how unions decide to endorse?  do they actually do a membership vote, like with contracts, or do the heads guys just pick someone and fuck everyone else?

  just wondered, everything i've heard in the last 4 years of local and national media leads me to believe most firefighters around the city aren't too gop friendly.  

  by skyesNYC on Wed Sep 01, 2004 at 03:14:35 PM PDT

•  Leave the FDNY alone

  I think the FDNY union's decision to support Bush is counterproductive, but the folks in the FDNY have earned the right to do foolish things once in awhile without people jumping down their throats.

  It took me a year to (mostly) get over WTC war zone feelings, even though I live on the New Jersey side and wasn't even in lower Manhattan more than a couple of times a week.

  New York firefighters must be, psychologically, about where N.J. folks were in November 2001. They can still taste the WTC ashes. If Bush promises to be tough and non-nuanced and kick terrorist butt, that's what they're going to go with.

  It's up to the rest of us who are not as traumatized to elect the leader who will do the right, sensible things and elect a leader who will know the difference between empty promises and genuine protection.

  by sclminc on Wed Sep 01, 2004 at 03:27:37 PM PDT

  •  Yes

    Getting pissed at them isn't going to do anything productive.

    by Ben P on Wed Sep 01, 2004 at 03:36:38 PM PDT

•  What the hell are they thinking?

  Bush's people flat out lied to them about the toxic air quality at Ground Zero and endangered their lives and long term health prospects.  How can any firefighter endorse the guy that tossed their futures away for his own immediate political needs?

  Do they think the Repubs will care about them when they're on disability and hacking their lungs out in a couple of years?

  by martianchronic on Wed Sep 01, 2004 at 04:41:36 PM PDT