Firefighters' union backs John Kerry...

[onehandle]

Sept. 24, 2003  |  WASHINGTON (AP) --

Presidential hopeful John Kerry is the first Democrat to get a national union endorsement other than Dick Gephardt, who now has 14.

The International Association of Fire Fighters planned to endorse the Massachusetts senator on Wednesday after a vote of union leaders.

The union, which reported 214,000 dues-paying members last year, likes Kerry's record as a decorated Vietnam War veteran; his political, legal and legislative experience; his sense of humor; and his personal interests in athletics and Harley-Davidsons, union President Harold Schaitberger said.

http://www.salon.com/politics/wire/2003/09/24/fire/index.html

They were the First union to endorse Gore in the last election.

[Dr Fate]

1. WIN WITH UNIONS AND DEMS!!!!!!

GO UNION! GO DEMS!!!!

[blm]

2. They were Gore's staunchest activists.

I doubt Gore would separate himself from them, and, I expect he may have been consulted.

[phillybri]

3. Awesome news....

My dad was a firefighter for 25 years in Concordville, PA. This does my heart good...

[Parche]

4. Firefighters!!!

My uncle was the fire chief for White Plains NY
and my stepdad was a captain in the Eugene Oregon station!!

GO FIREFIGHTERS

JOHN KERRY PRESIDENT 2004

[Starpass]

5. I was glad to see it. Kerry deserves to start making some strides.

He's worked hard for years for this party and I'm glad to see that finally some of these people are recognizing it.

[schultzee]

6. If Kerry, Dean and others don't take on NAFTA and corporate flight

they won't do diddle for us. Look at the unemployment figures and now the white collar jobs are fleeing with the corporate slaver pigs.
Soon we will look in the paper and the only jobs will be housemaid, gardener, sales clerk. I hate republicans and republican light corportists.
Schultzee

[blm]

7. Kerry's no corporatist...

in fact he is running on closing corporate loopholes to balance the budget on THEIR backs instead of the working class.

[indypaul]

8. Congratulations, Senator Kerry

Will support the firefighters decision. Remember
they were "first responders" to Al Gore. Let's
get it on.

[Gman]

9. Great news for Kerry and bad news for all the others

The IAFF endorsement is probably the most sought after endorsement. No other union works as hard or does as much for a candidate as the Firefighters.

[blm]

10. Also, the local pols will want the firefighters campaigning for them

locally and in statewide elections. Especially post 9-11. That means that more Dems in congress will move to endorse Kerry.