Firefighters Respond to Bush 9/11 Exploitation Ads!

[Beetwasher]

Fire Fighters President Says Use of Fire Fighter Images in New Bush Ads Smack of Political Opportunism

WASHINGTON, March 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO (IAFF), Harold Schaitberger, issued the following statement today after President Bush unveiled new political ads that use images of fire fighters in September 11, 2001 attacks for political gain:

-- As Bush Trades on Heroism of Fire Fighters, His Homeland Security Funding Cuts Hurt Fire Fighters and Communities --

--snip--

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=155-03032004

Good stuff!

Kerry capaign responds too!

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0303b.html

“George Bush talks about steady leadership in his new multi-million dollar, revisionist history ad campaign, but unfortunately you can’t provide ‘steady leadership’ without credibility. And George Bush has lost credibility with the American people. He said he would create 3.9 million jobs, but 3 million more people have lost their jobs. He said he would make health care more affordable, but 2.8 million more have lost their health insurance. He said he would cut the federal debt by $1 trillion, but his policies have added $1 trillion more, leaving the federal debt at over $7 trillion. Most astonishing, George Bush’s ad features a shot of the wreckage of that tragic September day almost 3 years ago, and the firefighters who so bravely worked to save lives. What he doesn’t tell you is that only 10 percent of fire departments across the nation have personnel and equipment to respond to a building collapse, only enough radios to equip half the firefighters on a shift, and breathing apparatus for only one-third. The only thing steady about this President is his steadily leading our country in the wrong direction. It’s time for a change in America, and time to get things back on track.”

[LifeDuringWartime]

1. i didn't realize

that they were so underfunded!

[americanstranger]

6. Both FDNY -and- NYPD

have let Bush know that they'll participate in no photo ops with him. Ever again.

People outside of New york just don't know how betrayed people feel. RNC-NYC will not be a pleasurable experience for ThugCo.

-as

[CaptainClark23]

21. If...(a fervent dream)

If, we could get the NYPD and FDNY Unions to march with us on the RNC....

I know there would be plenty of individual cops and firefighters with us, but duty shifts are going to be brutal during the convention.

Slim chance of getting the unions..but just imagine it.

[rman]

17. underfunded because it is not commercially exploitable

Never mind that firefighting is of common interest to society.
Lots of money may be pored into it once it has been privitized (though i don't know of any plans for privitazation of firefighting), but then most of that money would probably go to the CEO's.

[berry]

22. Another possible reason for underfunding local police and firefighters

Maybe I'm being a little :tinfoilhat: here, but this morning on Washington Journal (on c-span) there was a guy named David Klinger. He wants to change the posse comitatus act to allow any local or state police (not sure about firefighters) to call on the military when there's a homeland security "threat" that they are ill-equiped to handle.

Mind you, there already are exceptions to posse comitatus in the event of an invasion or the need to send up planes (as on 9-11). And state governors can always call on their national guards. This is different, and I think very dangerous. As well as illogical, really. We already know that an army may not be the best defense against terrorism. Maybe they know this too, and want the military intelligence people to have free rein inside our borders. (I do know that they did this, I think illegally, during the Vietnam War--sending intelligence guys to protests. SO important as a line of defense against enemies of America. Hah.)

Klinger is a prof of criminology at U. of Missouri and one of the scariest fear-mongers out there. He's been on several panels on "homeland security" lately. I think he's been sent out there to prepare for a major push on this issue by the * gang as soon as they think they can get away with it.

But if local first responders were well trained and equipped, it would hurt their argument. Please tell me I'm being too paranoid...

[havocmom]

23. Funding shortfalls not only problem. In small towns, Nat. Guard call-ups

are taking a toll on emergency response teams. Many in the National Guard are on local response teams, fire, emts/paramedics, and law enforcement. So if something happens at home and the folks trained to respond are in Iraq, who are we gonna call? Yep, ask our governors to send help... where will that come from is the Guard is outta town?

Nothing tinfoil about your pondering. You are spot on. My big concern is not the military being called to service in the US ( I recall the Soviet Army being unwilling to fire into crowds of grannies and mothers) but of the increasing ranks of private security forces. Now that worries me.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

2. Boy, I wish that just being right was enough to unseat Bush*.

But we're up against....TV!.....argh! It ain't real unless it's on a screen with a tearful yet noble musical theme in this country.

We need John Williams to write a compelling soundtrack for the election. Or get permission to use the Indiana Jones movie music as a bed for images of Kerry rescuing the Constitution from Republicans. Maybe a cute kid sidekick and a dog, too.

[Jade Fox]

3. This is encouraging, to say the least...

I hope this gets read by a lot of people. And I'm guessing Bush can scratch
votes from Firefighters all over the county, since no doubt ALL of them will
read this!

[formernaderite]

9. Unfortunately...no...there are various orders and firefighter unions....

...who come out and make critical statements towards Bush....however, firefighters endorsed Bush last time, and are usually a consistent right wing vote. I'll get it from the horse directly Friday Happy Hour...I frequent an establishment that is host to alot of blue collar guys, including police and fire.
Honestly, I think the ad may strike a memory or two, all in all it may be a positive reception. So, battle gear in hand, I'll wait and see if Kerry will do some tear jerkers.

[Beetwasher]

11. I Don't Think So

This spokesperson pretty much DOES speak for just about every firefighter in the country. It's pretty damn clear they are NOT endorsing Bush:

About the International Association of Fire Fighters

The International Association of Fire Fighters, headquartered in Washington, DC, is the 16th largest union among the 64 national unions that makeup the AFL-CIO. The IAFF represents more than 263,000 full-time professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who protect 80 percent of the nation's population. More than 2,900 affiliates and their members protect nearly 6,000 communities in every state in the Unites States and every province in Canada.

[Jade Fox]

12. Print this article, take it to the bar and hand it out

then ask them what they think about it. Couldn't hurt. Would be very interested
in hearing your results. :D

[blm]

20. Bush was NOT endorsed by the Fire Fighters last time.

They endorsed Gore, unequivocally.

[proud patriot]

4. Thank You Fire Fighters

and thank you Kerry .

[stepnw1f]

5. They were underfunded

during 9-11. And this president calls them heros for some sign of appreciation.

"Sorry guys, no money...but I'll tell the American people that you guys are heros....ah...ah...woops, I already said that to the Fundies."

SICK!

[K-W]

7. These are the things we really need to spread around.

Alot of people will respond to this.

[Robb]

8. Is there a pool going

...on the re-emergence of "Let's Roll" (tm)? :eyes:

[BiggJawn]

10. I have heard Schaitberger speak.

Nothing gets his fires going like talking about dead firefighters who shouldn't have died.

[Beetwasher]

13. Kick

Good Morning!

[nostamj]

14. the firefighters in the ad are NOT New Yorkers.....

One, titled "Safer, Stronger," also features a one-second shot of firefighters removing the flag-draped remains of a victim from the twisted debris.

Both ads reinforce the Ground Zero imagery with frontal shots of two firefighters. Unlike the paid actors and actresses in most of the footage, they are not ringers, but their red headgear gives them away as non-New Yorkers. The Bush campaign declined to reveal where the burly smoke-eaters actually work.

Bush officials defended the imagery as totally appropriate.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/story/170213p-148587c.html

[HootieMcBoob]

15. A bunch of firehouses have been closed down in NYC

In the past year or so they've had to close down either 6 or 8 houses, I can't remember exactly. I do know that two of them are in the area of Brooklyn that I live in. There was a lot of protest over this. It's all because of a lack of funding.

These are the first responders. They lost over 300 people on 9/11 and now many that remain are loosing their jobs. The firefighters in New York City aren't happy with Bush from what I've heard. Bush is a hypocrite and he's going to take advantage of 9/11 and wring as much political mileage out of it as he can. It's disgusting.

[DinahMoeHum]

16. Visit "Firefighters For Kerry" on Kerry's website sometime. . .

go to www.johnkerry.com and click under "Firefighters For Kerry" (in the lower right corner)


:kick:

[ignatius]

18. Wow, this is very damning. Good for the firefighters for speaking

out. The drips are getting bigger and coming faster now.

[Lindsay]

19. Kerry's been out ahead on this.

Part of his campaign speech has been about how we shouldn't be spending tax money to build firehouses in Iraq and closing firehouses here.

Good on him.