I’d be in the hospital with a massive heart-attack right now if they had endorsed anyone else.
This isn’t my first post on the subject and I doubt it will be my last. The IAFF is one of the most active lobbyist groups in the country, ranking in the top 25 out of over 4,000 federal PACs in the nation. The group donated $1,321,455 to Democrats in the 2006 cycle alone. The IAFF endorsed John Kerry in 2004 and Al Gore in 2000. How did it choose who to endorse?
In a Seattle Times article prior to the ‘04 election, the President of IAFF, Harold Schaitberger, admitted that the union never considered endorsing President Bush. Schaitberger has repeatedly attacked Republicans and the Bush administration.
In fact, according to members, they never sent around surveys as to whom the member preferred. Instead, they sent around a list of qualities they wanted in a president and then the board chose which candidate met those qualities.
So this isn’t a surpirse.
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Philip J. Berg, Esq. Files Federal Lawsuit Requesting Obama Be Removed as a Candidate as he does not meet the Qualifications for President.
http://www.nextgenerationcorp.com/NextGenBlog/?p=43
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Very interesting, because I’ll bet if you asked most Firefighters, they would tell you they are conservative. This isn’t about politics, this is about wages and benifits…who will be willing to push for higher wages.
September 5th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
IAFF is losing the memberships backing on this one!!!!!
September 8th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
As a firefighter wages and benefits are definately at the top of my list. BUT, this is about our country as a whole and not just about how a certain candidate treats firefighters, steel workers, teachers or any other unionized group. We cannot pick the leader of our entire nation based upon what he may or may not do for our particular profession. WE need to do that at a local, state and federal level.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Sparky, The President does not have anything to do with the wages or benefits paid to fire fighters, or any one who is not a federal employee.
And actually, although their are fire fighters who are hard R’s, just like their are fire fighters who are hard D’s, but the average fire fighter is more middle of the road, and, as Chris said, wants to best person to lead the country.
With that said, we look at the candidates as to what they will do to/for, or against us as working people.
Because the IAFF is a major Union, you know that they are going to endorse a candidate, just like they will in congressional and senate races. The basic thought process is, what have the candidates done, to/for, or against us.
When you analyze it, the endorsement was evident.
John McCain has voted against every initiatve that would benefit us, Obama has voted with us.
If you don’t like the way it came out, my suggestion is to put a resolution in at the next Convention to do it some other way.
September 30th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
How big of a bun do you need for a Schaitburger? Can’t wait to see his next job if Baraqi wins. Where is the Firefighters for Mccain website?