Fire Fighters President Says Use of Fire Fighter Images in Bush Ads...

[Purveyor]

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 --

"I'm disappointed but not surprised that the President would try to trade on the heroism of those fire fighters in the September 11 attacks. The use of 9/11 images are hypocrisy at its worst. Here's a President that initially opposed the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and now uses its first anniversary as cause to promote his re-election. Here is a President that proposed two budgets with no funding for FIRE Act grants and still plays on the image of America's bravest. His advertisements are disgraceful.

"Bush is calling on the biggest disaster in our country's history, and indeed in the history of the fire service, to win sympathy for his campaign. Since the attacks, Bush has been using images of himself putting his arm around a retired FDNY fire fighter on the pile of rubble at ground zero. But for two and a half years he has basically shortchanged fire fighters and the safety of our homeland by not providing fire fighters the resources needed to do the job that America deserves.

<snip>

Link to entire Release

[bluestateguy]

1. Just another "liberal" interest group bashing the president

Those damn liberal commie firefighters!

[Beetwasher]

2. Fuckin' A Right ON!

Hell yeah! I Like It!

[BlueEyedSon]

3. Woo hoooo! *kick*

[Disturbed]

5. Fire Fighters and Troops

Bushco has zero respect for them.

Praises them and cuts their funds. HYPOCRISY!!!!

[alfredo]

4. What a soul less creep he is.

He gives politicians a bad name.

[DemMother]

6. Sent release to Chris Matthews...

with a note that said...This is what real heroes think of your "hero."

[readmylips]

7. Little man bush will use dead soldier's families...

for political ads. Wait and see. The man (or thing) has no shame. Hope the families make a bigger ad against the bastard.

[woofless]

8. Well THAT didn't take long.

I have been wondering when the IAFF would shine a light on the shameful actions of Bushco. They stood right there and promised NYC and first responders nationwide that they would get the help needed to make Americans safer, then reneged as they always do. Now the Cops need to speak out, everywhere, in every town, hamlet and burg. Denounce the hypocrisy. RELEASE THE HOUNDS!

Woof

[Joanne98]

9. He cut they're overtime too

I bet they're pissed about that.:)

[K8-EEE]

10. *kick* -- BABY!!

I was hoping somebody would call him on all this shameless 9/11 self-promotion -- 9/11 was the best thing that ever happened to that creep! He has zero respect for the victims of 9/11, using it for his own gain, unbelievable.

[Nevernose]

11. How do we get this guy on TV?

Only way the sheep will ever hear about it...otherwise, all they'll see is pictures of Shrub and firefighters at Ground Zero.

[sandnsea]

24. You'll see him

He's been on occasionally. With Kerry ALOT. Craggy face, mustache, blondish graying hair. One hell of a guy, regular working type guy. You'll see him.

[KerrySupporter]

12. about time. kerry is the only true supporter of fire fighters

just look at any footage of jfk rallies and you'll see the true fire fighters there with their signs. how dare (*) use a single fire fighter in his lies. let's put a stop to this lie now!

[reprehensor]

13. That's what I call 'Backdraft'! n/t

[proud patriot]

14. Thank You Fire Fighters

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[The_Gopher]

15. the republican convention in NY just keeps becoming a worse idea...hoo-ray

[barbaraann]

28. I think it was the worst idea Karl Rove has ever had.

:-)

[kalian]

16. Well...DUH!

:eyes:

[jpgray]

17. Kerry comes out swinging on these ads as well

“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.”

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

[The_Casual_Observer]

18. He didn't go there for nothing

Rove wasn't going to pass up that photo op for anything.
A picture like the one with that old guy fireman and the bull horn was priceless. They knew it.

However, this points out the absurd desperation of the bush campaign, to be pulling out shit like this so early.

[freeforall]

20. I'm glad they're pulling this stuff early

It will give people more time to build up a backlash. I don't imagine that the 9/11 families will put up with it.

Let Bushco expose themselves now. You'll have more time to fight them off.

They're digging their own graves, which is very, very good.

Go Dems!

[Just Me]

19. Oh, yeah,..."the people" will definitely HATE BUSH even more,...

,...for that!!!

Go,...you stupid fascist progandists,...go,....

"Our people" will be inspired to hate you even more,...you freakin' greedy asswipes.

BRING IT ON!!!!

I love my people,...you treat them like a bunch of morons. They will kick you in the ass. I look forward to it :D

[Whoa_Nelly]

21. Schaitberger is co-chair of the Kerry for President campaign

IMO, Schaitberger should file a complaint against Bush's exploitational use os the firefighters.

Schaitberger Stumps for Kerry
January 28: John Kerry surged to a convincing win the nation’s first Presidential Primary. Senator Kerry won handily over longtime frontrunner Howard Dean by a margin of 39-27%. Kerry bested all other candidates by at least 3 to 1 margins.

Since the IAFF unveiled its endorsement of Kerry at a Firehouse in Manchester last October, New Hampshire Fire Fighters have been at the forefront of Kerry’s efforts in the Granite State.

<snip>
After Kerry’s surprise victory in Iowa, IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger spent the last week in New Hampshire on the campaign trail helping to keep Kerry’s momentum going.

"I spent a week here in New Hampshire because John Kerry represents our future. In my thirty plus years on the line, no Presidential candidate has ever embraced the fire service and the IAFF like John Kerry. He is our Real Deal," said General President Schaitberger.


As co-chair of the Kerry for President campaign and President of the first union to endorse John Kerry, Schaitberger’s visit generated significant press coverage.

more...
http://www.firefightersforkerry.com/campaign/story_29.php

[boobooday]

22. More shameless promotion

Oh boy, eventually even the dimmest bulb has to stop and think, "hey, he's playing me for a fool!"

There has to be a backlash to his constant exploitation of the very people his policies hurt the most.

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[SilasSoule]

23. Keeping this one kicked for the morning crowd

:kick:


select * from bushvoters
where clue > 0;

--zero row(s) selected --

[sampsonblk]

25. Imus in the Mawnin'

I wonder what Imus will have to say about this in the morning.

[moondust]

26. Sue the bastards.

I don't think they can use those people's images without their express written consent.

[Lorien]

27. If someone doesn't use this guy's quotes to promote

Kerry or simply denounce Bush*, then there's no hope for 2004! (currently on dem "spine recovery" watch-and not convinced that it has truly happened with soft MoveOn ads and disappearance of Clark and Dean).

[VolcanoJen]

29. Not LBN... locking

This is an interesting and important story, but at present, the Latest Breaking News Forum does not allow Press Releases to be submitted as a source for Latest Breaking News.

I'm moving this to the more-visible General Discussion Forum, where it's sure to receive a stronger response.

Thanks!

VolcanoJen
DU Moderator