Washington State Firefighters Endorse John Kerry

the following is a press release and not copyrighted material


WASHINGTON STATE FIREFIGHTERS ENDORSE JOHN KERRY
Kent firefighter says, “Now it’s our turn to be there for him.”

December  18,  2003

For Immediate Release

SEATTLE -- Citing his commitments to public safety and worker rights, the Washington State Council of Firefighters (WSCFF) today announced that its endorsement of Senator John F. Kerry for President.

WSCFF President Kelly Fox said, “Washington state’s firefighters are proud to stand with John Kerry because he has been standing with firefighters for his entire career.  He understands the meaning and the importance of public service, he has fought for good wages and benefits for the men and women on the front lines of public safety, and he is the candidate who can not only beat George Bush next November but is uniquely qualified and ready to be our country’s leader.”

Fox noted that Kerry’s leadership in the battle to protect overtime benefits, his comprehensive health care plan, and his understanding of the homeland security needs our country faces were all significant factors in the endorsement decision.

The WSCFF follows the International Association of Firefighters in endorsing Kerry’s candidacy.

“I’m honored to have received the endorsement of the Washington firefighters,” Kerry said.  “George Bush has given our firefighters lip service and little else.  Firefighters are first up the stairs and they deserve to be first in line when it comes to our spending priorities.  As President, I’ll protect firefighters’ collective bargaining rights, overtime pay, and most importantly, make sure they have the resources to do their job.

“We shouldn’t be opening firehouses in Baghdad and closing them in Washington state,” continued Kerry.  “The effects of this Administration’s failed economic policies and tax cuts for the wealthy has been a decrease in public services, including public safety.  That’s reprehensible, and just one reason why we need a new President.”

Kent firefighter Greg Markley said, “I look forward to working to win the February 7th Washington state caucuses for Kerry.  He’s been there for the firefighters, and now it’s our turn to be there for him.”

edit: Fixing spelling in title

has been there way before 9/11 and after and will continue to be there for firefighters and many others.

J/K Good pickup by Kerry :)

we wouldn't want his campaign to catch fire or anything.

Brave people don't care much for what cowards are like — but they will fight to save them, even draft dodgers.

and he has always worked hard on issues important to fire fighters.

actually refer to other people as "cowards"? That would nix their claim to bravery in my estimation.

some of whom are even "draft dodgers."

I am a veteran and I don't take kindly at people that carelessly throw around the "draft dodger" smear, as the GOP did with President Clinton.

dodging the draft in a manner that no poor kid could.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

I'm proud to be a part of a campaign that has the support of our firefighters and vets. Go Kerry!

by promises of ketchup.

I hope you and all of your loved ones never need a fire fighter.

My fire fighter brother lost half his nose fighting a fire in subzero temperatures in Cleveland. He saved the lives of 7 people that day. Would YOU sacrifice your face to save others?

:-)

Here is the About page for WSCFF:

http://www.wscff.org/Pages/About.html

so glad to hear the good news for Kerry and his supporters.

John Kerry's plan to help assure America is prepared to deal with any increased threat of terrorism occurring in the United States. After Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge raised the threat level to Orange yesterday, Kerry pointed out that many communities, individuals and especially first responders do not have the information or resources they need to respond to this alert.

Kerry’s five-step plan to assure America is prepared:

(1) Orange Alert Fund
When the security threat is raised, communities have to spend additional resources such as paying police overtime and funding additional security measures. Taken together, it costs several million dollars a day to raise the threat level. Many of these communities are already strapped for cash in the Bush economy, and these additional costs lead to cuts in other areas, such as health care and education. That is why John Kerry will propose to create an “Orange Alert Fund” to reimburse communities for some of the additional costs incurred by responding to a higher threat level.

(2) Citizen Preparedness Initiative
When Americans learn there is a higher threat level, they do not always know how to prepare or how best to protect themselves and their families. A Kerry Administration would launch a national citizen preparedness effort to educate and empower Americans with information and appropriate responses to various kinds of terrorist threats. All levels of government would be involved in empowering communities and individuals with the information they need to put an effective strategy in place. There would also be more effective local alert systems to notify the public in the event of a threat or attack. John Kerry’s National Service Initiative includes a new Community Defense Service, which would put in place hundreds of thousands of service captains to assure our communities are ready to respond to a crisis, complimenting but not supplanting the work done by police, fire fighters, and other first defenders.

(3) More Targeted Alert System
Sometimes national officials have more targeted information about where a threat exists. When threats are localized, all law enforcement should be informed. However, we should apply our alert system in a sensible and localized manner. When intelligence exists that there is a terrorist threat in certain locations, it should be shared with local law enforcement and the threat level should be raised in those locations accordingly.

(4) Improve Airport Security
While some progress has been made in improving airline security, much work remains to be done. Twenty two percent of air cargo is carried on passenger planes each year, yet less than five percent is screened. John Kerry will ensure that air cargo on passenger planes is screened. We also need to move quickly to employ advanced security checkpoints at our airports that are capable of detecting explosives to ensure that they are not smuggled on aircrafts. Though technology to detect such explosives exists, the Bush Administration/TSA has been slow to ensure that it is used in our airports.

(5) Homeland Security Corps
Because of cutbacks from state budget deficits and the Bush Administration’s slashing of the COPs program, police officers are stretched more than ever at a time when they are being asked to perform more duties. John Kerry strongly supports more homeland security training and resources for existing law enforcement officers. He is also proposing a new Homeland Security Corps that would give local communities resources to hire 5,000 additional law enforcement officials who are trained in Homeland Security to help coordinate and implement efforts in their communities.

If I remember correctly, every single major firefighter's union has endorsed Kerry. He is a great ally to them.

it wasn't hard for them to decide on him to endorse as he has been working for them for years , even before 9/11 which made firefighters especially popular. this can be seen with the quote on the original message of this thread saying something about how he was there for them and now they are there for him.

And that will be a major factor when the GOP convention is in NYC and the NY fire fighters are carrying signs for Kerry.

if he could. JK's got some great firefighter endorsements.

of this as a factor in the general election.

nothing about a primary.