August 15, 2002 9:42 AM

Well, y'all used to be heroes

Showing that not even 9.11 tributes are above petty political squabbles, the International Association of Fire Fighters has decided to boycott Shub's tribute to fire fighters who perished. The sad thing about this is not that firefighters are being shoved out the back door, but that people are suprised about it. This is merely another example of how Shrub's "Compassionate Conservatism" is nothing but hardball politics played for the only thing that matters in Washington- political gain. Cynical? Definitely. Repulsive? Certainly. Surprising? Not if you've been paying attention, and most of the electorate clearly has not.

The International Association of Fire Fighters voted unanimously Wednesday to boycott a national tribute to firefighters who died on September 11, in an angry response to President Bush's rejection of a bill that included $340 million to fund fire departments.

Bush is expected to speak at the October 6 ceremony in Washington D.C., where the National Fallen Fire Fighters Foundation is hosting its annual tribute to those who died in the line of duty during the prior year.

The ceremony will honor 343 firefighters who died responding to the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, as well as about 100 others who also died in the year.

The IAFF, the umbrella organization for the nation's professional firefighter unions, is enraged by the president's rejection of a $5.1 billion appropriations bill that included $150 million for equipment and training grants requested by some of the nation's 18,000 fire departments.

It also include $100 million to improve the communications systems for firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel as well as $90 million for long-term health monitoring of emergency workers at the Ground Zero site where New York's World Trade Center towers once stood.

Firefighters and survivors will be urged to skip the October 6 event in protest, said R. Michael Mohler of the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters Local 774.

Mohler made the boycott motion before about 2,000 union leaders convening in Las Vegas for the IAFF's first national conference since September 11.

"The president has merely been using firefighters and their families for one big photo opportunity," Mohler said. "We will work actively to not grant him another photo op with us."

Gee, Shrub using a popular symbol of American heroism to prop up his own political fortunes? I'm shocked- SHOCKED- that such craven political calculations are taking place!!!

The firefighters' boycott vote followed anti-Bush speeches by Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, and IAFF general president Harold Schaitberger in which accused the president of neglecting the heroes of September 11.

Schaitberger ridiculed as insincere Bush's videotaped remarks shown Monday at the conference, in which Bush expressed sympathy and admiration for the firefighters who responded to the September 11 attacks.

"Don't lionize our fallen brothers in one breath, and then stab us in the back by eliminating funding for our members to fight terrorism and stay safe," Schaitberger said. "President Bush, you are either with us or against us. You can't have it both ways."

Well, clearly Shrub thinks he can, and judging by his approval ratings, he'll probably get away with it. With most Americans either unable or unwilling to look past anything more complicated than self-serving unquestioning patriotism, it's doubtful that Shrub will be called to account, and fire fighters will end up being yesterday's news. Sorry, guys, your fifteen minutes are up; don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out....

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on August 15, 2002 9:42 AM.

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