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Fire Fighters Back Dodd for President |
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The Fire Fighters (IAFF) today announced their endorsement of Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) in the 2008 presidential election. The announcement comes a day after the United Transportation Union threw its support behind Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The Fire Fighters have launched a new website, Fire Fighters for Dodd, and will be mobilizing members around the country in support of Dodd’s race. The site touts Dodd’s “proven, demonstrated ability to lead” on the issues important to the nation’s Fire Fighters.
Fire Fighters President Harold Schaitberger told The Washington Post:
He’s done more than vote right and be supportive…he’s really carried our water and been proactive on our behalf. And the other reason is that I really think he has the experience. Our board gave a lot of thought to this. He has the experience and the strength to lead this country in what we know is going to be tough times.
The Fire Fighters’ early endorsement of Sen. John Kerry in 2004 was crucial in winning Kerry victories in Iowa and New Hampshire that propelled him to the Democratic nomination.
Dodd is the co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and the author of the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement Act of 2000. This July, Dodd staffers in New Hampshire volunteered to help Manchester-area Fire Fighters rally for a new contract.
Earlier this month, the AFL-CIO Executive Board said it would not yet make an endorsement for a 2008 candidate but noted that each of the AFL-CIO-affiliated unions is free to endorse candidates for the caucuses and primaries. More endorsements are expected in coming days.
As the AFL-CIO Executive Council noted:
While there are differences among the candidates on a number of issues, we found that the candidates competing for the nomination of the Democratic Party are far more likely to advocate positions in support of working families than are the candidates seeking the nomination of the Republican Party.
The Democratic candidates are strong on the issues most central to working people’s lives. Nonetheless, continued engagement with them is essential to promote full understanding of workers’ difficulties and dreams. It is clear that a number of the Democratic candidates have the experience and the credentials to lead our nation. And it is equally clear that our members support a number of the candidates—many union members have told us all the candidates are impressive and they are eager to support many of them.
The council said the AFL-CIO will continue the Working Families Vote 2008 mobilization and education campaign in coming months, to give union members the opportunity to learn more about the candidates and a chance for the candidates to hear from working families.
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THE FIRE FIGHTERS ENDORSEMENT OF DODD IS A MISTAKE. AMERICA NEEDS AN INDEPENDENT TO GOVERN THE COUNTRY. DODD IS A LIFELONG POLITICIAN WHO WILL NOT HELP THE WORKING CLASS OF AMERICANS. THE POLITICIANS WHO ARE NOW RUNNING THE COUNTRY,,,,,ARE BEHOLDING TO CORPORATE AMERICA. THIS IS A BIG MISTAKE FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS.
I disagree, I have and talked with all the canidates except Clinton, Obama and I would be prepared to actively support many, and possibly even Richardson. Dissappointedly, I would have to vote for a democratic canidate regardless because of my concerns about the make up of the Supreme Court.