Republicans love firefighters. But firefighters aren’t too sure about the Republicans.

[applegrove]

Republicans love firefighters. But firefighters aren’t too sure about the Republicans.

By Lydia DePillis at the Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/11/republicans-love-firefighters-but-firefighters-arent-too-sure-about-the-republicans/

"SNIP..............

(Cruz)

Despite the praise, though, the affection was largely not returned. Jokes at Hillary Rodham Clinton’s expense fell flat, and saber rattling over Iran elicited little response, as did typical conservative arguments about getting government out of the way — as a firefighter, you might reasonably ask whether they had your interests at heart.

“I enjoyed the Democrats, not so much the Republicans,” said John Daum, a firefighter in Greenwich, Conn. “I don’t think they support labor.”

Now, Republicans don’t usually bother trying to seek support from labor unions, which lean heavily Democratic. Most unions couldn’t have summoned that list of busy conservatives to make a customized pitch to their members — let alone to an audience of government employees, who have come squarely into the sights of GOP politicians from the federal level on down.

.......

But firefighters are a special breed of union, serving as symbols of strength and valor — a helpful backdrop for politicians seeking to wrap themselves in the flag. They’re a relatively conservative bunch, with 44 percent of their 300,000 members identifying as Republican. (According to a Gallup poll from 2011, only 26.6 percent of unionized local government employees are Republican.) Sometimes they even endorse Republicans, as the Florida firefighters did in 2004 for George W. Bush. And they've got a reputation for working with both parties to get things they want, like more Homeland Security funding for local fire departments (sometimes at the expense of efficiency, in the light of firefighters’ changing role in cities).




.............SNIP"

[Kalidurga]

1. Republicans do not love firefighters

or any first responders. They killed a bill to dedicate money for the treatment of 9/11 first responders. They tend to block any bills that help people who need help, but this is the worst. They don't even want to help people who save lives while risking theirs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/nyregion/10health.html?_r=0

[hatrack]

2. Republicans love firefighters as props for photo-ops - courage by proxy. Otherwise, not so much.

[onecaliberal]

3. Republicans love money and power.

If you don't know that by now, I don't even know what to say.