Police Union Rejects Bush, Backs Kerry

[conjur]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20040514/ap_on_el_pr/kerry

By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry (news - web sites) on Friday collected the endorsement of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, a police union that backed President Bush (news - web sites) in the 2000 election.

"After three and a half years of disappointing leadership under George Bush, we need to change course in November and elect a president with a real record of supporting police officers and a lifetime of standing with law enforcement," IBPO President David Holway said in a statement provided by the Kerry campaign.

The union endorsed Bill Clinton (news - web sites) in 1992 and 1996. Kerry scheduled a round-table discussion with members of the group on Friday to talk about law enforcement issues.

In a statement provided by the Bush campaign, a former New York City police commissioner said Bush has provided unprecedented support for first responders, including $13 billion to state and local governments to prepare for terrorism.

"The president has given law enforcement the tools to do their job in the Patriot Act, while John Kerry attacks the law on the campaign trail," former commissioner Bernard Kerik said.

Earlier Friday, Kerry laid two wreaths at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, which honors 16,666 officers killed in the line of duty. One of the wreaths was for the national memorial but the other, in a Massachusetts section, honored a Middlesex County officer killed on this date in 1961. Kerry, a former Middlesex County prosecutor, chatted with officers and family members during the 15-minute visit.

In an unexpected visit Thursday night to the Capitol, Kerry viewed photographs depicting abuse of Iraqi prisoners in U.S. custody. He made a last-minute decision to travel to the Senate and then spent 45 minutes viewing the photographs in a secure location, spokesman David Wade said.

Lawmakers who saw the photographs earlier in the day reacted with revulsion. Wade said Kerry had no comment.

Kerry said in a television interview Thursday he welcomed Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's trip to Baghdad but had not changed his view that Rumsfeld should resign.

"I'm glad the secretary of defense went there. The troop morale needs, I think, that kind of visit," Kerry said on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes." "I don't think it changes the dynamics of what America still needs to do to get to the bottom of this."

The Massachusetts senator has warned that the reports of abuse in the Iraqi prison threaten to undermine the effort to combat terrorism in the Middle East by infuriating Arabs suspicious about U.S. intentions in the region.

Republicans have accused Kerry of politicizing the war on terrorism. Viewing the photos was an effort to gather all the facts before weighing in on the issue any further, Wade said.

Kerry planned to fly to his home in Boston for a day off on Saturday. He resumes his campaign on Sunday with a trip to Las Vegas before visiting Kansas to mark the anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision ending segregated schools.

 

[Genx87]

Gee, a union that supports a democratic politician?

That has to be a first.

 

[katka]

Bush is sending a lot of reservist cops to the War, HA!

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Genx87
Gee, a union that supports a democratic politician?

That has to be a first.

Stop being such a dumbass.

Presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry on Friday collected the endorsement of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, a police union that backed President Bush in the 2000 election.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Funny how the powerful unions delivered for Gore.

 

[SmokeRngs]

Originally posted by: Genx87
Gee, a union that supports a democratic politician?

That has to be a first.

My thought exactly.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Funny how the powerful unions delivered for Gore.

Imagine where he would've been without them.

 

[SmokeRngs]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: Genx87
Gee, a union that supports a democratic politician?

That has to be a first.

Stop being such a dumbass.

Presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry on Friday collected the endorsement of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, a police union that backed President Bush in the 2000 election.

Yeah, that also backed the previous Democratic president twice.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Funny how the powerful unions delivered for Gore.

Imagine where he would've been without them.

The country probably would not have been so torn apart by a /sarcasm stolen election

 

[PingSpike]

"The president has given law enforcement the tools to do their job in the Patriot Act, while John Kerry attacks the law on the campaign trail," former commissioner Bernard Kerik said.

"After three and a half years of disappointing leadership under George Bush, we need to change course in November and elect a president with a real record of supporting police officers and a lifetime of standing with law enforcement," IBPO President David Holway said in a statement provided by the Kerry campaign.

Apparently the police felt differently.

Originally posted by: SmokeRngs

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: Genx87
Gee, a union that supports a democratic politician?

That has to be a first.

Stop being such a dumbass.

Presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry on Friday collected the endorsement of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, a police union that backed President Bush in the 2000 election.

Yeah, that also backed the previous Democratic president twice.

So...what exactly is your point? They backed democrats...then republicans...and now democrats...So therefore they always back democrats?

 

[Jhhnn]

Police Unions are a little bit different, obviously having somewhat different issues than most union members. Many LEO organizations are strong supporters of the assault weapons ban, for example, while still supporting the right to bear arms. They really, really don't like the idea of being outgunned by John Q Public, for obvious reasons. So they supported Clinton, but opposed Gore, who was painted as an all-around gun-grabber...

They also understand that prolonged un- and under- employment in many troubled neighborhoods breeds problems- problems they have to deal with... something that country club Republicans like Dubya would scarcely notice....

As for "politicizing the WoT", that's what the Repubs have been doing all along. Funny that they'd resist a dose of their own medicine...

 

[Zebo]

I have mixed feelings on police unions. In general POs ar underpaid considering they deal with a lot of vermin and have to be beraded in courts by lawyers on a continual basis. On the the other hand it's a very secure job with some benfits like free food at local restuants and no tickets. So basically it's a wash as far as pay. Equitable which the unions faught for and now have.

On the flip side, Police Unions also hate any reform, civilian review boards, and generally with thier protecting bad apples attitude sometimes create a rouge force above the law they are thre to enforce. Which happens too because of Unions. New Orleans and Washington DC are famous for murders and drug dealing done by POs.

As far as who they support? Whomever gives them more of course D's are in bed with more pay which they like, R's are in with more force and less oversight which they like. So the choice is difficult. One of my relatives is president of California Organization of Police and Sheriffs, a union, and they endorse both dems and reps depending on the candidate.

 

[conjur]

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39c915ac777a.htm

Governor Bush Accepts Fraternal Order Of Police Endorsement In Philadelphia

Wednesday, September 20, 2000

As Gallegos explained on September 8, ?the Fraternal Order of Police does not issue an endorsement like this lightly. Governor Bush has earned our endorsement because he is a leader who will do what he says and do right by the cop on the beat. We will stand behind him, and look forward to working with him when he takes up residence in the White House.?

?I am proud to stand with the men and women of law enforcement, and, as President, I will continue to trust and support our nation?s peace officers,? said Governor Bush. ?I am honored to have earned the support of rank-and-file police officers throughout the nation, and, if elected, I will be faithful to the trust they have placed in me.?

 

[Chris S]

Gee, a union that supports a democratic politician?

Guess I'll be the 3rd dumbass not surprised... Apparently they felt they couldn't get Gore in their pocket. Of course much like Kerry, I have no idea what Gore stood/stands for.

 

[leeboy]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Funny how the powerful unions delivered for Gore.

Imagine where he would've been without them.

The country probably would not have been so torn apart by a /sarcasm stolen election

:roll: