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July 11, 2012 07:04 PM UTC

Firefighters Smack Romney Following Colorado Campaign Swing

  • 17 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

After GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney made it out of fire-ravaged Colorado yesterday, without having to answer questions about prior campaign-trail statements disparaging calls for “more firefighters,” a press release this morning from Aurora firefighters via the Colorado AFL-CIO brings the issue to the fore–hitting both Romney, and Colorado congressional Republicans who have voted to cut firefighting and other public safety funds since 2010.

Following reports Mitt Romney met with fire officials in Colorado Springs yesterday, Colorado firefighters are questioning his support for them. Romney has said “we don’t need more firefighters”, opposes federal legislation that helps firefighters, and also supports the radical Ryan budget, which would gut firefighting support by 19%.  Colorado Representatives Coffman, Gardner, and Tipton all voted for the Ryan budget.

“Firefighters don’t need another photo-op in front of the cameras with someone who doesn’t care about us,” said Randy Rester, President of Aurora Fire Fighters Local 1290, an affiliate of the Colorado AFL-CIO. “What we need is someone who has our back with personnel, equipment, pensions, and health care. Mitt Romney doesn’t back Colorado firefighters where it counts.  And neither do any of the Colorado members who support firefighting budget cuts.”

On June 8th in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Romney  made comments disparaging Barack Obama for wanting more fireman, policeman and teachers. Romney also opposes both the SAFER Act and the FIRE Act, which provide personnel and equipment for local fire departments across the country.  Since 2010, Republicans have cut the federal firefighting budget by more than $200 million, and the Ryan budget would accelerate that process at the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), the United States Forest Service, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

With nearly all of the Western United States under a high fire alert and fires burning in Colorado, Mitt Romney’s comments are not only irresponsible, but also pose a serious risk to public safety.  And the votes by Coffman, Gardner, and Tipton for cuts to firefighting support could have a devastating impact on their communities for years to come.

“Given the severe fire danger right now is there anyone who really believes we need less firefighters?” said Aurora firefighter Steve Clapham. “The American people need leaders who will invest in firefighters and in public safety.  We need the support of politicians who understand the importance of the job that we do.”

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17 thoughts on “Firefighters Smack Romney Following Colorado Campaign Swing”

  3. “There’s been a huge outpouring …,” he said while holding a big box of Fiber One cereal bars. “It’s an inspiring thing…”

    See, we what need is not firefighters for fires, but fiber for fires.

    I must must must see a picture of Mitt holding this “big box of Fiber One”. Come to think of it, more fiber might be just what Mitt needs…

  4. “Given the severe fire danger right now is there anyone who really believes we need less firefighters?” said Aurora firefighter Steve Clapham. “The American people need leaders who will invest in firefighters and in public safety.  We need the support of politicians who understand the importance of the job that we do.”

    may I suggest that firefighters and those who support them stop voting for Republicans and therefore for Republican majorities in state and fedeeal legislatures and start voting for Democrats? Or would that just make too much sense?

      1. a retired firefighter uncle and active firefighter cousin (his son. Bet you never heard of a Jewish firefighter dynasty) who vote Republican. I have given up trying to make sense of their strange views which include demands for small government and not paying for anyone else’s health care when, for their entire lives, every penny they’ve earned and every benefit they’ve received, including gold plated health care and a pension for my uncle that far exceeds the amount he earned in his best year (He’s past 80. His son won’t do nearly as well when he retires in the new era), come right out of tax payers’ pockets.  

        Auntie worked in public schools as a secretary all her life so not a non-public penny brought in by the spouse either. The disconnect is quite stunning.

        Unlike many gentile fire fighters, they don’t care much about abortion, although they do join their fellow conservatives in the anti-gay stuff. Boils down to no taxes (without which they’d never have had their jobs) especially for benefits for “those” people (hate Obama way more than they hated Clinton) and only the Rs are ultra hawkish enough on Israel and hate Palestinians enough. Anything less than sticking with a one Jewish state solution, never mind how they imagine all  the Palestinians  are going to somehow be made to go away, is clearly ant-Israel and anti-Semitic. Obama obviously hates Israel.  Sigh.

    3. that he or she votes Republican to know that he or she is blinded by GOP propaganda to the point of being unable to see his or her own interests clearly. But that really goes for anyone below the top .1% in income.  

    4. all you’ve ever needed, or cared, to know is who signs your check.

      BTW — just wondering — do they pay you by the word, or by the ridiculous assertion?  

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