New Tone Watch: OK firefighter union uses OKC bombing image in kill the bill effort
Oklahoma’s NewsOK reports on a pro-union ad in Oklahoma that has generated controversy (via Jim Hoft):
A state senator today blasted a firefighter union television advertisement as βhorrific and tastelessβ for using images of the Oklahoma City bombing to make a case against his bill.
The advertisement by the International Association of Firefighters began airing today [yesterday – ST].
It asks residents to oppose Senate Bill 826, which changes how public safety labor unions and cities handle contract disputes.
Several images of firefighters are used in the commercial, including a short clip of the remnants of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building after it was bombed April 19, 1995.
When the image of the bombed Murrah Building is shown in the commercial, a narrator says: βWe’re there when you need us. Now we need you. Tell politicians to do what’s right: Oppose SB 826 and support Oklahoma’s firefighters.β
βThe AFL-CIO and the IAFF should be ashamed of this horrific and tasteless commercial,β said Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City. βThe victims and heroes of April 19th are not political pawns to be exploited whenever the Legislature seeks to reform a union negotiating process.β
Holt, a trustee for the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, asked that the commercial be taken off the airwaves.
Here’s video of the ad:
Now, we know the left would be having an absolute fit and falling in it if it was a Republican or Republican-leaning group running an ad that contained images from from a national tragedy in order to try to persuade voters one way or another on legislation and/or to vote for or against a politico, but so far, no comments that I know of. And the article points out that the firefighter union in question has yet to respond to the criticism from Holt .
Robert Stacy McCain responds:
The first line of the ad:
βFirefighters and paramedics are sworn to saving lives and protecting property.β
Now, βprotecting propertyβ could be construed to mean βprotecting the value of the propertyβ without a lot of mental gymnastics. So how does that work, if the funding model for the union benefits bankrupts the community?
A public sector union is a mutiny, and merits all the affection afforded such.
Your thoughts?
Cross-posted to Right Wing News.