Sutton and labor join forces to intimidate and silence opposition
Part 1 -Smoke
As the final vote on health reform neared, many Americans found themselves compelled to make one last expression of dissent. Throughout the nation, citizens gathered at the doorsteps of their elected representatives to demand an end to the reform efforts. Residents of OH-13 were no exception. On March 19th many of these concerned citizens peacefully assembled for a planned summit912 rally outside Congresswoman Betty Sutton’s Akron office.
Nearly 30 Betty Sutton supporters met the protesters at the corner of Market and Main. According to sources at the scene, the Sutton supporters were in attendance at the request of the congresswoman’s office. To counter the efforts of the summit912 crowd, Betty Sutton had arranged for what could best be described as a rent-a-mob.
Upon their arrival, individuals from inside Sutton’s office greeted the Sutton supporters. Each was given a professionally printed sign and yellow t-shirt. Some of the shirts displayed CWA (Communications Workers of America) logo, but most were marked as IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters). The IAFF shirts as well as the provided signs read, “Fire Fighters for Sutton”.
Were these counter-protesters actual members of the CWA, IAFF or even fire fighters for that matter? Not according to sources that spoke with them. The Sutton supporters were actually members of Laborers Local Union No 894. Sutton’s representatives had provided the shirts and signs in an effort to mislead any press covering the event into believing the IAFF and CWA unions were present.
Sutton’s use of the IAFF logo and “Fire Fighters for Sutton” signs implies that the IAFF and individual fire fighters had in some way sanctioned her actions. Did the IAFF agree to allow non-members to represent their union that day? If so, it was done at the expense of their own credibility.
Understanding how Sutton is able to get away with such actions becomes clear when we look at what took place just a few weeks later.
Part 2 – Fire
In a series of recently leaked emails, we can see that intimidation is part of Sutton’s political playbook. Through bullying and deception she works hand in hand with union leadership to silence individuals.
On April 1, notices were posted on several blogs announcing a campaign event for Sutton’s primary challenger, Justin Wooden. Wooden’s supporters planned to canvas neighborhoods on Barberton’s Southwest side to distribute literature on behalf of their candidate.
After learning that one or more of Wooden’s supporters were Barberton fire fighters, Nichole Francis Reynolds, Congresswoman Sutton’s Chief of Staff, started in motion a series of events aimed at the intimidation of individual fire fighters throughout the 13th district.
In an email dated April 1, Nichole sent the following message to David Billy – IAFF Political Director, Mark Sanders – Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters (OAPFF) President, and Mark Horton – OAPFF Secretary/Treasurer.
From: Nichole Francis <nicholefrancis@msn.com>
To: dbilly@iaff.org <dbilly@iaff.org>; msandl48@aol.com <msandl48@aol.com>; mdh474@aol.com <mdh474@aol.com>
Sent: Thu, Apr 1, 2010 8:35 pm
Subject: Fw: Fwd: BARBERTON flyer distribution, friday, 4:30-7:30PM, FRIDAY,APRIL 2NDDavid, Mark and Mark,
Hope that you all are doing well. Please see this information below that was sent out by Justin Wooden’s campaign manager today. Wanted to make sure that you know that firefighters are supposed to be involved in this. I can’t believe that the president of the union in Barberton would support this. Can you please arrange to have some firefighters out there with their tshirts on that display “firefighters” for sutton?Please advise.
Thanks,
Nichole
In this email Reynolds requests the same shirts that were used at the Akron protest weeks earlier. She also calls on the union heads to take action to specifically silence citizens of the 13th district. This was the same scheme used on March 19th in Akron.
Given the IAFF’s official endorsement philosophy, we would have expected the request to hit a dead end at their door.
http://www.iaff.org/politics/FIREPAC/endorsementpolicy.html
The IAFF believes that every IAFF member has an absolute right to vote for the candidate that he or she feels best represents and embraces that individual’s views and political philosophy. No one, including your union, has a right to tell you how to vote.
In any union, association or even political party, when an organization endorses a particular candidate or a specific position on any issue, not everyone who is a member is in agreement. People are entitled to disagree and express their own opinions.
Politics within the IAFF is an issue of mutual respect. The IAFF respects its members’ right to vote for whomever they choose. Please respect the IAFF’s right to endorse candidates, regardless of party, who have demonstrated their support for the IAFF and professional fire fighters. The IAFF also respects the right of state associations and individual affiliates to endorse the candidate that they believe best represents the views of their membership at the state and local level.
That dead end never came. Instead, as Nicole had asked, the issue was pushed forward when Mark Sanders – OAPFF President sent the following message to Andy Drwal – OAPFF Region 2 VP (Lorain 2nd Ward Councilman) and Mark Horton OAPFF Secretary/Treasurer.
From: msandl48@aol.com
To: oapff2@roadrunner.com ; mdh474@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2010 9:44 PM
Subject: Fwd: BARBERTON flyer distribution, friday, 4:30-7:30PM, FRIDAY,APRIL 2ND
WTF.
If this is a rouge FF then we need to get all of our OAPFF Betty Sutton supporters out to neutralize this.
Call me asap.
mark
The OAPFF President called for the organization to send out supporters to neutralize their fellow union members. What exactly was meant by neutralize? Given the tone of his email, it can be reasonably taken as a threat against any local fire fighter opposing Sutton. What happened to the IAFF’s respect for a members’ right to vote for whomever they choose?
*This series of emails ultimately led to the cancellation of the April 2 Wooden campaign event.
The events of March 19th, and those of April 1st, highlight a dangerous connection between Betty Sutton and union leadership. This type of relationship cannot be tolerated from our elected officials. The congresswoman cannot encourage actions that pressure or threaten citizens into submission and expect to get a pass.
I urge the IAFF to distance themselves from Sutton and her representatives. Continued support of Congresswoman Betty Sutton threatens to erode the credibility of your otherwise honorable association of heroes.
* updated
