The top Republican in the state House of Representatives is taking issue with New Haven Mayor John DeStefano and his use of heavy equipment.
House Minority Leader Robert Ward, R-North Branford, questioned Wednesday whether DeStefano - a Democratic candidate for governor - was in violation of state construction safety laws when he drove a piece of construction equipment during a demolition ceremony on Monday at the New Haven Coliseum. (AP)
...So this is what the Republicans are doing during the special session. Grand.
Source
"Republican leader questions DeStefano's operation of heavy equipment." Associated Press 2 November, 2005.
8 comments:
Great PR ploy. My guess is that Ward is secretly a DeStefano booster. (Thank you, Chris DePino!) In any case, DeStefano gets another round of free media.
As a DeStefano political operative, I must deny that Ward is secretly a DeStefano booster and come up with the official spin that the Republicans are getting scared and making silly mistakes.
Paul Bass over at The New Haven Independent asks if someone slipped Ward some LSD. As far as I know, no member of the DeStefano campaign has slipped Ward any LSD.
It is a fun thing to laugh about, but I want to thank Paul for providing a great quote from Mayor DeStefano at 'the scene of the crime':
"They obviously consider me a serious opponent to ending 11 years of Rowland-Rell-Republican rule -- and they are right. The Republican leadership says it is 'shocked' that I operated a large piece of heavy equipment to help demolish the New Haven Coliseum. Instead of attacking me, they should be 'shocked' that Connecticut is last in job growth, 'shocked' that college tuition and property taxes have soared, 'shocked' that working families can’t afford health insurance, and 'shocked' that our state is in constant gridlock."
For shame.
Non-Union labor at a New Haven jobsite.
Very un-Destefano.
Blue in CD2:
Not to worry, Mayor DeStefano is an honorary member of International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 478, and another member of the union was standing six inches from him during his brief stint at the controls of the big machine.
(Ref: New Haven Register: Cranegate: GOP calls for probe of DeStefano)
^
Honorary member?!?
So that further re-enforces the fact that he was unqualified to operate the machinery.
I recieved an honorary doctorate from a local University, but that doesnt mean you should call me Doctor!
Honorary membership to a union does not a skilled, or even knowledgable, laborer make.
Dr. Blue,
Are you trying to be more silly than Rep. Ward? To you remember simple logic?
A implies B and not A
does not imply not B
Having an honorary degree does not make you skilled, nor does it make you unskilled.
It does, however, reflect the strength of support that Mayor DeStefano has, including an endorsement by the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 478.
Mayor DeStefano is working alongside a broad base of support such as members of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 478 and political leaders like former Congressman James Maloney, former Danbury Mayor Gene Eriquez, and Democratic Town Chair Bernie Gallo from Danbury.
It sure seems to be getting Ward and his friends nervous. As Mayor DeStefano said at his press conference at the 'scene of the crime',
"They obviously consider me a serious opponent to ending 11 years of Rowland-Rell-Republican rule -- and they are right. "
^
I guess what im looking for you to say is this -
"John Destefano has operated heavy machinery before. He knew exactly how to operate the machinery and was in no danger of operating it unsafely. John Destefano did not need to have a licensed worked standing 6 inches behind him, he knew how to use the equipment. The only reason that person was there was to ensure that he was to be photographed with a union member, not to look over his shoulder and make sure he didnt operate the machine innapropriatly."
Touché Mr. Mooney
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