Progressive Democrat Issue 56: NY STATE FOCUS

I have reported how insensitive Republicans have been on the national level to our veterans. Not only have they been insulting decorated war vets like John Kerry, Max Cleland and John Murtha, but Republicans have also been cutting Veteran benefits even as they send more and more American soldiers to fight the war based on lies in Iraq. This prompted me to start an occasional "Giving Voice to our Vets" segment of this newsletter and prompting some to start a "Fighting Dem" Act Blue page to help out the many veterans running for Congress as Democrats.

Then I reported on the Republican insensitivity to the Katrina victims, starting with Bush and Cheney who both stayed on vacation while the hurricane hit and killed thousands, followed by Condaleeza Rice who went shopping while Katrina victims died, and ending up with the 11 Republican Congressmen who voted against aid to hurricane victims, a group I call the Katrina 11 who I am urging everyone to oppose through my Katrina 11 Act Blue site.

Now NY State Republicans are showing their insenistivity to NYC's brave cops. This is from The Daily Gotham and from the Daily News.

Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro was seen giggling and chatting outside a Bronx church after the funeral Mass for slain Police Officer Danny Enchautegui - spurring outrage from cops.

One officer brusquely told her to "shut up," prompting Pirro to zip her lips and snap to attention just after the flag-draped coffin holding Enchautegui was placed into a nearby hearse.

While grim-faced Finest stood ramrod-straight, Pirro drew glares from the hero cop's fellow officers when they spotted her giggling and chatting with state Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R-Rensselaer).

"She should have kept her mouth shut and showed some respect," said one disgusted high-ranking member of the NYPD.

Fumed another officer: "It was bad timing. Everyone is waiting for the family to leave. The family is trying to be strong. We're all still in formation. It was out of line."

A Pirro campaign spokesman denied last night that any cop told her to keep quiet outside the church.

Pirro and Bruno are as much an embarrassment to America as those Republicans who make it a habit to attack decorated war Veterans and who sat by while American citizens died needlessly after Katrina. This is the Republican Party: insensitive to the American people, to our soldiers and to our police. Remember, the same NY Republicans who praise our cops all the time are also the ones who cut funding for first responders after 9/11 and who STILL haven't given NYC cops a current contract. Cutting veteran's benefits, skimping on America's infrastructure and insulting cops is NOT the way politicians should behave, but this is certainly how the Republicans behave locally and nationally.

Please write the media expressing your disgust at Pirro and Bruno's insensitivity to a slain NYPD officer. It is time we spoke out against Republican insensitivity to Americans.