•  Campaign Videos (June 2012) « Obama for America
  

[Music] TEXT: A Firefighter's Story

Jim Heath, Dinner With Barack winner: I was born into a Republican family; I've been a Republican my whole life.  So I haven't always supported the president until recently.

(Hotel scene) Wife: What do you think the guys at the fire station would think if they could see us?this now?

Heath: Being a firefighter from Ohio, we had an issue in Ohio where the governor attacked collective bargaining for police, firemen and teachers in our state.  That was a real eye opener for me.

(Hotel scene): I'll be thinking about you.

Heath: Once I started getting attacked and I really started to look around at what other options were out there because I really feel like the Republican Party just left me.  Shortly after that I was watching a speech by Barack Obama, and it was on jobs, and I just, I said this guy is talking to me, is protecting me, and I hadn't felt that in a while so I said right then and there, this guy's got my vote.

from the dinner:
Obama: Did you always know you wanted to be a firefighter?
Heath: I did.
Obama: How many guys in the station?
Heath: We used to have about 15 to 16 and now we're down to about 12.
Obama: Is that right?  That many cutbacks?
Heath: Yeah.
Obama: It's tough.  The first two years I came in, right when the recession hit, you know the Recovery Act provided money to states to keep folks on.  The needs are still there.  It's not like suddenly there are fewer fires...
Heath: Fire doesn't go away.
Obama: ...it's not like there are fewer kids to teach.

Heath: Having the conversation with him reinforced the fact that he stands behind firefighters and policemen and teachers.

from the dinner:
Obama: Thanks, man.
Heath: You got my vote.
Obama: Tell your guys I said hi.
Heath: I will.

Heath: This just reaffirms to me that I'm doing the right thing.  I'm fighting for the right guy and I'm on the right side.

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Notes:

Copyright © 2012 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.