Political Bravery or Political Suicide?

Someone once said that when a labor union Democrat dies and goes to heaven, what he would see would look a lot like rust-belt Youngstown, Ohio. The city is populated with blue-collar union workers who always vote for Democrats. That is, until last Monday when Youngstown Mayor George McKelvey endorsed George W. Bush for President.

Boy, talk about a floater in the punchbowl! McKelvey's announcement sent a lightning bolt through the Mahoning Valley Democratic Party.

Lisa Antonini, chairwoman of the Mahoning Democratic Party, said, "While George McKelvey claims to be a Democrat member of our party, it's important to note that he's simply a Democrat of convenience. Now he's turning to the Republicans out of convenience again."

"He can no longer run as a Democrat in this community and in this city, so now he's uniting with the Republican Party to be appointed to a position in their lame administration."

Meeting in front of a boarded up, abandoned house on Bruce Street on the city's East Side [Odd place to meet - ed.], the group of labor leaders, party faithful and elected officials voiced their support for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and attacked McKelvey's record as mayor. They questioned what McKelvey or Bush has done to help Youngstown, which has the highest unemployment rate of any Ohio city.

Pete Starks, former 2nd Ward councilman, said, "I said (Pat) Ungaro was the worst mayor we ever had. This is the worster."

That means really, really bad.