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Frank Barbaro speaking at the Staten Island Ferry
(Photo: Thomas Good / Next Left Notes)

New York, NY - December 21, 2007. Former State Assemblyman and New York State Supreme Court Justice (1997-2003) Frank Barbaro announced his endorsement of Steve Harrison on Friday, December 21. In a press conference held inside the Staten Island Ferry Terminal - symbolizing Harrison’s commitment to Staten Island’s working families - Barbaro endorsed Democrat Harrison’s bid to unseat chickenhawk Congressman Vito Fossella (R, 13th CD). Barbaro, well known in New York for his progressive politics, cited Harrison’s strong showing in 2006 - he unexpectedly garnered 43% of the vote - as evidence that Fossella is beatable in 2008. “I am endorsing Steve Harrison for Congress - because I believe in him,” Barbaro said. “His campaign is a people’s campaign…Staten Island and Brooklyn need Steve Harrison,” he added.

“I’ve been talking to Steve, I see that he’s for immediate withdrawal of our daughters and sons from Iraq. I see that he’s for national health insurance. I know that he’s pro-labor…I know that he will be on the battle lines with organized labor when he becomes elected,” Barbaro said.

Switching gears, Barbaro spoke about Harrison’s opposite number: “Vito Fossella has shown himself for what he is - when the Daily News attacks you, you’re pretty bad. He has been attacked by the Daily News,” he said. Barbaro, who represented the Fossella Five [ a group of five activists, including NLN editor Thomas Good ] after they were arrested in Fossella’s office while reading the names of the US war dead, feels that Harrison has the ability to put together a winning coalition and remove the man the Daily Gotham called “Bush’s Lap Dog.”

Speaking after Barbaro, Harrison reaffirmed his commitment to the disenfranchised in US society, to ending the Iraq War, to supporting a single payer healthcare system and to helping victims of the sub prime mortgage scandal. Harrison received sustained applause when he acknowledged members of the Carpenters’ Union who were present in the terminal to protest a local developer’s use of non-union labor. “Guys, I’m with you always and you know that,” Harrison said.

Click Here To View Photos/Videos From The Announcement…

Barbaro endorses Harrison	Steve Harrison speaks

Original post by Thomas Good and reposted by Radical Blogs