Dem Candidate’s Bizarre Comments Attacking Volunteer Firefighters Resurface

The bizarre comments a Pennsylvania Democrat made denigrating volunteer firefighters have resurfaced after a recent post he made thanking first responders for helping to put out a massive blaze. 

Bob Brooks, a firefighter union chief challenging Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), once called volunteer firefighters “two hatter sh*tbags” who weaken unions. Yet he recently thanked volunteer firefighters for responding to a massive fire at a former furniture factory in Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

“Just for the record! If you are an IAFF [International Association of Fire Fighters] member and you volunteer in an area that responds to where other IAFF members work… YOU ARE A SCAB and should be treated as such,” Brooks wrote in an April 2026 Facebook post first flagged by The Washington Free Beacon. “I am so tired of you two hatter sh*tbags. If your [sic] offended, please delete me.”

The International Association of Fire Fighters believes that “two hatting” or working part time can undermine the positions of full time firefighters. That union, which represents 366,000 firefighters across North America, is backing Brooks’ congressional bid.

Despite his apparent sour attitude toward volunteer firefighters, Brooks recently praised “volunteer departments” who assisted in putting out a major fire at a former furniture factory in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The fire, which broke out on June 24, took all night to put out and left one firefighter with non-critical injuries. 

“It’s not often you see a six-alarm fire. I’m grateful to my brothers and sisters who worked throughout the night to get this under control, including those from across the area, volunteer departments, and the many who were called in from off-duty to help,” Brooks posted on social media last week.  

Brooks is the president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association and was a firefighter in Bethlehem for years. 

Brooks is endorsed by leftist Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro. Brooks recently joined four other Democrat congressional candidates to launch the “Blue Collar Brigade,” aimed at rebuilding support for Democrats from blue collar workers. 

The top issues Brooks highlights on his campaign website include raising taxes on the wealthy, strengthening union power, increasing minimum wage, and codifying Roe v. Wade. His platform also took a shot at ICE officers who wear masks while making arrests. 

“In America, we don’t send masked men to kidnap people off the street and throw them into unmarked cars. It’s bullsh*t and un-American,” his platform says. 

The race between Brooks and Mackenzie to represent Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District is considered a toss-up and expected to be competitive. Mackenzie won election to the seat against incumbent Democrat Rep. Susan Wild by just one percentage point.