Letter to the Editor by Congressional Candidate Lee Zeldin

PATCHOGUE, NY (08/08/2008)(readMedia)-- To the Editor:

As it should be, Election Day 2008 will be a referendum on selecting the candidate with sound judgment and the ability to make tough decisions under pressure. Over the course of the three months between today and the first week of November, people will undoubtedly scour the ballots in a search of this much-needed leadership.

To fill this vacuum, I am prepared to continue serving my country and will counterbalance the effects wrought by my opponent's fear mongering style of representation that stems from his latent "Republican Paranoia." Inexcusably, he allows this unhealthy malady to infiltrate virtually every decision he's made in office, proving himself the ultimate Pelosi poodle. The people of Eastern Long Island don't want that (And considering Madam Speaker's sub-par book sales, it's clear the American people are no longer interested in what the extreme liberal wing of their party is selling).

Perhaps sensing this disconnect with his constituency, my opponent's apparently found another brand-name liberal to mimic. This week, as he visited our deployed warriors for the first time since being elected in 2002, it appears my opponent is conveniently copying Senator Obama's example, hoping to capitalize on the success of the surge and the spotlight of the campaign season.

While there, I hope he recognized that our men and women in harm's way need a Congressman that understands defense and foreign policy issues. We cannot afford to have a Congressman who simply parrots party rhetoric all the way to certain defeat.

From the floor of Congress, he preached that we cannot stay the course. He repeatedly votes against the necessary ammunition and supplies for our troops in combat. If Congressman Bishop had his way, the troops he visited this week would have retreated from the battlefield in defeat. Thank Heaven more level-headed minds and the expertise of General Petraeus prevailed.

At the same time, in facing the all-too-real 21st Century energy challenges, we need an equal measure of leadership. We require a Congressman that won't vote himself a five-week vacation (like my opponent did last week, casting Congress's deciding vote for the extended recess) and instead rises above petty party politics to implement a coherent strategy to solve this pending crisis.

For what he earns each year, our Congressman should be thinking on his own and willing to work hard for the taxpayer, and not acting as a puppet that blindly follows the powers that be all the way to the bank.

Rest assured, as Congressman, my drive to lead will always center on the best interests of New York's First Congressional District and the United States of America.

I'm Ready to Serve,

Lee Zeldin

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Zeldin served as an aide to State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle. The Shirley resident studied at the University at Albany, graduated from Albany Law School, and earned his commission through Army ROTC. He was a paratrooper, prosecutor and magistrate with the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps. In the summer of 2006, he was a JAG attorney deployed to Iraq. He is currently an attorney at Raiser & Kenniff on Long Island.

For more information on Lee's campaign please visit us at www.zeldin08.com

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