Letter to the Editor from U.S. Congressional Candidate Lee Zeldin

PATCHOGUE, NY (09/16/2008)(readMedia)-- To the Editor:

Principles should not be bought and sold, and we will no longer stand for political cronyism and favoritism to donors. Congressional representatives should believe in causes greater than themselves and stop focusing as much on self preservation of their power, prestige and perks.

My opponent took thousands of dollars from a donor and then introduced, last Thursday, a bill, cosponsored by the apparent tax evading creator of tax policy Rep. Charlie Rangel, to create a paid commission to establish The National Museum of the American People.

Congressman Tim Bishop already has the Director of the museum designated. His name is Sam Eskenazi, and he has donated over $40,000 to Bishop and his Democratic colleagues, according to a recent Citizens Against Government Waste critique of the proposal. The museum, nor the jobs that would support it, will end up in our district, or New York for that matter

My opponent is getting carried away by his ongoing perception creation of quid pro quo. In the past, he has bragged about earmarks to STIDD Systems and the Curtiss Wright Corporation, two companies that have donated loyally to Bishop's reelection war chest. He has defended the donation to STIDD Systems as important for Navy Seals even though the Department of the Navy never recognized that it was important.

When the Department of the Navy wants a new product they can put out bids and get the best product at the best price. Bishop handpicked his friend and loyal campaign contributor, Walter Gezari, as the recipient and this should be illegal.

Bishop has never served in the United States military yet he is telling the Navy what they need and which of his donors are going to provide it. This reeks of quid pro quo. To rectify the situation, my opponent must immediately do the following:

-Halt the legislation driving the National Museum of the American People;

-Return Walter Gezari's contributions, Curtiss Wright Corporation PAC's contributions, and Sam Eskenazi's contributions;

-Stop creating a perception of quid pro quo with his decision making

Long Island's Future Begins Now

Lee Zeldin

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Zeldin 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. The Shirley resident served as an aide to State Senator Ken LaValle. 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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