Zeldin Responds to Attacks on His Integrity by Opponent, Bishop Staffers, and His Family

PATCHOGUE, NY (10/30/2008)(readMedia)-- Lee Zeldin, Republican and Conservative Party candidate for U.S. Congress, issued the following statement in response to his opponent knowingly and recklessly deploying staff and now his daughter, who is also his fundraiser, to attack Zeldin during the final days of the campaign:

My opponent has had multiple conversations with my campaign chairman, Bill Fries, about keeping families off limits in this race. There was a mutual understanding that our campaigns would not sink to that level. My opponent is now using his daughter to attack my character in order to motivate supporters and raise more money and that is unacceptable (her fundraising email is below). This is irresponsible behavior for a 3 term Congressman. I have sent an email to my supporters informing them of these tactics and asking them to help our campaign continue to get out the facts over the course of these final days.

This race should be decided on how voters define Real Long Island Values. I am an independent Republican with conservative values and my opponent is a liberal Democrat. I am proud of who I am and he is proud of who he is. Voters should decide this race primarily considering our positions on some very important issues, not through unsubstantiated attacks on each other's integrity.

I have not questioned my opponent's integrity once. My concerns are with his voting record.

I continue to repeat my request that my opponent specify what I have said that was dishonest during our various Meet the Candidate Nights and Debates. I further request that our campaign and the voting public are provided this information immediately so that the voters can also receive my substantiation. His reckless campaign tactics have no place in the political discourse and should not be practiced by a sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

This is one of the reasons Congress' approval rating is reaching historic new lows.

Here is the excerpt from his daughter:

"As we approach these final days before Election Day my dad enjoys more than ever to be surrounded by his friends and constituents. Campaign season is always long but this year has been increasingly emotional and frustrating. My dad's opponent continues to run a negative and dishonest campaign. He has focused on distorting my father's record and touted his own far-right conservative agenda. Our nation's future hangs in the balance and this is no time for campaign rhetoric.

I hope that you can join us tomorrow night to celebrate all of my dad's hard work. I know it will go a long way in lifting his spirits during these final days. And it will certainly send a message to my dad's opponent that we deserve better than his dirty tactics.

Thank you for your continued support.

*****

PLEASE JOIN US

FOR A CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF

Congressman Tim Bishop

New York's First Congressional District

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

The Bellport Country Club

40 South Country Road

Bellport, New York

$125 Supporter Ticket $250 Friend Ticket $500 Champion Ticket

$1,000 event sponsor - includes 8 tickets and recognition listing

Tickets can be reserved by e-mailing mbishop@mcbconsulting.org or

calling Molly Bishop at 631-451-1764

Contributions can also be made online at www.bishopforcongress.com

Contributions to Tim Bishop for Congress are not deductible for income tax purposes.

Paid for by Tim Bishop for Congress"

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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

Paid for by Lee Zeldin for Congress