In what can only be described as an utterly classless move, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) issued a press release calling New York State congressional candidate Lee Zeldin (R) either “woefully uninformed, willfully ignorant, or a coward.”
The release was accompanied by a visual aide provided by the DCCC press secretary Marc Bruner, who tweeted out a picture of Zeldin as the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz.
Zeldin is an Iraq War veteran, having served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne. The 82nd Airborne Division is an active infantry division of the United States Army specializing in parachute landing operations. It is considered the nation’s premier Airborne infantry division.
The flashpoint is Zeldin’s spporrt for what Democrats describe as “Paul Ryan’s reckless budget.”
The press release reads in part:
Over a month after his House Republicans passed Paul Ryan’s reckless budget, Congressional Candidate Lee Zeldin is still too scared to admit how he would vote for the plan, even though he wants Long Islanders to send him to Congress. Even though every member of Congress had no choice but to vote yes or no weeks ago, what’s taking him so long to decide? There’s only one answer: Zeldin is either woefully uninformed, willfully ignorant or a coward.
[…]
To help Zeldin find the courage to take a position on the Ryan Budget and other critical issues impacting Long Island, the DCCC is sending him the same Badge of Courage the Wizard of Oz gave to the Cowardly Lion.
Ian Prior of the NRCC is calling on Zeldin’s opponent Tim Bishop to demand an apology from his fellow Democrats.
Tim Bishop needs to immediately demand that his cronies at the DCCC apologize to Iraq War veteran and 82nd Airborne paratrooper Lee Zeldin for calling him a coward. Not only does that classless insult show a complete lack of respect for combat veterans and the brethren of 82nd Airborne paratroopers, but it demonstrates an ignorance of the basic American history.
Earlier this month, Maine Democrats accused Republican candidate Dale Crafts of having “no spine” and failing to “stand up” to the state’s governor. Craft has been confined to a wheelchair for the past 26 years.
Cross-posted at the Mental Recession