Radio and digital ads highlight Zeldin’s hypocrisy on hurricane victims
Today, the DCCC launched a significant five-figure ad blitz targeting Representative Lee Zeldin over his vote against disaster relief funds for victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The ad blitz includes radio and digital ads that will target Zeldin as he returns home for a weeklong recess. The radio ads will run more than 100 times during drive time on two popular Long Island stations and the digital ads will use Facebook and Instagram to target persuadable voters in Zeldin’s district.
Last week, Congress passed the $15.25 billion relief bill for Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma—and Lee Zeldin was the only member of Congress in New York or New Jersey to vote against the aid package.
The vote came just a week after Zeldin told the Associated Press that he would help the hurricane victims, saying “I am fully, completely committed to do whatever I can . . . to assist” and that “regardless of whether you’re a fellow New Yorker or a Texan, we want to be as helpful as possible.”
The shameful vote prompted Newsday columnist Rita Ciolli to label him a “hurricane hypocrite.”
“For Representative Zeldin to put his right-wing ideology ahead of Hurricane victims is truly disturbing,” said DCCC Spokesman Evan Lukaske. “Long Islanders know what a devastating hurricane does to homes, businesses and schools. The next time a hurricane slams Long Island, how can anyone trust Zeldin to do the right thing? The fact that he was the only New York or New Jersey member of Congress—Democrat or Republican—to vote against this desperately needed aid shows how out-of-step Zeldin is with his community.”
The digital ads will run on Facebook and Instagram and will target persuadable voters in New York’s 1st Congressional District. The 60-second ads will play on LI News Radio and WALK-FM for the duration of next week’s Congressional recess, when Zeldin will be home in his district. The full transcript is below, and you can listen to the ad here
5 years ago, we lost so much in Hurricane Sandy.
Dozens died. Schools damaged. Homes destroyed.
We’re still rebuilding today.
Some right-wing politicians tried to play politics instead of HELPING our recovery from Sandy.
Luckily, they failed.
Now, victims of Hurricane Harvey… our fellow Americans… need help, just like we did after Sandy.
But our Congressman, Lee Zeldin, broke his word and voted against Harvey aid… joining the same reckless politicians who voted against rebuilding Long Island.
Zeldin was the only Member of Congress in all of New York and New Jersey — Republican or Democrat — who made this cruel vote against hurricane victims.
If Long Island gets hit by a hurricane again, where will Zeldin stand?
No wonder Newsday labeled Zeldin a “Hurricane Hypocrite.”
And view the digital ad below
