Message from a Worried Citizen (Altschuler v. Bishop)

I'm 79, a retired entrepreneur and veteran of the US Army in Korea. So why am I still bothering to wade into local politics? Because I love our way of life in Eastern Long Island and believe that it is under threat in this election. 

In the Bishop v. Altschuler congressional campaign, we are experiencing a level of deceitfulness and "dirty tricks" that we've never really seen here before. Oh, sure, American Democracy is contentious and messy, and American elections can be mean, bruising affairs. But now we're looking at a new kind of viciousness that is unprecedented. If, God forbid, it becomes accepted practice, our political existence will be irreparably damaged - and we simply can't let that happen!

The Republican Party, in this era of Karl Rove and Super pacs, has come up with a formula that was sadly predictable. It goes like this:  If you're desperate and know that you can't win an election based on the facts and merits, throw some big money into assassinating your opponent's character. Ruin his good name and reputation. Hurl a bunch of personal accusations against him that you know are lies, because you expect that if the lies are repeated enough, people will start to believe them. Keep it up. Be shameless. Never admit you're wrong, even when the accusations are proven false. Don't talk about the actual issues facing voters, because you're on very thin ice there. And never, at all costs, tell the truth about yourself and about who is financing you. Now, put all those deceptions together, mix with enough cash, and presto - you've bought yourself the election. That's the Karl Rove way!

Thus we have Mr. Altschuler, a messenger boy bought and paid for by the Republican National Committee and the Super Pacs, telling lies, making specious claims, pretending to be a "concerned" Long Islander, trying to buy New York's 1st Congressional District. So, I'm challenging Mr. Altschuler, one last time, to come clean --

Admit that the story of Tim Bishop receiving campaign money for favors has been utterly disproven, and even retracted by the person who originated it. 

Admit that you're really from New Jersey and that your so-called "residence" in St. James has never actually been lived in. 

Admit that while you claim to be an "Independent," you would, if elected, be forced to march in absolute lockstep with the Tea Party in Congress. As everyone knows, that's the way with all Republican representatives.  

Admit that you're beholden to your Super Pac hackers, like your mentor, hedge fund manager Robert Mercer, whose aim is to again deregulate Wall St. so they can return to the greedy practices that brought us disaster in 2008. You never talk about your Super Pac sources, do you Mr Altschuler - those very rich gentlemen who intend to own your congressional vote. 

And most important of all, admit that you have enthusiastically embraced a campaign of character assassination against a decent man. Tim Bishop has served everyone in this community with honesty and dedication for the past 10 years. There has never been a single blemish on his record of integrity.  

Mr. Altschuler, you've proved only one thing - that you are not worthy of serving as our representative in congress. We don't want your brand of dishonesty here. It's a virus infecting our politics.

Please, go back to New Jersey. Now.