HARE CALLS ON ZINGA TO APOLOGIZE TO 17TH DISTRICT VETERANS
"VOTERS AND OUR VETERANS DESERVE BETTER THAN DIRTY POLITICAL TRICKS, EVEN ON HALLOWEEN"
Rock Island, IL.—Phil Hare, the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 17th District today, responded to a blatant political trick by Andrea Zinga on Halloween. Hare called on Zinga to apologize to veterans for her transparent attack that sought to use them for political gain in the lead up to Election Day. Hare, a veteran who was endorsed this week by the VFW, released the following statement:
"As a Veteran myself, I'm disappointed in Senator Kerry's remarks. But Actions speak louder than words. What's ironic about this partisan attack by my opponent is that the Republican Congress and President Bush cut Veterans' benefits by $1 billion, sent our troops into battle without adequate equipment and a plan, and Andrea Zinga has sided with her party, rather than siding with our troops and veterans. She has refused to speak out for them. Instead, she is engaging in dirty political tricks. Voters and Veterans deserve much better from their leaders.
"My record is clear and I'm proud of it. I'm a veteran, I'm someone who has spent over 23 years of my career helping fellow veterans get their benefits, and I was honored this week with the endorsement of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of America (VFW) PAC, which represents 2.4 million veterans, over 200,000 of them in Illinois.
"I'm disappointed that Andrea Zinga has chosen to use veterans for political gain and a desperate political attack. Throughout this campaign, I've called on Andrea to join me in condemning the cuts our veterans have suffered under President Bush and she has refused.
"Andrea Zinga has talked a lot about helping Veterans. But I've walked the walk--helping to secure funds for veterans care in this district, serving my country in the Army Reserves and connecting Veterans and their families with needed services.
"That's why the Veterans of Foreign Wars of America (PAC) has endorsed me; that's why VETPAC endorsed me, that's why veterans throughout this district have been volunteering their time to help elect me; and that's why Andrea Zinga's recent remarks are so disingenuous, transparent, and insulting to our veterans.
"She should apologize to the veterans of this district and she should, for once, focus on the issues, not dirty politics.
"In the final days of this campaign, I will continue to do what I've done all along: Speak directly with the voters about my positive vision for representing this district in Congress.
"People don't want a representative that engages in last minute dirty tricks, even if it is Halloween. They want someone who is willing and able to discuss issues and who has a real record of achievement."
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