Constituents Express 'Horror' At Bannon Headlining Zeldin Event

News that former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, the executive chairman of the right-wing Breitbart News Network site, will be headlining a fundraiser for Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) in New York City has some local residents incensed.

According to a Newsday report, the fundraiser is expected to take place in midtown on Dec. 14 and will be co-hosted by Arthur Schwartz and Wayne Berman.

The news has some seeing red: Bend the Arc Jewish Action organizer Kayla Glick spoke out, "Steve Bannon proudly provides a platform for a white nationalism that frequently demonizes people of color, Jews, and other minorities," she said.

As chief strategist to President Trump, she said, Bannon helped develop policies, such as the Muslim ban, that target and marginalize millions of people in the United States. That’s why, she added, Bend the Arc Jewish Action coordinated protests and petitions that pushed for his removal from the administration.

"It is deeply disturbing that Rep. Zeldin would ally himself with this enemy of our community and its values," Glick said.

She added that, as one of only two Jewish Republicans in Congress, "Rep. Zeldin has a unique opportunity to represent Jewish values on the national stage. He is squandering it for short-term political gain. As his constituents, we will continue to hold him accountable for these failures of leadership and demand he choose a side against white nationalism and the radical policies of this administration.”

Locally, Eileen Duffy, one of the organizers of the closed Facebook group, Let's Visit Lee Zeldin, offered her thoughts on the upcoming fundraiser.

"The membership of Let's Visit Lee Zeldin has, in no uncertain terms, reacted with horror to the news that Rep. Zeldin is using an unprincipled man, who publishes the ravings of white supremacists for political gain, to raise money. However, it's not surprising; both are supported and funded by cultural reactionaries and dark money specialists Robert and Rebekah Mercer. We do not want Steve Bannon to have anything to do with the governance of NY01."

Zeldin did not respond to a request for comment regarding his constituents' concerns over the upcoming fundraiser and Bannon's presence at the event, but the congressman has defended Bannon in the past.

“Steve Bannon, especially what we’ve seen since last year’s campaign, is getting a really bad rap, characterizing him as a racist,” Zeldin said in August, according to a report in The Hill.

With Bannon taking on the GOP, declaring proverbial war on the establishment and apparently putting together a nationwide ticket, some have asked whether Bannon — whose appearance at the Zeldin fundraiser will be his first for any sitting House Republican, according to Newsday — might be attempting to buy Zeldin's vote on the tax bill.

"That couldn't possibly be any further from the truth," Zeldin's media representative told Patch.

On Tuesday, Reps. Zeldin, Peter King, Tom Suozzi were joined by state and local officials, area businesses, and other Long Islanders at the Internal Revenue Service in Hauppauge at a press conference highlighting their concerns with the current version of the GOP tax reform plan and outlining ways to improve the legislation.

“My goal in this tax reform mission has always been to ensure the hardworking men and women of Long Island keep more of their paycheck, reduce their cost of living, and are able to save more for retirement. While I like many aspects of this tax reform plan, too many Long Islanders would not see the tax relief they desperately need and deserve,” Zeldin said. “This fight is not over. While the reinstatement of the property tax deduction to $10,000 was progress, it was not enough progress. I will continue to fight hard to improve this bill as much as possible.”

Patch courtesy photo.