First Responder's Remarks Highlight 9/11 Focus In Congressional Race

By: Courtney Gross

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Candidates in the Congressional race for Anthony Weiner’s seat have dragged 9/11 into their political sparring, and a recent episode involving a first responder and the Zadroga Act has experts questioning if the arguments have gone too far. NY1’s Courtney Gross filed the following report.

The federal health care bill for 9/11 responders has been thrust into the race to replace disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner.

Republican Bob Turner told the Daily News he thought the Zadroga Act was too broad and questioned whether the law should cover volunteers.

Democrat David Weprin disagreed.

"In and of itself, I think that's an outrageous statement. Those volunteers risked their lives," said Weprin.

The assemblyman unleashed an automated phone call Thursday from John Feal, a well-known first responder, blasting the GOP candidate.

"I was a volunteer first responder, horribly injured at Ground Zero,” said Feal on the recording. “I fought hard for years to pass the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which provides crucial health care and compensation for all first responder volunteers and families. But Congressional candidate Bob Turner doesn't think that this is a good idea. He should be ashamed of himself."

This is not the first time 9/11 has entered the race. Earlier this summer, Turner ran a campaign spot showing the smoking twin towers, blasting Weprin for saying developers had a right to build the Ground Zero mosque.

In response to Feal's attack, the Turner camp issued this statement: "Only a career politician like David Weprin would use 9/11 healthcare money to try to get votes. His attacks are disgraceful. Of course Bob Turner supported the Zadroga Bill."

Turner's camp also fired off a statement from Congressman Peter King reiterating the candidate's support for the measure.

Observers question whether candidates are playing politics with 9/11.

"When we fold in the 9/11 issues and the 9/11 representations in the race, we are also seeing it as a referendum on political tactics and the volatility of this concept and this set of images in the context of New York City local politics," said David Birdsell of Baruch College.

It just so happens the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks falls just two days before the special election. Suffice it to say, 9/11 will remain on the minds of voters and candidates.