Republicans want President Obama to take “every necessary step” against Ebola, and they want Americans to know they’re thinking about those affected by the Ebola “outbreak” in the United States.
“Let me start by saying that our hearts go out to all those affected by the Ebola outbreak,” New York Republican congressional candidate Lee Zeldin said in the weekly Republican address. “Right now, the president and his administration need to be taking every necessary step to protect the American people.”
Zeldin delivered the remarks just a day after news of Obama’s choice for Ebola czar — Vice President Joe Biden’s former chief of staff Ron Klain — drew widespread criticism and ridicule. Klain has little if any medical background, and the choice was widely seen as a political move.
The rest of the speech eschewed the Ebola issue. Instead, Zeldin focused on domestic policy issues, including education, job creation and economic growth. He also touched briefly on his background as an Army paratrooper.
Zeldin is challenging incumbent Democrat Rep. Tim Bishop. The Cook Political Report rates the race to “Lean Democratic.” Most other political prognosticators agree, though two recent Republican polls suggest the race is neck-and-neck.
