By Howard Koplowitz
The first television ad in the race to replace ex-U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner launched by Bob Turner used images of planes hitting the Twin Towers in the Sept. 11 attacks to criticize state Assemblyman David Weprin’s (D-Little Neck) view that the developers of the Ground Zero mosque have a right to build it.
The ad, which is reaching homes in the congressional district in Queens and parts of Brooklyn, was criticized by Weprin and the firefighters’ union as being in poor taste and using the Sept. 11 attacks for political purposes.
The ad included footage of Weprin saying he believed the mosque builders had a right to construct it, although Weprin said the quote was part of a larger comment where he said he was against the proposal and taken out of context.
Capt. Alexander Hagan, president of the Uniformed Fire Officer Association and a Bayside resident, blasted the use of Sept. 11 imagery in Turner’s ad.
“Robert Turner’s commercial is very insensitive,” Hagan said. “We object to anyone exploiting the pain of thousands of families who have lost loved ones on 9/11 to score political points.”
Weprin agreed.
“As we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11, it’s shameful that Bob Turner is trying to use the tragedy for his own political gain,” he said. “I knew people who lost their lives that day and Bob Turner dishonors their memory by politicizing the attacks on New York.”
The advertisement was rolled out the same week Turner got a boost to his campaign with an endorsement from former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
“Congress is in dire need of business leaders like Bob Turner, not another career politician,” Giuliani said. “This country needs to start creating jobs again and Bob Turner has the national and international business know-how to help move us in that direction.”
A Siena poll released last week showed the race between Turner, a Republican and retired businessman from Rockaway, and Weprin as tight, with Weprin edging out Turner by six percentage points.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
