Labate Criticizes Israel in Response to DNC Speech

Republican challenger issued a response Thursday to Rep. before the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday.

The response was issued by Chris Thompson, campaign manager for the Committee to Elect Stephen A. Labate, Inc.

The complete statement follows:

"Rep. Israel demonstrated once again in his Convention speech, that he is out of touch with the hardworking Long Islanders in his district. He speaks of strengthening the middle class and fighting for Medicare and middle class jobs, but his record proves otherwise.

Rep. Israel voted for Obamacare, the largest middle class tax increase in American History, he supported $716 billion in cuts to Medicare to pay for Obamacare and he's allowing the Bush Tax Cuts expire, which will have a devastating effect on small businesses, and unemployment on Long Island. The only thing Rep. Israel has been fighting for, is to re-elect President Obama, and get Nancy Pelosi back in the Speaker's Chair.

He needs to take responsibility for his abysmal voting record and stop trying to deflect the hard truth."

The Republican National Committee also issued a statement in response to Israel's speech. It read:

“President Obama and his Democrat allies can only resort to false attacks to distract from their abysmal record that has added $5 trillion to the national debt and seen unemployment at over eight percent for over 42 months straight," said RNC Spokesman Ted Kwong. "Nothing the Democrats can say will change the fact that voters know they are not better off after four long years of failed policies and leadership.”

Labate is challenging the incumbent Israel, D-Dix Hills, in the November election to represent New York's new 3rd Congressional District. The new district spans many of Long Island's North Shore communities.

See Israel's .