Flushing Election Race Heats Up

Anti-Semitic comments made after a heated election for a Flushing State Assembly seat two years ago have carried over as campaign fodder in a 2004 primary rematch.
Attorneys for Caroline Meng, the daughter of businessman Jimmy Meng, who recently announced his candidacy against Assemblyman Barry Grodenchik in the Democratic primary, filed discrimination complaints against Grodenchik and his handlers with City and Federal Human Rights Commissions. Caroline Meng took the action after learning of comments made by one of Grodenchiks political advisors responding to her fathers election run.
Citing incendiary anti-Semitic comments Caroline Meng posted on her Web site after her fathers loss in the 2002 primary, Evan Stavisky, who heads the political consultant company, the Parkside Group, and is advising Grodenchik in his reelection campaign, questioned where she developed "such hateful thoughts," speculating that her upbringing or the Meng campaign played a role.
Caroline Meng had been a paid staffer on her fathers 2002 campaign. When Jimmy Meng, the owner of a Flushing lumber company, lost by a narrow margin in the primary earning 1,446 votes to Grodenchiks 1,598 his daughter, 21 years old at the time, gave a caustic political analysis of the outcome, citing a poor showing of Asians at the polls.
"Its really sad that Asians cant stick together," Caroline Meng posted on her Web site. "The Jews stick together and thats why they control everything."
According to Jimmy Mengs camp, the comments were immediately removed once she realized her words could offend others.
The announcement of the filed complaints also included a statement of support from her parents and an attack on the incumbent assemblymans campaign tactics.
"We love our daughter and are very proud of her; there isnt one speck of hate in her," read the statement from Caroline Mengs parents. "Mr. Stavisky and Mr. Grodenchik should be ashamed of themselves for involving her in their campaign of hatred and divisiveness. We will never stoop to Mr. Stavisky and Mr. Grodenchiks level; we will never attack any of their family members or willfully mislead the public."
Stavisky called the filed complaints frivolous.
"Caroline Meng is wasting resources," he told The Queens Courier, saying the commissions have more important cases to address, like housing and employment discrimination.
Since Jimmy Mengs July 13 announcement that he was entering the race, Stavisky has criticized him for not making a clean break from his daughters polarizing comments.
"Jimmy Meng has never sufficiently distanced himself from these divisive remarks," Stavisky said, adding that he has never heard Caroline Meng make a public apology.
According to Gary Tilzer, a spokesman for Jimmy Meng, Caroline released a public apology to local papers after the incident. He also said she is not a paid staff member on her fathers current campaign.