Websites take shots at Altschuler, Bishop

A new website popped up last Wednesday - randyoutsourcedmyjob.com - joining OustTimBishop.com and other sites in a low-level, high-tech political war as Republicans make a run at Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton).

The new website has a video of GOP hopeful Randy Altschuler talking about his former firm sending jobs overseas - an issue that dogs him in the race.

The website doesn't say who's behind it, but records show it's owned by Michael Gendron of Hauppauge, the business agent and political coordinator of Communications Workers of America Local 1108.

Gendron, like his union, likes Bishop: CWA's national PAC has contributed $43,500 to Bishop since 2002. Reached Friday, Gendron said he set up the site, but stressed it's not connected to Bishop or his union. Bishop's campaign said it's not involved.

As long as Gendron runs the website as a private citizen, experts said, it's legal.

Gendron said he got the idea to do it after seeing a lawn sign touting OustTimBishop.com, which calls Bishop "left wing."

That website doesn't say who's behind it either, and the owner is hidden behind a private registration company. An e-mail sent to it went unanswered.

The website says it's not "affiliated with a Republican agenda or a 'right wing' organization." Yet it posts an invitation to "meet and greet" Altschuler.

An Altschuler campaign aide said he hadn't heard of that website, but acknowledged a low-level web war is going on.

In fact, he confirmed that Altschuler took the defensive move in April of buying domains for randyoutsourcer.com, randyoutsourcer.net and altschuleroutsourcer.com.

To no avail.

- Tom Brune in Washington