Spitzer Stirs the Ghost of Teddy Roosevelt

ALBANY, NY (04/25/2007)(readMedia)-- "President Theodore Roosevelt must be spinning in his grave," that was the assessment from Joseph N. Mondello, chairman of the New York Republican State Committee in reaction to Governor Eliot Spitzer's remarks on campaign financing this morning at Sagamore Hill, home of Long Island's beloved 26th President.

"President Theodore Roosevelt was a straight shooter who took on the rich and powerful to enact reforms that improved the quality of life enjoyed by average, hard-working Americans. It's sadly ironic that Governor Eliot Spitzer, who was born into fabulous wealth that he has artfully used to make his personal political success possible, went to Sagamore Hill today to promote changes in the state's campaign finance laws that would make it all but impossible for the little guy – the people that Theodore Roosevelt cared most about – to run for public office. If Governor Spitzer has his way only the rich will have the chance to try and make a difference in this state," Chairman Mondello continued.

The state Republican leader called Spitzer's proposals a "rich man's bill" that would bar all but the mega wealthy from running for most public offices in New York.

"If the Governor's proposals are passed into law only people with personal balance sheets that rival his own will be able to run for anything but the most local of offices in New York, one of the state's most expensive media markets,” Mondello said.

Chairman Mondello also called the Governor's foray to the home of the only Nassau County resident elected to the presidency the “height of hypocrisy." Mondello explained that "Teddy Roosevelt was respected the world over as a man who said what he means and means what he said. He lived by the creed that the rules applied to everyone, rich and poor alike.

"Unfortunately, Governor Spitzer's actions make it clear that he thinks there are two sets of rules, one for him and another for everyone else."

Chairman Mondello pointed out that Governor Spitzer who makes much of his self-imposed limitation of $10,000 from individual contributors continues to participate in mega-bucks fundraisers for the state Democratic Party that promise $25,000 donors entrance to a "VIP" reception with Governor Spitzer. Spitzer"s campaign committee is also promising special treatment to supporters who "bundle" a total of $100,000 in contributions to an upcoming Spitzer "birthday party" fund raiser in early June.

Chairman Mondello concluded by noting: "The people of Long Island know that Governor Spitzer tried to slash Long Island school aid, decimate our hospitals, and take back our property tax rebate checks. And they also know that it was Majority Leader Joe Bruno and Long Island's Republican state senators that stood up and fought for us.

"What the people of Long Island must realize is that Governor Spitzer's campaign finance proposals, in addition to making it impossible for average New Yorkers to run for political office, is just a part of his overall plan to destroy the Republican senate majority because the Republican senate is the only body that stands in the way of him having near dictatorial authority over state government."

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