Remarks by Tom Suozzi
Fort Ticonderoga, NY
As you may know, I recently issued a formal challenge to Eliot Spitzer, my opponent for the Democratic nomination for Governor, to engage in a series of substantive, issue-based debates to be held around the State.
To show my commitment to this critical part of the campaign process, and to our fundamental responsibility to inform and engage the voters, I proposed a specific schedule of twice-monthly forums -- starting today, here in the home of Fort Ticonderoga.
I chose this kickoff spot because it is the kind of place that most Statewide politicians typically ignore, making it a fitting symbol of Albany's disrespect, disconnection and dysfunction.
More important, this is one of the founding fortresses of our democracy. It was on this date when a small group of ragtag Americans, the legendary Green Mountain Boys, risked their lives to fight for their freedom from a tyrannical King.
On May 10, 1775, the forces of democracy overcame the forces of tyranny at Fort Ticonderoga. I came here today to honor that spirit with one of the most powerful tools our democratic system offers us: the competitive debate.
In New York, our unaccountable, unresponsive, and unrepentant State government has delivered to us our modern day taxation without representation. With that in mind, the home of Fort Ticonderoga seems to be a perfect venue for the dialogue our democracy demands.
Unfortunately, Eliot Spitzer does not agree. He not only failed to show up, he failed to show even the basic courtesy to the people of this great State by responding to my challenge. No commitments, no counteroffers, nothing whatsoever.
Eliot Spitzer's failure even to respond suggests that he believes, much like old King George, that he's above it all, even above the demands of democracy.
Unlike the founding fathers, I need not pledge my life, my fortune, or my sacred honor to the quest for democracy. But I am willing to sacrifice my standing with the members of the establishment of my own party in order to fight for property tax relief, better schools for our children, and the right of upstate New Yorkers to earn a living.
Like the redcoats, Eliot Spitzer may currently have more money and more troops, but my team has the spirit of democracy on our side. I'm here to tell Eliot Spitzer and the people of New York that I will fight this fight, and that I will fight to win.
The Green Mountain Boys fought against a King who owed his position to wealth, birth, and status. Here in this country and here in New York, a sense of entitlement is completely at odds with all we believe.
New Yorkers will elect our next Governor based solely on his or her record and his or her ideas for solving our problems -- and I stand ready to compare my record and my ideas to Eliot Spitzer's.
My opponent's absence today shows that he feels no need to present and defend his ideas for fixing New York to the people of the state, no need to spell out how he would pay for all his sunny promises, no need to take on the selfish special interests that have held our state government hostage for the past two decades.
It seems clear that Sheriff of Wall Street has come to fancy himself the King of New York. Eliot Spitzer is treating this campaign as a coronation instead of a competition.
Well, I have news for Mr. Spitzer. As long as Eliot Spitzer acts like a King, I am going to be a royal pain in his you-know-what, and hold him accountable to our fundamental democratic principles.
In particular, I am going to pursue debates until he delivers on his duty to the Democratic voters of this state, and gives them a full and fair opportunity to compare our past records and our visions for the future.
In the meantime, I want to remind Democratic voters that they have a choice, too.
Unlike my opponent, I'm independent of the party establishment and I'm doing more than paying lip service to reform.
While Eliot embraces the establishment, accepts their endorsements, deposits their contributions, and pursues their agendas, my record shows that I am the only candidate who can fix Albany, take back our State government from the special interests and make it work for the people again.
Unlike my opponent, I'm a chief executive who has balanced budgets and made government work.
While Eliot issues subpoenas and no details for his proposals, I have put forward specific plans in my first fifty days in the race to reform the budget, crack down on Medicaid fraud and abuse, save taxpayers five billion dollar a year, and dramatically cut property taxes across the state.
And unlike my opponent, I am prepared to stand before the people and hold myself accountable.
So while Eliot deprives New Yorkers of the competition our democracy demands, I am going to show my respect for the voters by showing up on every date and at every place on the schedule I proposed.
The bottom line is that New Yorkers deserve an honest competition, not some rigged coronation. That's the only way we are going to bring democracy back to the Democratic Party -- and give New York the new leadership it so desperately needs.
Paid for by Friends of Tom Suozzi
PO Box 112, Carle Place, NY 11514-0112
© Copyright 2008 by Speakupwny.com
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