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IowaPolitics.com: Pataki sounds off on Dems 'borrowing from tomorrow for today's political interests'
11/11/2009

By Stephen Schmidt
For IowaPolitics.com

BETTENDORF -- George Pataki's political future may still be unclear, but his disapproval of the current Democratic establishment is unambiguous.

The former New York governor was the keynote speaker at the Scott County Republican Party's Ronald Reagan Dinner Tuesday evening at the Bettendorf Convention Center. In his speech, Pataki criticized decisions made by Democratic leaders -- such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama -- on foreign relations, the war in Afghanistan, taxes, the economic stimulus package, and health care reform.

"Is there anyone who thinks that when jobs are declining and our economy is hurting, the way to turn it around is to raise taxes? Well that's what they're doing." Pataki said. "They are mortgaging our children's future. They are borrowing from tomorrow to meet their political interests of today."

Pataki's appearance in Iowa has led to speculation that he is considering a presidential bid in 2012, but Pataki avoided commenting specifically on this when asked about his political plans prior to the event. Instead, he said that he is for the moment more interested in bettering Republican returns in the 2010 election, including important contests in Iowa.

"All of us who love this country and who believe in the philosophy of the Republican party should be focused on 2010," Pataki said.

Pataki said he will decide by the end of the year if these 2010 elections will include him running for a U.S. Senate seat from the state of New York. He would challenge Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to fill the spot vacated by departing Sen. Hillary Clinton.

"The good news is that I am well known in the state, so, if I choose to run, I can start a little later," Pataki said.

Speaking of 2010, Pataki's speech was preceded by short speeches by four Republican candidates running for Iowa governor in next year's election -- Christian Fong, Christopher Rants, Rod Roberts and Bob Vander Plaats. All four candidates echoed Pataki's later calls for limiting government, lowering taxes and creating jobs.

In addition, Vander Plaats and Rants criticized the two other gubernatorial candidates -- most notably former governor Terry Branstad -- who didn't attend the event in Scott County.

"If you're a candidate for governor, I believe you need to show up in these counties," Vander Plaats said.

Jane Schmidt, a teacher from Delmar who watched Pataki's speech, said she appreciated Pataki's emphasis on individual initiative over government intervention.

"I love the points that he made contrasting what it means to be a Republican and what it means to be a Democrat," Schmidt said. "I thought he was a great spokesman for the Republican Party."

That ability as a Republican spokesman is precisely why the Scott County Republicans chose Pataki as the keynote speaker for the event, said Brian Kennedy, finance chairman for the organization.

"His record really was in keeping with Ronald Reagan's legacy," Kennedy said, citing Pataki's efforts to cut taxes and balance the budget while he was the governor of New York.

Kennedy said he hopes the first edition of this fundraising dinner will help eastern Iowa Republicans emulate Reagan's electoral success as well, with a grassroots campaign to regain momemtum for Republicans. Kennedy said that historically Republican gubernatorial candidates have done better in Iowa when winning swing voters in Scott, Clinton, Muscatine and Dubuque counties.

"In the past decade we haven't been doing well at that," Kennedy said.

Officials said the fundraiser raised $25,000 for the Scott County Republican Party. Nearly 300 people bought tickets, which cost $50 per person or $320 for a table of eight.


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