The Nassau County Executive who would be governor says he's got experience cutting costs, but that talent apparently doesn't extend to clipping coupons.
Tom Suozzi, in the first and only Democratic gubernatorial debate before the Sept. 12 primary against Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, admitted that he hasn't seen the inside of a supermarket to buy food for his family in the past month.
The admission by Suozzi came in response to a query from debate moderator Dominic Carter of NY1 News, in a "lightning round" in which the candidates were required to answer questions 'yes' or 'no.'
Spitzer, who hails from a wealthy family that made its money in real estate, said he'd gone grocery-shopping in the last month. Suozzi, who has made much of being a first-generation immigrant from a working class family in Glen Cove, hasn't.
Karla Schuster
Among the other questions:
Have you exceeded the speed limit? Both men said yes.
Have you ever smoked marijuana? Both have.
Do you own an I-pod? Spitzer does, Suozzi doesn't.
Are private schools better than public schools? Spitzer, after much hesitation, said yes. Suozzi said no.
Have you ever voted for a Republican? Suozzi hasn't, Spitzer has.
Do you want to be president? Suozzi does, Spitzer doesn't.
Comments (18)
I guess the failing public schools are not a spitzer priority since private schools are so much better!!!! What was he thinking?
Or one could interpret Suozzi's affirmative answer as a sign that he sees no need to touch something that's already the best out there.
Can it, wonk.
bottom line is spitzer , by saying yes to that question, is saying that forget public schools, i can offered private school for my family. Give me a break eye roll, it was a dumb answer.
Suozzi admitted he has a desire to run for President,... I just wonder if he'll abandon the people of the State of New York as quickly as he focused on running for Governor after being elected Nassau County Exec..
frank, giveme a break. ambition and the american dream is what this country is made of and is WHY we areat war now. its called freedom , why is it a crime to want to improve ur position , especially when it can help people in the process. this is not even a debatable statement, in fact its dumb!!!!
Suozzi fan. Why don't you identify yourself as a "paid" Suozzi staffer
First of all...Spitzer showed honesty by stating that he believes private schools are better than public schools, overall. This statement--according to nation-wide ratings--is obviously true. Also, he went to private schools and is sending his children to private schools. It would have been hypocritical to answer differently. The first step to improving public schools is acknowledging that there is a problem. But I'm sure you know that already...
Tom Suozzi himself DID NOT GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, but answered in the manner he did, making him...*drumroll please*...a HYPOCRITE! Does anyone know where his children go to school? Obviously, he needs to align his "manos" with his "boca," don't you think??
Suozzi's quixotic quest to become President? God help us. Can anyone possibly be more of an attention-mongering, self-interested politician? What about helping people along the way? I smell neglect for the state of New York if he's elected Governor--reference what happened to Nassau County.
Thank God that won't have to happen.
The only person who won last night was Mr.Faso. He clearly has a better grasp on how to fix NY than either Mr. Suozzi or Mr. Spitzer. Too bad he won’t raise enough money or have access to enough one-on-one debates with the eventual winner of the democratic primary to have much of a chance.
hey joe, if im a suozzi "paid" employee, then what are u a concerned democrat? LOL
hey tongue -in -cheek. I know for a fact that Tom Suozzi's kids go to " Glen Cove "PUBLIC SCHOOLS". If you dont believe me, call the glen cove public schools and look it up!!! Watch out who you call a hypocrite. And dont bite your tongue after you realize you should check ur information before you shoot off your mouth again!!! And heres a "Fact" Elliot Spitzer will not debate Tom Suozzi on the failing public schools in our state, and y, its because he wouldnt know what to say after he explains y his kids go to private school and tom suozzi's kids go to public school( and yes cheek, he could aford to send them to private school too!!!)
heres a thought, I wonder how the new york state teachers union feels this morning after reading about how the candidate they support doesnt believe in "public schools' ?
Very troubling that Suazzi has NEVER voted for a Republican. Strict party line voters vote without intelligence or analysis. The presumption that the opposition party has never had a better candidate is preposterous. That alone disqualifies him from holding ANY office. I voted for him twice for County Exec. NEVER AGAIN!!!
anon, you need to relax. Give suozzi a break. Its amazing how you suozzi bashers are running out of stuff to criticize him for. I guess he shouldnt be governor because he wanted to use crib notes, please , oh please give me a break, will you!!!
tom suozzi has 12 years experience as a CEO as Mayor of Glen Cove and 4 years and running as nassau county executive. 12plus years experience that has prepeared him for govenor. Elliot spitzer has been 7.5 years as attorny general, he does not have the experience suozzi has. Sometimes its hard to handle the truth. Why cant you suozzi bashers see this. Must be u have on blinders. And i'll go one more step and say if elliot spitzer debates suozzi again likeand he outright defeats suozzi , ill endorse spitzer myself. But we all know 2 things wont happen, elliot spitzer willNOT take that chance and if he did, he wouldnt beat him either!! What is he scared of anyway?? I sure would like to know as well asmany other new yorkers.
your guess is as good as mine fan. maybe hes probably afraid the next debate will allow crib notes.
Why should Spitzer allow a rematch? Think boxing. This debate was a draw. A draw goes to the Champ (Spitzer). Suozzi needed to be Buster Douglas and knock out Mike Tyson not try to win on points. Just like Apollo Creed shouldn't have agreed to Rocky II, why would Spitzer subject himself to another standoff? Do the voters even care? This debate was poorly rated and Suozzi is polling worse than Tasini.
the voters do care, thats the point. Now that u mention rocky, i guess shelly silver and joe bruno are telling eliiot(apollo) that u dont want this guy again elliot, hes trouble. I guess the sherriff of wall street is acting more like the Deputy of Mayberry. If he had guts he debate suozzi again and put him away, but he wont , because he cant!!!
i heard tom suozzi went to the grocery store with a list of things to buy, but a spitzer supporter was yelling at him because he thought he was using crib notes . LOL