Roosevelt Speaks At Kennedy School

Striking fiercely partisan chords, Mark Roosevelt '78, the Democratic hominee for governor, last night accused the Republican party of routinely fighting noble efforts to make the country more fair.

In a speech to about 200 people at the Kennedy School of Government, Roosevelt, a state representative, and his running mate, Divinity School Lecturer Robert K. Massie, addressed the question of "Why Am I A Democrat?"

"We were founded as the most progressive party," a young Republican in the audience said to Roosevelt.

"What happened?" the candidate replied back.

Roosevelt said Republicans and Democrats have basic differences in their beliefs. While Democrats "accept responsibility to try to change the world," Republicans "accept the basic premise that the world is as it is."

At one point, Roosevelt called Republican ideology "medieval." Throughout this century, Republicans have learned "how to say 'No' to virtually every attempt to change the world in a fairer direction," Roosevelt charged.

He said both his opponent, Republican Gov. William F. Weld '66, and Republican senatorial candidate W. Mitt Romney have a "vision of the world [that] is predicated on comforting the comfortable."

As governor, Roosevelt, who trails by margins approaching 3-to-1 in the polls, said he would take a different look at how the government spends money. He said he would focus much of his attention on education spending.

"We're Democrats because we care, we try, and we know life isn't worth it if you don't," Roosevelt said.

Maggie L. Carter '96, president of the Harvard-Radcliffe College Democrats, said she admired Roosevelt's courage in stating somewhat unpopular positions.

"I was thoroughly impressed," Carter said. "He talked about moral commitment and doing what is right, which not a lot of politicians do today."