Near the end of the debate, Lazio marched over to me, waving a piece of paper called the “New York Freedom from Soft Money Pact”--and demanded my signature. I declined as he shouted, “Sign it right now!” I offered to shake hands, but he kept badgering me.
I wasn’t sure how Lazio’s confrontational ploy would be received. Opinion polls soon made it clear that a lot of voters, especially women, were offended by Lazio’s tactics.
LAZIO: If you look at the average donation that I receive, it’s like less than $100. In the House, of course I’ve been very active on housing issues.
Q: But have you gotten heavy contributions from the housing industry?
LAZIO: We’ve gotten contributions from a whole range of people with different interests that are important to the quality of life of New Yorkers
CLINTON: He received a million dollars in contributions from the home-building industry and from the manufacturers of homes. And in return, at least there is an appearance that he did several things. He fought to weaken the safety standards for manufactured housing and in-home building.
LAZIO: That’s absolutely false. And you know it, Mrs. Clinton.
CLINTON: Well, Mr. Lazio, you just referred to The Daily News, which ran an investigative article which made exactly that point.
LAZIO: I voted for campaign finance reform. I have run this campaign abiding by McCain-Feingold. We have not raised a dime of soft money. I do not agree with public financing because the voters should decide who is elected. We should not have welfare for politicians.
CLINTON: I think we need to change the system of campaign financing. I just have to remark that Mr. Lazio’s campaign violated the very simple agreement that we entered. Last month, Mr. Lazio said that this was an issue of trust and character. If New Yorkers can’t trust him to keep his word for 10 days, how can they trust him for six years on issues like Social Security, Medicare, prescription drugs and education?
LAZIO: Mrs. Clinton, no lectures from Motel 1600 on campaign finance reform. I took a legitimate contribution of clean hard money. My opponent objected. Because I have a commitment to campaign finance reform and to this agreement, I refunded the money.
CLINTON: In May I made exactly that offer. I said, “Let’s forego soft money, but let’s also be sure we don’t have these independent expenditures.” If you will get signed agreements from all your friends and will not be running so-called independent ads, will not be doing push polling, will not be doing mass mailings with outrageous personal attacks, I think we can have an agreement.
LAZIO: I’d be happy to get signed agreements, but I want to get it done right now. I don’t want any more wiggle room. Here it is. Let’s sign it. It’s the New York Freedom from Soft Money Pact.
CLINTON: Well, I would be happy to when you give me the signed letters.
LAZIO: Sign it right now.
CLINTON: We’ll shake on it.
LAZIO: No, I want your signature.