Robert Scamardella: Republicans do not want to end Medicare, they want to save it

By Ilya Galak and Arkadiy Fridman

...Attorney Robert Scamardella formally announced that he will seek the chairmanship of the Staten Island Republican Party this September.
Sitting with a group of GOP elected officials in his West Brighton law office, Scamardella said that the party today "is primarily controlled by a group of persons that has not improved things. It has been based more on personalities than principles."
Tom Wrobleski, Staten Island Advance

"We have become a dining room country, where everyone wants to eat at the table but no one wants to do the dishes" - R.Scamardella

"I have never understood why it is considered greedy to want to keep the money you have earned, but not greedy to want to take someone else's money” - R.Scamardella

"We demonize those who produce, subsidize those who refuse to produce and canonize those who complain" - R.Scamardella

Robert, what are your family’s ethnic roots?

          All of my Grandparents emigrated from Italy. My paternal grandparents are from Naples and my maternal grandparents are from Sicily.

Please tell me a little bit about your current job?

          Actually I have 3 of them.  I am the managing partner of the Law firm of Russo, Scamardella and D’amato. I am also an Adjunct Professor of Business Law at Wagner College. Finally, I serve as a columnist with the Staten Island Advance.

When did your interest in the law start? Who were the biggest inspirations for your career?

          It started in College when I took a course in constitutional law. I was hooked. My mother inspired me the most. She was my biggest booster and an extremely hard working woman who placed a great value on education. 

What part of Staten Island do you live in and what’s your favorite thing about living on the Island?

          I live in Sunnyside. I’ve lived in this neighborhood virtually my entire life. The best thing about Staten Island is its location. It is one hour from Wall Street and Broadway. One hour from beautiful beaches and majestic mountains. It also is made up of valleys and hills with excellent schools, restaurants, parks, woodlands, golf courses and lakes. Frankly, I love the place.

When did your interest in politics start?

          I’ve been interested in politics since the 60’s with all the unrest engendered by the Vietnam War. I became a real activist after the 2008 elections. I felt then and feel now that, from a policy perspective, the country is headed in a dangerous direction.

Why did you decide to run for the Staten Island Republican Party chairmanship?

          I was dismayed at the party’s seeming inability to nominate a Congressional candidate in a non dysfunctional way. In both ’08 and ’10 the party greatly mishandled this very important role. Also the party has permitted far too many Democrats to run unopposed and they have done nothing to increase Republican Registrations on Staten Island. I know I can do better. 

Describe the three major platforms of your campaign? What are you going to do if elected to improve Republican Party on Staten Island?

        First, I will increase party participation. Currently there are about 300 County Committee members. We will fill all vacancies and put 714 people on the Committee. There is strength in numbers.

        Second, we will have a strategy and program for outreach to constituencies not currently associated with the Republican Party. We must become more inclusive.

        Third, the party will be based on principle and pragmatism. We will nominate candidates of the highest integrity, competence and character.

"I can do a good job," said Robert Scamardella. "I have learned real political power is exercised before the November elections... I want to revitalize the Republican Party. My goal is nothing less than a grand renaissance."

What is something most Republicans on Staten Island don’t know about Robert Scamardella?

I am a card carrying member of the NAACP. I know that most persons of color distrust the Republican Party but they don’t know Republicans as I know them. I’m a firm believer in the notion that  black communities should do much more to advance entrepreneurship in their neighborhoods and I want to help in that regard. America’s business is business. Instead of lobbying others to increase government benefits and create jobs for the communities I stress that the community should create the jobs for themselves by starting businesses. It irks me that most businesses in black communities are owned by non-blacks. I believe a strong backing of “black capitalism” can do much to lessen racial tensions and bring many persons of color into the Republican fold.

With friends and supporters: Linda Mercaldo, David Mercaldo and Jason Galak

Robert, we are from the former Soviet Union. We know what the “war with the rich people” is. In Russia we had it in 1917. Result is total poorness, GULAG, KGB.  What do we have to do in order to stop this war? Close loopholes; impose a flat tax on corporations? Also, the liberal media today is screaming about the republican “Kill Medicare” budget plan. They selected the great tactic knowing that nobody is going to read congressional documents. May be republicans must explain people that this plan is not to kill Medicare, but cut Medicare by illuminating the Medicare fraud? Maybe republicans do not sell the right product smart enough?

         First, Republicans do need better communicators and our policies must be more consistent.

 Our job is harder than that of the Democrats. Under the guise of compassion they utilize the tactics of the old Roman Empire to maintain political support. They give things away to the people. They do it with borrowed and printed money.

When you want to help yourself you tell people what they want to hear and when you want to help others you tell them the truth. Republicans, simply because it is the right thing to do must continue to stand for the proposition that we must cut spending and our gargantuan deficit. Regarding Medicare I do agree that the program is rife with corruption and that much can be saved by a concerted effort to wipe it out. Whether this will be enough to save the program from insolvency I’m not sure. At the end of the day we must communicate to the American people that Republicans do not want to end Medicare they want to save it. Without some modifications now the program will not be sustainable. Virtually every non-partisan think tank agrees with this.

 Although I believe that less taxation will put more money in people’s pockets and do much to spur our stagnant economy I understand that Republicans may lose the marketing war by being fully obstinate regarding no additional taxation of large corporations and millionaires (not those earning $250,000 annually). We should be prepared to consider negotiation on this issue and to also compromise on the issue of military spending cuts. Unilaterally Republicans, who control 1/3 rd of the federal government, cannot cut spending. We should be prepared for reasonable compromises in these areas. However, compromise is not capitulation and unless Democrats agree to real substantial spending cuts we would be left with no alternative but to draw a line in the sand and take our case to the American people seeking more control over government policy.  

Robert, as you well know, many Russians on Staten Island aligning with Republicans. How do you explain that? What you are going to do as a chairman of Staten Island Republican Party to get other communities involved?

          I believe the Russian community leans toward the Republican Party for the same reasons I do. I want to live in a country that provides fair opportunity for all to live life on their terms and pursue their own happiness. I do not want to live in a country where a so-called benevolent government is the main provider and who sees as its function bringing happiness, as some government bureaucrat sees it, to the people. Fundamentally, when government takes responsibility for people they no longer take responsibility for themselves.

          As indicated I am all about reaching out to other constituencies. This is done in a rather simple and old fashion way. We must seek out and engage in dialogue with all communities and be prepared to assist in their assimilation. Basic Republican principles of opportunity, freedom and individual responsibility have universal appeal. We must also encourage new islanders to broaden their community involvement and help them attain positions of importance within the wider island political, cultural and economic fabric.  

What is your vision for our country over the next five years?

        It is my hope that as a country we can come to grips with our excessive debt before it is too late. In my vision we take those steps necessary to cut our debt substantially and jump start economic growth.

What advice do you have for new American citizens?

          I would advise Americans to stop concentrating on protecting their own turf. Now is the time for all of us to agree to short term sacrifice for our long term common good. If we refuse and continue to borrow form from foreign countries to prop up our welfare state we at best doom our children and grandchildren to lives of struggle and at worst will watch an economic collapse during our lifetimes that can render valueless all we have worked for.

And the last question. What's your favorite place to spend time on Staten Island?

          Great Kills Beach on a bright sunny spring or fall morning with a high tide and a nice run of striped bass.

Election Day. November 2, 2010