"I've never been able to understand why a Republican contributor is a 'fat cat' and a Democratic contributor of the same amount of money is a 'public-spirited philanthropist'"

This quote by Ronald Reagan is a criticism of the double requirement that exists between the 2 major political parties in the United States. Reagan is explaining that a Republican donor who offers the same amount of cash as a Democratic donor is frequently labeled a "fat cat" while the Democratic donor is labeled a "public-spirited benefactor". This double standard implies that Republicans are just interested in their own financial gain while Democrats are more altruistic and generous. Reagan is recommending that this double standard is unjust which both parties should be evaluated equally. He is also suggesting that the Republican donor ought to not be judged harshly for their contribution, as it is most likely inspired by the exact same public-spirited philanthropy as the Democratic donor. Ultimately, Reagan is promoting for a more fair and reasonable assessment of political contributions no matter the donor's celebration association.