Topic: Election 2009
Dede Scozzafava: A Pragmatic and GOOD Choice for New Yorks 23rd CD. A special election for New York's 23rd CD pits a religious-right wingnut against a fairly libertarian Republican and a liberal Democrat...and Conservative Republicans are following a scorched-earth policy in their support for Hoffman.by Tully
(libertarian)
Monday, October 26, 2009
It's true: Dede Scozzafava, the Republican candidate in northern NY's special Congressional election, doesn't toe the Right-Wing line on a number of issues. Staunchly pro-2nd amendment, she is also pro-abortion rights (consistent with the Supreme Court) and pro-Marriage Equality. My God, she almost sounds Golderwateresque!
But wait, there's more: her husband is a union organizer, and she has very tight ties with union leaders. Her district, along the Canadian border, contains a significantly higher proportion of union workers (and trade concerns) than most districts in the US, and so yes, she tends to side with labor on a number of issues. Hmmm...sounds rather Jack Kempesque, too....which isn't surprising, considering that her district is the remotest, most economically hardest-hit district in New York.
Sarah Palin has opened her mouth in endorsing rival Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, and Minnesota's Gov. Pawlenty is leaning in that direction. One has to wonder what these two know, if anything, about the 23rd District, and why they are sticking their noses into a New York race.
Even Newt Ginrich has weighed in for Scozzafava, saying
<"I just think it is a mistake for the conservative movement to think splitting in the special election is a smart idea. If we give that seat to the Democrats, shame on us."
He continued: "She has signed a no tax increase pledge. She is endorsed by the National Rifle Association. She has come out against cap and trade She is opposed to the Obama health care plan. She will vote for John Boehner instead of Nancy Pelosi. All of those things together make her it seems to me a legitimate, authentic, Republican nominee."
Republicans who do not support her are sending a clear message about their onw Rule-or-Ruin attitude: they would rather support the Conservative Party candidate who will lose, but enable unyielding ideologues feel warm and fuzzy at the purity of their vote.
When, oh when will the Republican Party cut off the Right-Wing tail that keeps wagging its dog?
[Disclaimer: I was a Conservative Party State Committeeman from the 5th CD of NY 1986-1988]
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Let me add that I'm a Palin Supporter as I believe she is the most libertarian of the electable candidates and also threw a monkey wrench into the Nationalized Health Care Plans of the Communist administration. And I like her stance of using American resources (oil) instead of importing them.
How can you say that Scozzafave is Libertarian? How can someone with Libertarians beliefes vote for the ballots? No pragmatist I read and listened to supported the ballots. Granted I dont trust social/religious conservatives for one second but to think the Republican is any better is foolish. The fact that she also is getting support from conservative statist Grinrich is another red flag.
M. Simon
Just because Palin all of a sudden is talking the Libertarian talk (like alot of conservatives are doing these days) doesnt mean she is one. Last time I checked she still supports the Patriot Act and our insane foreign policy.
Au contraire, this is not a New York race, not where Scozzafava is concerned. She has not raised a single dime from the district or even the State she is running in. All of her campaign finance is coming from the RNC. Last I heard, that was camped in DC. Also, today's poll puts her fourth in a field of three. She even comes in behind 'undecided' and heading for single digits. My advice; forget this RINO and look to the independent.
For the record, Daily Kos did NOT endorse Scozzafava. All that happened is that Markos Moulitsos wrote an article which commented favorably about her. It was not an endorsement and only represented his one opinion.
For a libertarian/republican perspective on the idiocy surrounding this race, see this article: http://www.nationalbroadside.com/?p=1385
Larry, actually, most of Dede's funds *have* been raised in the district, and she was chosen by local Republican leaders to run. Hoffman, on the other hand, doesn't even live in the district, and is receiving his funds from the Club for Growth and the National Organization for Marriage - OUT OF STATE. This is a religious-right hatchet job on a Republican who, ideologically, is a fit for New York.
With Scozzafava offically out of the race now its just between Ownes and Hoffman. One of things I love about living in NY is that the religious right has virtually no power here I fear this trend might happen in my district too, Im in 22nd.
I must admit, I find this entire chapter to be disappointing and troublesome.
Little that has set blogs abuzz has been true.
Dede Scozzfava was elected multiple times as a Republican for the NYS Assembly.
Dede, by every measure, has a *more conservative* voting record than the average Republican in the NYS Assembly.
Local Republican leaders - 11 County leaders - chose this seasoned Republican to represent the party in a special election. The RNC did what the RNC *should* do: it aaccepted the *local* decision.
Then, in the space of a few weeks, weirdness ensued.
With little understanding of the candidate or the district, and armed with outright *lies* about her positions on multiple issues, national conservatives tripped over themselves trying to out-flank each other on the right. The reality is that Dede is NOT the Big Liberal Socialist she was painted as: in fact, her bigest crimes are the union card-check (and I disagree with her on this, but there is a local history that is important and lost on out of state leaders), and guess what: Marriage Equality and Abortion Rights. BINGO! The religious Right springs into action, the Eagle Forum weighs in, the National Organization for Marriage (a despicable group of disingenuous liars) weighs in, and Dede is re-imagined as the Wicked Witch of the North.
They flock to their conservative Superhero Douglas Hoffman...who doesnt even live in the district and who has managed to make a fool of himself in local press conferences due to his non-knowledge of the area. But no matter, the dice have been rolled. Dede is out.
I am honestly reminded of the townspeople in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," who listen uncritically to what Gaston has told them, pick up their pitchforks and torches, and march on the castle.
This is a no-win situation for our party. On one hand, the District could elect the first Democrat in 150 years. Or, more likely, Hoffman could win - thus emboldening the Purge of both "moderates" and true "libertarians" within the party in favor of a a Purer, Narrower, and ultimately Ineffective Social-Statist Southern Republican Party.
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