Dede Scozzafava Drops Out
In what can be considered definite proof that the GOP’s official leadership realizes it backed the wrong candidate in New York, Dede Scozzafava has dropped out of the race in New York’s NY-23 district. She made the decision because she realized she finally realized she had no chance whatsoever of winning this race.
Although Scozzafava was destined lose this race, especially after Gov. Sarah Palin and Gov. Tim Pawlenty endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, she could still have been a spoiler for the conservative movement’s favorite. Many New York Republicans may have voted for Scozzafava simply because she was their party’s candidate. Now that she has dropped out, chances are they’ll opt for Hoffman instead.
Republican Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann comments:
First I want to thank Dede Scozzafava for her hard-fought campaign in this special election. And, I’d especially like to thank her for dropping out of this race for the good of the Party. I’m certain that it was not an easy decision for her to make, but it was the right one.
“I’d also like to urge anyone who can help Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in that race, to mobilize all their energy and resources to ensure Hoffman’s victory next Tuesday.
The House Republican Leadership immediately switched allegiance to Hoffman:
“As the House stands on the cusp of the forthcoming vote on a trillion-dollar healthcare reform measure, it is vital that we unify behind a candidate that will support reining in massive government spending and work with Republicans in Congress to restore fiscal sanity and propose thoughtful measures to get our nation’s economy on the right track.
“With Assemblywoman Scozzafava suspending her campaign, we urge voters to support Doug Hoffman’s candidacy in New York’s 23rd Congressional District.
Of course the GOP should have endorsed Hoffman earlier in the race. Scozzafava was seen as a RINO from the get-go. And that at a moment when the conservative base is demanding real conservatives, who will oppose Obama’s plans passionately and aggressively.
But better late than never, you would think, right? Well no, not necessarily:
Now? We should be magnanimous in victory — and whether Hoffman wins or loses, as long as Dede Scozzafava loses it is a victory — but we should demand accountability, we should demand a reckoning, and we should demand a purge from the party establishment of those people most responsible for the Republican disaster in NY-23.
That’s written by a RedStater who says he will not support independent candidates in other parts of the nation, but who supported Hoffman nonetheless, because while the GOP must run moderates in regions where conservatives cannot win, “NY-23 was never one of those places and now the GOP is in a world of hurt.”
The reason the GOP leadership should be purged, according to the blogger quoted above:
1. The conservative movement demanded a conservative candidate, the GOP didn’t listen, but the movement got what it wanted all along nonetheless; a mistake was made, someone has to take responsibility for it.
2. It is likely that independent conservative candidates will challenge moderate Republicans in other parts of the country as well. Even in districts where a true conservative cannot win, but where such a candidate can cause a moderate conservative who would normally win, to lose. Such a development will do a lot of damage to the GOP and its chances of taking back the House next year.
Although the above makes sense from a strictly Republican perspective, you have to wonder about whether American conservatives aren’t a bit too invested in the Republican Party. Conservative principles stand on their own. Parties are vehicles, means. Nothing more, nothing less. They do not personify conservatism in any way. If the US House of Representatives consists for 40% out of Republicans, for 45% out of Democrats, and for 15% out of Independents, most of whom are conservatives, most plans approved by Congress will, on balance, be moderately conservative. Besides, it will force Congressmen to talk more with each other; they will not be able to bypass ‘the other side’ any longer, because without help, they won’t be able to get anything passed. That cannot possibly be unhealthy in a country where partisanship is a major problem.
H/t to Donald Douglas of the American Power blog.
This is exactly what I was saying the other day about Newt Gingrich. It’s all about the party for him, and this is why I think he was supporting Scozzafava. And look at Bachmann and her “good of the party” talk. Erickson, too, says he won’t cooperate with a third party.
As long as they can be comfortable with their power, and the federal and state laws protecting that power, both Republicans and Democrats will accept a few token Independents in the House and Senate. But if their power starts to be challenged, I expect they’ll start trying to suppress the threat.
They claim it’s about upholding their principles, but only as long as party power isn’t in danger.
*”…NY-23 was never one of those places…”*
“Never” is too strong a word, but I beg to point out that Obama won NY-23 by 6 or more points. It’s NOT a conservative-majority district.
There were only 2 GOP congressmen, out of 29, elected from NY in 2008, John McHugh and the always entertaining Peter King. McHugh did take 65% of the vote, despite Obama winning the district 52-47. This is as conservative as it gets in NY.
Owens is already at 36%, with many undecided voters still in play. So this district may be turning blue.
What interests mw is that since Scozzafava has withdrawn, where her votes will go? The Reagan 11th commandment, of never speak ill of another Republican, is clearly not part of Hoffman’s Reagan brand of conservatism. So will the attacks turn her voters off from going to the polls or to retaliate by backing Owens, rather than voting for Hoffman? Likely they will decide whether or not, their views are more closely held by Owens or Hoffman. Should be the most interesting likely of the year.
true indeed – and GWB won by 2 points against Gore and 4 against Mr. Use-Troops-for-Politcal-Gain Kerry.
The first thing Erick should be concerned about is getting enough R’s to counter the D’s majority. Howe the GOP Ticket votes is a secondary issue atm.
Me too. Some of them, of course, will simply stay home and sit it out this round. When Hoffman runs for re-election — next year, mind you — who will they vote for? And which way will the South Park Republicans jump?
It’s tough to tell what will happen. We may have a better idea if a new poll comes out on Monday. Even though I don’t really like looking at single polls, it’s all we’ll have, practically, before the results are out on Tuesday, since every other poll now taken is practically useless.
The trend before the drop-out seemed to be fairly neck and neck. Though, if Scozzafava is really as liberal as conservatives claim, it could be a boost to Owens, I suppose.
I think that’s probably right. Let’s be honest – all politicians are the same. Everywhere. They’re out for power. They care less about principes – whichever principes they are – then about money and power. So, yes, they’ll accept a conservative now, but if it happens too much, they’ll go to war. And they’ll use every means available to them to win.
*Let’s be honest – all politicians are the same. Everywhere. They’re out for power. They care less about principes – whichever principes they are – then about money and power.*
Michael, having been an elected official I take personal exception to that. At the “lower levels” of politics it’s simply not true. I know many elected officials who are all about serving, defending, and improving their communities, and who serve for little or no remuneration. They are most assuredly NOT in it for money and power, and are indeed driven by principle.
Now, as you move “up the ladder” of politics that becomes less and less true. The ruthless powermongers are the ones that strive relentlessly to climb that ladder and those you see the most on the news, and they are indeed most often pompous ego-driven (insert plural pejorative of choice). But even at the top levels, there are still many who are dedicated to their constituencies and not to their own personal advancement. Not nearly as many as one could hope, but they are there.
The more it costs to run…….
My Local Delegate (4 yr term) : 9,376 ($6.42 a day)
My State Senator (4 yr term) : 2006 election cycle: 15,153 ($10.37 a day)
My State U.S. Representative (2 yr term) : 234,915 ($1,051 a day)
My U.S. Senator (6 yr term) : 8,799,604 2190 ($4,018 a day)
Prez # 44 (4 yr term) : 513,557,218 ($357,751 a day)
Good idea who’s more likely to owe someone.