Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.
Posted on 10/17/2009 2:45:43 PM PDT by ellery
An off year special election in upstate New York has received a lot of attention and created a bit of a spilt among Republicans. The vacancy was created when Rep. John McHugh was appointed as Secretary of the Army in September of this year. Controversy has since been brewing since the New York Republican Party choose to forgo a typical primary election and instead have the eleven county chairman within the district nominate moderate Republican State Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava.
Scozzafava policy positions, particularly her pro-abortion and pro-gay rights positions, quickly troubled conservatives within the district leading many to instead support Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman. A recent Siena College poll showed Hoffman earning the support of 23% of the voters nearly catching Scozzafava who has 29% support. This split of the conservative and moderate Republicans has given Democratic nominee the lead with 33% support.
The clearHoffman policy differences lead former Presidential candidate Fred Thompson as well as the fiscal conservative group Club for Growth to endorse Hoffman over the Republican nominee. “Doug is a conservative, who understands that our freedom is our greatest strength, that life is a precious gift, and that getting back to our founding principles will ensure our nation’s security and prosperity for us and for our children and grandchildren,” wrote Thompson in his endorsement from his political action committee FredPAC.
However, some Republicans, concerned about losing the seat in the U.S. House, are circling the wagons around Scozzafava. Up the this point, RNC Chairman Michael Steele has keep the Republican National Committee out of the race completely but yesterday, the New York newspaper Watertown Daily Times reported that the RNC is preparing to send “a big influx of cash” through the National Republican Congressional Committee. And this morning, rumored 2012 Presidential candidate and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich endorsed Scozzafava saying she represents “our best chance to put responsible and principled leaders in Washington.”
On the Arkansas angle, speculation has been mounting as to whether our former Governor Mike Huckabee, one of the leading contenders for the 2012 Presidential nomination, will weigh in on the special election. Huckabee is scheduled to speak to the Conservative Party of New York in Syracuse on October 27 leading many to question if he will endorse the Doug Hoffman at that event.
However, Sarah Huckabee, the director of Mike Huckabee’s Political Action HuckabeeARCommittee, HuckPAC confirmed to the Tolbert Report yesterday that HuckPAC “will not endorse anyone in this race.” She also confirmed this morning that he will not be making a personal endorsement, in spite of the speculation regarding his appearance on October 27 to the New York Conservative Party.
Huckabee appears to be walking a tightrope on this one. An endorsement of Hoffman would certainly rally conservatives and lend legitimacy to his third party challenge however doing so could upset the Republican establishment by openly supporting a Republican opponent. It remains to be seen if other Presidential contenders such as Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, or Tim Pawlenty will follow Huckabee’s lead and sit this one out or pick a side in the race.
Huck,just play your guitar
Huck votes present.
Go home Huck, go home
ping
The spirit of McCain.
Thats so hard, should I support the most leftwing candidate who did not even have a primary or a real conservative?
RNC and Newt went leftist
Huck declined to take a position
He should just pack it in
This party needs leaders.
Why should Huckaby be required to endorse a NY political race?
It’s a no win for Huckaby. If he endorses the conservative over the GOP pick, he irritates the GOP admin before the next Presidential race even starts. If he endorses the GOP pick, he irritates conservatives.
I bet it’s Romney operatives that are making an issue out of this.
Huckaphoney = Democrat.
Chicken-butt. (of course I mean, Huck)
The statist RINO Huckaphony can go to h*ll.
What a dumb article. Why not bash Romney instead? He didn’t endorse anyone either.
Here comes Huckleberry trying to make himself look relevent!
Wrong! Romney has declined to support the conservative in this race, as well.
As to why Huck should get involved: he should get involved because it is vitally important to the future of our country that conservatives take back congress. In this race there are two ACORN donks, plus one third-party conservative who actually has a chance to win.
But instead, Huck and Romney are putting themselves and their thirst for power ahead of our country's well-being.
Anyone who sits this one out is a craven opportunist who is not worthy of a conservative leadership position.
Romney and Huck should both be held accountable for their cowardly refusal to do what’s right.
Bwahaha!
Well you do not endorse or not endorse because of what is in it for you. I think Huck wrote a book about doing the “Right Thing.” It is not hard to figure out what the right thing is here. I do understand lack of courage though and it runs rampant among tons of politicians that we need to rid of or not listen to.
I cant stand Huckaphony. Another 2008 loser who should just shut up and fade away. All the 2008 losers should do that, including Romney and Palin. We need new conservative blood to defeat Hussein Obama in 2012.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.