Posted on 11/06/2009 3:13:33 AM PST by broken_arrow1
Tuesday night, Democrats took New York's 23rd Congressional District-- a feat they haven't achieved in 16 years. How did they achieve this victory? They can thank Glenn Beck for serving it to them on a silver platter.
It all began six weeks ago with the announcement of the special election to replace John McHughes in upstate New York. Local Democrats and Republicans nominated their respective candidates--as is the precedent for such elections. Republicans chose New York State Assembly member Dede Scozzafava, a moderate who is pro-choice and same sex marriage, confident that she would win the district. As anticipated, Scozzafava held a seven point lead in the polls over her Democratic opponent, Bill Owens even while Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman was holding 16% of the district vote away from her. The Republican strategy to hold the seat was playing out seamlessly.
Then, enter Glenn Beck, the popular conservative talk show host whose celebrity and ratings skyrocketed since President Obama entered office. Beck decided that Scozzafava lacked wasn't conservative enough and shouldn't represent the Republicans in Congress. Committed to reinventing this Congressional race, Beck invited Doug Hoffman to appear on radio program to showcase and endorse his platform. From his pulpit, talk show host Beck continued to champion for him throughout the remainder of the campaign. he encouraged Republicans across the country to contribute to Hoffman's campaign which resulted in a hundred thousand dollars of campaign money raised from outside the district.
Next, presidential hopefuls, Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty, entered into the picture to endorse Hoffman.
Because of the Glenn Beck phenomena, Hoffman rose in the polls and Scozzafava dropped...significantly as Bill Owens, the Democratic Nominee, stayed constant. In a dramatic turn of events, the weekend before Election Day, Scozzafava dropped out of the race, citing an inability to raise money and endorsed Owens. The likely story? She was fed up with the Republican Party. On Election Day, Owens carried the district over Hoffman, 49% to 45.5%.
So the Democrats won another seat in Congress that has traditionally been held by a Republican.
In order to win back Congress in 2006, Rahm Emmanuel, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman, handpicked congressional democratic candidates who didn't necessarily align themselves with all party issues, but fit the demographics their respective districts. Using this strategy, Democrats were able to take over the House. Calling the House takeover a referendum on President Bush and the Republicans, they harnessed the momentum, which carried them all the way to the White House in 2008.
The Republicans need to employ a similar strategy to take back the House. The healthcare reform proposed by the Obama administration and congressional Democrats is unpopular. The economy flounders while taxes rise. In the next election, constituents are ripe for the picking. Republican now have the chance to take back the districts they lost in 2006 ...and more.
What will happen if conservative talk show hosts like Glenn Beck target moderate Republicans in 2010? The election in NY-23 sends a clear message that moderate Republicans are targets for conservative media. This means candidates in democratic districts don't have a snowflakes chance in hell to win. If a candidate leans too conservative, he will lose the district; drift towards the center and risk being attacked by Beck.
If Republican leaders are serious about taking over the House, they need to make sure Beck doesn't launch his own Jihad on moderate candidates in left leaning districts. It's always difficult unseating incumbent Congressman; Republican candidates can't afford to spend time ducking shots from their own party.
That would be awful, but what does it have to do with the New York race, which was about targeting a liberal Republican?
Did you ever notice that they only time liberals and wimpy RINOS use the word “jihad,” it’s to describe conservatives?
“Moderate”?
Apparently, Mr. Schimel has serious problems in discerning between a “moderate” and a liberal, what a conservative is, and what a liberal leaning RINO is. “Moderate”? Pffft.
This shows you the moral level of libs and RINOs: Beck is recovering from severe apendicitis and this yo-yo writes junk like this. No decency whatsoever.
The end result of Beck’s tactics is a Democrat got elected in a district which had more than 100 years of Republican representation.
Divide and Conquer tactics always helps the Democrats, Palin, Beck should take note.
STFU whoever the writer is, yes I read it. I couldn’t believe it was American Thinker. 1. Principle first. 2. Hoffman came very close, close enough to believe he may be able to pull it off next time.
Looks like you “moderates” face a decision.
Exactly...moderates need to get off the edge of Beck’s chalkboard. Wishy-washy doesn’t cut it...
The spinmeister of this article omitted the decisive role of the turncoat Dede who threw her support to the Democrat on the ticket instead of the Republican. A responsible journalist would have taken a look at the motives behind this traitorous act. Did she do it because she was scorned? How much money did the Republicans spend to support her? Why did she turn her back on her own party and support the opposition? She may very well be one sick cookie, and unfit for any public office. What are the other factors in this win? Does the winner realize that he may be a very short timer in that position with elections coming soon?
And Hoffman loses...case closed...actually quick simple to figure out.
I'll bet her "inability" to "raise" money came to a screeching halt with that endorsement.
What is this bundle of cash with a note on it?......"Thanks Dede, keep it touch, Rahm"
Decision for what? Looks like you third party losers need to understand losing is not winning.
So exactly what would have been the difference between Scozafffffffaaaaa and Owens - other than R or D. I see no difference in positions and voting records. party first my a$$.
Ans winning with ACORN and friends not only makes you liars but cowards as well.
From his pulpit, talk show host Beck continued to champion for him throughout the remainder of the campaign. he encouraged Republicans across the country to contribute to Hoffman's campaign which resulted in a hundred thousand dollars of campaign money raised from outside the district.
What are the real lessons for Republicans to learn from the New York 23rd district race?
First true conservatives can bring in more campaign contributions from outside their district than liberal Republicans.
Second liberal Republicans can keep their seats in safer Republican districts only if their voting record is not well known.
Third if given a choice more Republicans will vote for a conservative Republican over a liberal Republican.
I like the way Mark Davis put it on Rush's show yesterday...something like this..."Welcome to Washington, Mr. Owens...but you might think twice about purchasing a home."
They forget to mention that he wants liberals in control, not conservatives. I think he ought to get a legal name change to Elliot Schmuck and American Thinker ought to reconsider accepting any of his ramblings. He may, but not really, be an American but he sure as heck is no thinker.
Bulltrash. This is the path we have to take even if it costs us. Until the GOP get's the message, this is the way. Why elect another O. Snow who will vote against conservatives on every bill anyway?
At that end, holding the majority doesn't do much for you anyway.
Having the trophy on your mantle is far less fulfilling if you didn't earn it and there is no benefit afforded to conservatism for supporting these posers.
I'm don't really like his delivery, but Beck is fighting the good fight. If Tina Fey and comedy central can help sway an election, then by all means Beck should continue with his quite effective methods.
Because of the Glenn Beck phenomena...No.
Because of the ISSUES. Because of the FACTS. Because of the underlying PRINCIPLES involved.
The writer is a nit-wit.
Any damn fool can slap a (R) on and claim to represent what is good...for them. Vote the beggers out and find a real conservative who loves this country.
You see how these so called moderates speak to us, then want our votes.
Frankly we’d be morons to continue voting for them.
Glenn Beck, like Sarah baracuda, really scares the Liberals, RINOs and DIABLOs. You can tell by how much time they spend attacking him with lies. Rush, too. Lies are their Hassan rockets.
“This is the path we have to take even if it costs us.”
Yes.
First, the author notes that Beck's ratings skyrocketed after Obama came to office. That's not the key factor. Beck's rating skyrocketed after he left the black hole of CNN's Headline News and joined Fox News.
Then the author writes:
"Beck decided that Scozzafava lacked wasn't conservative enough and shouldn't represent the Republicans in Congress."
Ah, if Beck was wrong and just making it up, why did the voters in NY-23 via opinion polling agree to such an extent, that Dede Scozzavava was forced out of the race. Dede was rated as more liberal than 46 fellow Assembly Democrats in the New York -- NEW YORK -- State Assembly.
More liberal than New York Democrats, but Beck, BECK has decided she was too liberal. Beck was right.
If she can't get those two right, it's unlikely she would get anything else right either.
Its dishonest to call it a jihad against moderates to begin with. He primarily points fingers at democrats but doesn’t hesitate to point a finger at dishonest republicans.
Scozzafava is a moderate? More like a Dem mole who planned to pull an “Arlen Specter” after getting elected.
How would a Scozzafava win have helped the Republican Party?
LLS
I’m surprised to read such bilge from American Thinker... They should know better than to print this nonsense...
The Republicans need to employ a similar strategy to take back the House.
Yes there are districts where RINOs should be tolerated. The problem is that the GOP wants to run them in places that a conservative can be competitive.
The end result of Beck’s tactics is a Democrat got elected in a district which had more than 100 years of Republican representation.
This is a district that a conservative could have won. At least we don’t have a RINO incumbent to deal with next time around.
Decision for what? Looks like you third party losers need to understand losing is not winning.
Filling Congress with Republican liberals isn’t winning either. There is no defense against a liberal Republican.
Elliot Schimel More at IMDbPro »
Elliot was born on Long Island, New York, and raised there, in the town of Great Neck. His parents, Harriet and David, always encouraged his academic and creative growth, sending him to Ramaz High School in New York City, where he formed a filmmaking club, and to the New York Film Academy at the Dalton School one summer. He attended university at City College of New York at Queens.
Before his big career break, he worked uncredited as a PA on "Cold Creek Manor", a film starring Sharon Stone.IMDb Mini Biography By: Ben Dweck
This almost is similar to Gorebots giving excuses after their 2000 election loss.
Look Hoffman lost.. end of story. He was not a local, he was not a Republican and his views did not match with the district leanings. End result is Pelosi gets a extra man in Congress, not sure Beck even cares about it.
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