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.
Huckaby probably doesn't know these two people. You expect him to give a personal endorsement based on what? Someone third parties assessment of the conservativeness of the candidates?
I wouldn't endorse someone, unless I knew something about the person's character as well as their positions.
And maybe it’s just headlines floating the idea........so Republicans will contact the RNC and let them know what they think..........
I donated to Hoffman.
I don’t know what the right thing is. You expect me to side with the “conservative”, simply because you labeled him as conservative and said he was better than the GOP candidate? No deal. I would want to know something a little deeper than just a few policy positions and that someone else said he was more conservative.
Well, it looks like conservatives need to get behind Hoffman with their money and support. If we could win this one in NY, it would send a big message to the rinos in D.C.
If Huckabee wants to lead the GOP and the country back to conservatism, do you think, given Scozzafava's radical leftism, it might be worth it for him to learn more about her opponent, with the hope of defeating her?
But you hit the nail on the head with your first comment--it wouldn't help Huckabee's personal quest for power.
Scozzafava is an abortion rights advocate who favors gay marriage. It would be one thing if Scozzafava balanced that social liberalism with fiscal conservatism. But as a state assemblywoman, she voted for massive tax increases, Democratic budgets and a $180 million state bank bailout. She also supported the trillion-dollar federal stimulus package — which every House Republican voted against.
More troubling, Scozzafava in past elections has embraced the ballot line of the Working Families Party — a socialist outfit whose political DNA is intertwined with scandal-ridden ACORN. ACORN and the WFP have shared office space in New York City, Arkansas and Illinois. ACORN head Bertha Lewis, a close Scozzafava friend and political supporter, wears a second hat as vice chairman of the WFP. The WFP has been listed in ACORN documents dating back to 2000 as an “affiliate.”
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/10/16/an-acorn-friendly-big-labor-backing-tax-and-spend-radical-in-gop-clothing/
Agreed.
Still beats endorsing the marxist, like Newt and the RNC
Huck is just a gomer populist he would never endorse a conservative.
Do we have any Freepers in that area who could organize a tea party for Hoffman? That could also send a message. Lots of signs that read: NO MORE RINOS.
I didn’t expect the political relativism argument from you, FRiend.
I guess in a way, craven cowardice/refusal to take a stand is preferable to outright support of Marxism...both will lead to ruin, though.
How about Sarah? Why hasn’t she endorsed RUBIO?
Nice try...........but NO!
I don’t know the answer to that. IMO, everyone (including Palin, Romney, Huckabee, Pawlenty, etc.) who wants to bear the conservative standard in 2012 better pick a side now. Congress is at least as important than the presidency—and there are some landmark establishment GOP vs. real conservatism races going on right now.
A tea party in the 23rd would be tough. It’s a really big place and it is dominated by wards of the state; Government employees state, county and federal, school district employees and retirees. SEIU and ASFCME, but most of the district has been Republican for more than 100yrs.
The Conservative Party of New York is a mess, filled with torches from every country club RINO connection you could imagine. “Upstate” NY is NRA and Right-to-life, but also goverment employee country.
While I could never get excited about the Huckster, the RINO appeal to keep the seat “R” no matter what might win the day as a principled conservative stand would be risky.
But therin lies the test: Do we continue with RINO’s to keep the numbers or do we purge and rebuild?
I say purge and rebuild. Choose CONSERVATIVE candidates and make the CONSERVATIVE case to the voters. Have faith in your fellow citizens. Just like many others, they will see the folly of their ways and return home.
Probably because it's way too early?
You make a very valid point. But, I’m all for ridding ourselves of Conservatives that won’t do the right thing, fallout notwithstanding.
Fred Thompson endorsed Hoffman.
Who has Sarah Palin endorsed?
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