...yeah we don't need McWuss "mad"
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.
Has she endorsed someone in the NY race? Or is it too soon for that as well?
I am too. I just think it's stupid to fault Huckaby in Arkansas for failure to endorse a candidate in NY. If he's not comfortable endorsing, then he's not comfortable.
This yet again proves that Huckabee is not serious as a Conservative leader in (or outside) the GOP. He wants to politic, not stand on principle. This is EXACTLY why I would NOT vote for him for President. And why I DID not in 2008.
I suggest Huckabee keep playing bass for Skynyrd on his TV program on FOXNEWS. I like him there. He will NOT, however, get my vote for President.
Who cares. He is expecting his tv show to give him a lot of recognition.
Huckbo, don’t make masta McLane and twinkletoes mad. They will give you the Palin treatment.
No one so far, as far as I know. In my view this is a "with us or against us" watershed moment--any would-be leader who stays out of it is not worth my future support.
...yeah we don't need McWuss "mad"
If Huckabee's goal is to remain a TV commentator, then I agree with you.
On the other hand, if his goal is to be a conservative GOP president, then it is absolutely his responsibility to do everything he can to elect conservatives to Congress in 2010.
I’d actually respect the RNC a tad if they stayed the hell out of the primary endorsement bizness.
Great picture! Was that taken after he saw Megs on Twitter?
during the 08 national debates
I can see that one both ways. On one hand, it’s the business of republican voters (not the RNC) to decide who should be the candidate.
On the other, if the RNC is supposed to be a guardian of the “brand”/what it means to be a republican, then supporting/withholding support for primary candidates would be one of the main ways they would do that.
Obviously the latter idea isn’t working, though—so I would support reforms to keep them out of it.
Forget about Huckabee, who's side is Steele on?
So it doesn't appear that Huckabee has an aversion to endorsements. But apparently Huckabee is not comfortable in this NY case. He is scheduled to speak to the NY conservatives on 10/28, so perhaps we will learn why then.
According to the Hill, the RNC yesterday committed $85K to the GOP leftist’s campaign—the maximum allowed by federal law. They’re also reportedly giving the NY GOP a six-figure sum to run more ads for the leftist.
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/63443-rnc-wades-into-new-york-special-election
“Also she’s the only Republican with full support of the grassroots.”
Rassmussen has her in 3rd, behind Huckabee and Romney.
So are Palin’s supporters “grassroots” and the others’ supporters are no counts?
The others’ supporters may think they are equally “grassroots.”
It would be a good thing this cycle if folks on the right treated each other civilly.
To win, Palin will eventually need people who first supported Huckabee and Romney.
I’m getting sick!
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