Posted on 10/20/2009 3:59:10 PM PDT by rabscuttle385
Democrats once flirted with running Republican Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava for the seat Rep. John McHugh will soon vacate in NY-23, but now that she's a leading contender for the GOP nod, they are rushing to bolster conservative concerns about her alleged tax troubles.
Soon-to-be-former state Democratic Chairwoman June O'Neill today confirmed reports that Scozzafava's husband, an upstate labor leader, talked with key local Democrats and union heads about the possibility of his wife running on Row A if the party's presumed first choice, state Sen. Darrel Aubertine, takes a pass.
"Her husband spoke with several Democratic officials and, you know, people who are aligned with the Democratic Party," O'Neill said. "There was some discussion about whether or not Dede might switch parties, but the whole tax thing is problematic on a number of levels. We didn't want to start out with any problems."
According to O'Neill, this isn't the first time the Democrats have spoken to Scozzafava about switching sides.
The talks started after the GOP passed Scozzafava over in favor of her Assembly colleague, Will Barclay, to run against Aubertine in the 48th SD special election back in February 2008.
The Republicans worried Scozzafava would be seen as too liberal - particularly since she had voted "yes" on gay marriage, while Aubertine, a conservative Democrat, voted "no". Aubertine easily defeated Barclay in that election, and a number of GOP operatives privately conceded after the fact that Scozzafava would have been a better candidate.
I asked O'Neill why Democrats are suddenly willing to speak publicly about the tax issue - more than $192,000 in unpaid state and federal taxes owed by Scozzafava's brother's business, to which the assemblywoman says she now has only the most tenuous of connections.....
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
Yes. I’ll add one, Lisa Murkowski. I agree there are RINO’s, no question, but I also strongly believe that some on this site toss that name around too mch. Don’t you agree?
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We should come to an agreed upon list and not throw too many under the bus. Who do we think we are, Obama...?
Do people make careless or political statements that they think will help them in the middle - sure. We need to encourage them with the robust nature of the Conservative movement.
But that’s our job. We really need to find more Conservative leaders that can shoulder this burden. There is a good cadre coming up. We need to ENCOURAGE them in their conservative stand.
What precisely is a RINO, or if it would be more helpful, what policy stances must a candidate take to be a RINO? If a candidate was pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-defense, and pro small government, but say supported amnesty for illegals, would they be considered a RINO or conservative?
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They would be consider confused. How do you support ‘small government’ and ‘defense’ and amnesty for law breakers?
why not set up a DINO party?
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They could run Fred Flinstone..
fyi - you were quoting Moose 2004 in your pullquote.
“Grahamnesty”
Don’t forget Graham Crapper (Crap and Tax traitor.)
Excellent post SeattleBruce!
“If a candidate was pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-defense, and pro small government, but say supported amnesty for illegals, would they be considered a RINO or conservative?”
RINO. Nothing would be more devestating than amnesty with chain migration, fool!
Go back to Conservative school. That was FAIL.
Agree with all but your statement that we have a good cadre coming up.
Here comes my cynical side. I believe the reason there are so few conservatives running for congress isn't that they aren't electable, it's that the thought of diving into the DC cesspool is just too repugnant to most conservatives. Congress is a magnet for all the corrupt, power-hungry, narcissistic miscreants that society has to offer. It's also why I have an instinctive doubt when I'm told that this "great candidate" running is a "true conservative".
Newbie, what part of
do you not understand?
Some people just won’t ever get it, brother...
And the reality is, we may not even see it change in our lifetime.
However...a few loose stones eventually cause an avalanche.
“...When our choices last year came down to McCain or Obama...”
For me, McCain was “The Last RINO” (sounds like a bad TV “Movie of the Week” - anybody got a good graphic for this???). And I liked the fact that he brought Governor Palin on board.
His subsequent treatment of her, however, was shameful.
For McCain the Navy man, I honored his service to the country, the ordeals he went through - nothing will ever change that. POWs have a very special place in my heart.
But McCain The Politician’s demonstrated penchant for telling conservatives to go f*ck ourselves NEVER sat well with me - ESPECIALLY at every critical juncture where we needed him.
No more. I want my country back.
Rabs, as always, comes through in the clinch...Ha!
The wonders of PhotoShop...
Yeah ;-)
Getting rid of McCain in 2010 is my top priority.
Frankly, it’s actually neck and neck with getting a reasoned governor in California.
As McCain plays into it, we need to take back Congress so we can block this terrorist loving President in his tracks.
So really, I have three top priorities this year. We’re in a real mess here.
Heh heh heh...
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...
;-)
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