Conservative Rebellion Explodes in New York over Extreme Liberal GOP Candidate

http://www.lifesitenews.com ^ | Friday October 23, 2009 | By Peter J. Smith

[Maelstorm]

SYRACUSE, New York, October 23, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A conservative uprising against the GOP's selection of a staunchly pro-abortion, pro-gay "marriage" nominee has transformed the battle for New York's 23rd congressional district into a tight three-way race that has the strong possibility of a dark horse Conservative Party candidate pulling an upset victory - or sending a strong message to the GOP that they alienate social and fiscal conservatives at their peril.

New York's 23rd Congressional District covers much of the northern areas of upstate New York just north of Syracuse, bordering Canada, and encompassing most of the Adirondacks. While conservative values figure greatly into the political landscape of upstate New York, GOP party bosses instead chose to nominate NY Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava - a far-left Republican who has strong pro-abortion, pro-gay "marriage", pro-tax, and pro-card check positions - to replace Rep. John McHugh, who handily won nine consecutive terms in a district that was safely Republican.

McHugh left the House of Representatives on September 21, 2009 to become Secretary of the Army, and Gov. David Paterson declared that Nov. 3 would be the date of a special election to replace him until the 2010 general election.

Local conservatives, however, outraged that GOP bosses selected a candidate so out-of-touch with their constituency, instead have fought back, running businessman Doug Hoffman on the Conservative Party ticket. The race has become extremely close in an area that would otherwise be a slam-dunk win for the GOP, as pro-life, pro-family conservatives and economic conservatives have made common cause to deliver the 23rd district into the hands of a candidate that will represent their values in Congress.

According to an October 15 Siena poll of the NY-23 special election, Democrat Bill Owens currently leads the race with 33 percent, followed by the GOP liberal Scozzafava at 29 percent, and Conservative Doug Hoffman with 23 percent, who leads among independent voters.

Those numbers are drastically different than two weeks ago, when Scozzafava stood ahead with 35 percent, Owens placed second with 28 percent, and Hoffman at 16 percent.

Siena pollster Steven Greenberg stated that the race would likely come down to the wire on Election Day, saying that the one sixth of undecided voters "will likely determine the outcome of this race."

With Hoffman's insurgent candidacy accelerating, conservatives - social and fiscal - see an opportunity not only to teach the GOP a lesson, but also a realistic shot to snatch victory. For Hoffman, the endorsements have been coming in at rapid fire, beginning with the pro-family Concerned Women for America and then the Club for Growth.

Now former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has entered the fray, giving her full endorsement to Hoffman and pledging her personal support and the financial support of her political action committee, SarahPAC,

"Republicans and conservatives around the country are sending an important message to the Republican establishment in their outstanding grassroots support for Doug Hoffman: no more politics as usual," stated Palin on her Facebook page.

Palin's endorsement followed after Dick Armey, chairman of FreedomWorks and former House Majority Leader from the conservative-driven 1994 Republican Revolution, gave Hoffman a huge boost. He appeared in New York to give a vigorous endorsement, mobilize "Tea Party" conservatives behind Hoffman and enhance Hoffman's name recognition - all critical for victory in the election contest.

So far, Hoffman has captured at least 19 total endorsements - including the New York State Right to Life Party, Susan B. Anthony List, National Organization for Marriage, Fred Thompson, and Steve Forbes to name a few. And Hoffman's campaign has reported more than $210,000 in on-line contributions since October 15, when the Siena poll was released - money that translates into ammunition for advertizing and greater name recognition.

Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann broke ranks with the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), House Minority Leader John Boehner and leading national GOP leaders on Wednesday, by declaring on the Laura Ingraham program that Hoffman was "on the ascendancy," and that the GOP should give their support to him and not to the ill-chosen Scozzafava.

The election could prove to be a referendum on the direction of the GOP, and many commentators are ruefully saying that if the GOP fails to learn important lessons from botching a sure-fire victory in 2009, they are likely to lose a golden opportunity in 2010.

The Wall Street Journal excoriated GOP leaders for supporting Scozzafava in a October 21 editorial, saying that "A defeat would teach Republicans that running candidates who believe in nothing will keep them in the minority for years to come."

The Journal's editors pointed out that Scozzafava stands to the left of President Barack Obama on the question of same-sex "marriage" and her position on taxes makes her Democratic opponent Bill Owens look conservative. Scozzafava has also run on the ticket of the socialist Working Families Party and there is no guarantee that she would not switch parties and caucus with the Democrats if she lost a GOP primary fight in 2010.

Pro-life and pro-family advocates are devoting considerable time and effort to canvass voters and make the difference for Hoffman in the election fight. Emily Buchanan, executive director of the Susan B. Anthony List is coordinating an independent project for the National Organization for Marriage & the Susan B. Anthony List to elect Hoffman by enlisting pro-life/pro-family advocates to man the polls on November 3.

In all, conservatives of all stripes - fiscal, pro-life, pro-family, pro-marriage - believe that the battle for the 23rd District is a pivotal moment for them, one with national implications that exceed the boundaries of a rural district in upstate New York.
 
Learn more about Doug Hoffman candidacy here.

[seton89]

Become a Hoffman fan on Facebook-
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Doug-Hoffman/104731159040?ref=nf

Scozzafava 328 supporters

Hoffman 1,286 supporters

[Freedom56v2]

I am writing RNC and telling them why I don’t donate to them!!!!!!!!! Go Hoffman!!!!!!!!!

[AmericanInTokyo]

Saturday update: Trying to urgently get at least TEN additional American friends on US military bases (at $100 or so per person) and in the American-citizen biz community here in Tokyo, to go on line from Japan and send over $$$ to Mr. Doug Hoffman's NY congressional campaign online. There is still two weeks. I think we can pull it out, but it seems he needs to keep the cash flow and high level endorsements flowing in.

As Americans overseas, we will do our part in defeating a RINO and Democrat and give the seat to a CONSERVATIVE: DOUG HOFFMAN!! ALL HANDS ON DECK. THIS IS PIVOTAL!!!!!!!!!!

[WallStreetCapitalist]

"Democrat Bill Owens currently leads the race with 33 percent, followed by the GOP liberal Scozzafava at 29 percent, and Conservative Doug Hoffman with 23 percent, who leads among independent voters."

Blaming the party leadership doesn't capture the whole picture (although everyone agrees they are inept): Look at the split between self-proclaimed Republicans - 29% are polling for GOP liberal Scozzafava and 23% for the conservative GOP candidate. That means the party is nearly evenly split between these two philosophies. The Republican PARTY has an internal demographic crisis. The state of the leadership merely reflects that reality. In other words, when you have half of Republicans voting socially liberal and half socially conservative, the leadership issue is the fever; a symptom of the underlying problem.

The real question is - if this were a two man race with Democrat Owens at 33% and Conservative Republican Hoffman with 23%, to whom would the 29% go?

In other words: If the 29% of "Republicans" are voting for a pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage, pro-ACORN candidate, wouldn't they be more likely to defect entirely to the Democratic candidate swinging the election to Owens 55% Hoffman 23%?

I guess what I'm asking is how do we win??? Or is this a reality of New York politics given the more liberal population base? I'd like to hear people's thoughts on that.

[Impy]

The county chairs of the counties in the district pick the nominees. The same people were not involved in picking the two nominees.

Tedisco was not a RINO, however he ran a poor race.

NY needs to start having primaries for special elections.

[AmericanInTokyo]

[riri]

If the RINOS ran as Democrats then the Democrat party would get pulled back towards the center instead of being way off the cliff where it is now. Let THEM choose between two types of Democrats for a change.

Great observation.

[uncitizen]

The GOP has effed us over for way too long. Good for you New Yorkers for just saying no to Scozzafava. Bravo! May Scozzafava be among the first of many RINOs to be rejected.

[bustinchops]

I guess the party bosses want to teach us upstarts a lesson, especially in the blue states.

[BAW]

Best case scenario: Conservative Hoffman wins. The US gets a congressional rep with real moral compass. NY 23rd gets a good representative who will probably run as a Repub in 2010. The GOP gets a kick butt awakening. Prominent conservatives who endorsed Hoffman gain the respect of the conservative movement.

If Scozzafava wins, Obama gets a sympathetic friend who will vote for his causes. We get screwed. NY 23rd gets screwed.

If Democrat Owens wins, Obama gloats. The up side is the GOP, smacked in the face with this loss to a Dem, now gets our strong message that we want more conservatives running for office and to not take our votes for granted. This is still a win for us as it sends a message to the rest of the GOP. Hello Michael Steele??

By my reckoning, nothing is lost by supporting Hoffman. It is a win win situation for conservative America.

[Cincinna]

“Scozzafava has also run on the ticket of the socialist Working Families Party “

This tells you all you need to know about her. WFP and ACORN are one and the same. Even operate out of the same office on Nevins Street in Brooklyn.

[babygene]

The last thing we need is RINO steel...

[MestaMachine]

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/10/newt_gingrich_endorses_dede_sc.html
REPOST:
To: jpsb
HEAR AND HEAR AGAIN!

I have gone stone deaf on Gingrich since the day he announced that hitlery clinton would make a “fine” president. No matter how much he talks now, I see his eyes rolling to the left. Same with Steele.
I don’t want no abortion loving, gay enabling, NEA endorsed, SEIU endorsed, WRO endorsed, RINO endorsed Republican in office no way, no how.

I just contributed to Hoffman. I will tell you what. Collins, Snowe, McCain, Graham, and Specter, et al, OUGHT to have taught these “middle of the road-kill” Repubs, that it doesn’t EVER matter if there is a R after their name.

They have so royally effed up and sucked all the oxygen out of what few REAL Conservative there are, and allowed this monster in the white tent to get so out of control, we can barely breathe on Cap Hill anymore.

If the Republican Party machine STILL doesn’t realize that this is a CONSERVATIVE country, then the republican party, as it stands now, does not deserve to exist.

This is indeed a fight for the soul of the party. If there is ANY chance for redemption, we need a revolt from within the party to dismantle the party apparatus, and get these RINOS out of positions of power.

It’s a damn shame we got to fight marxists dems, and marxist enablers within our own party. But if we don’t do it now, it’s over.

274 posted on Friday, October 23, 2009 1:33:57 AM by MestaMachine (One if by land, 2 if by sea, 3 if by Air Force 1, 4 if by Thread.)

[maryz]

A bit more detail form the WSJ -- The GOP's New York Fiasco: Republicans try to lose a House seat.

GOP county chairmen pushed Ms. Scozzafava for the job in July at the behest of GOP state party chairman Joe Mondello, who has since (and blessedly) stepped down. Mr. Mondello also hand-picked loser James Tedisco in another special Congressional election earlier this year. Our sources tell us the backroom boys picked Ms. Scozzafava because she is a woman with high name recognition who could appeal to Democrats. Too bad she doesn't appeal to Republicans.

[freeangel]

Don’t spend your own postage—wait for one of the RNC’s infamous fund raising “polls” and use their own post paid envelope. I must do that a few times a month.

[BamaAndy]

Go New York’s 23rd!!! The people want their country back and God help Mr. Hoffman and all his supporters. I hope and pray you take the seat!

[Carlos Martillo II]

RINOs aren’t afraid of losing the depopulated rural areas (including the Rust Belt) of the country that are consistently outvoted by their largest nearby cities; the problem for them is that in lib vs. lib, the one with the (D) usually wins. The problem for upstate NY voters is that there are not enough of them, and they are being marginalized by the immigration flood which is even reaching their towns.

[TurtleUp]

I have absolutely NO idea. It’s crazy for sure. The GOP doesn’t have a clue anymore.

The GOP does have Sarah Palin, and she has a clue. I hope and pray that by the end of this election Governor Palin will have the GOP leadership under better control.

[euram]

According to one report Hoffman’s campaign received $116,000 within hours of Palin’s endorsement whereas he had raised just over $200,000 the previous week. I donated last night, I hope all of Palin’s supporters kick in at least $25, money talks, and money is the name of the game.

[euram]

“By my reckoning, nothing is lost by supporting Hoffman. It is a win win situation for conservative America.”

I agree. But, you can bet that if Owens wins, the beltway types will blame the loss on Palin, claiming that she split the vote, never mind that it was already split. IMO Palin chose principle over party, and kept her word that she would support conservative candidates no matter what party they belonged to, imagine that, a politician who keeps her word.