Posted on 10/27/2009 7:45:09 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Gingrich calls GOP support for Hoffman a 'purge' By Jordan Fabian - 10/27/09 09:47 AM ET
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) late Monday had some choice words for Republicans supporting Conservative Party party candidate Doug Hoffman (N.Y.), accusing them of conducting a "purge" of the GOP.
Many national Republican figures, such as Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) and ex-Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska), have backed Hoffman over GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava in the 23rd district's special election this year. The district has been long-held by Republicans, but many conservatives have shied away from Scozzafava for her socially liberal positions and the local GOP's selection process that they say was not transparent.
Gingrich broke the mold and backed Scozzafava, saying her candidacy gave the Republicans the best shot of regaining a congressional majority. The former Speaker faced a push-back from the right after his announcement but he upped the ante on Monday.
"This idea that we're suddenly going to establish litmus tests and all across the country we're going to purge the party of anybody who doesn't agree with us 100 percent; that guarantees Obama's reelection, that guarantees Pelosi as Speaker-for-life," he told Fox News last night.
Gingrich called Scozzafava a "liberal Republican" for her support of gay marriage and abortion rights. But he defended those positions as in-step with her district and her predecessor, former Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.), who was tapped to be President Barack Obama's Army Secretary.
But he said that her endorsement from the National Rifle Association, her signing a no tax-increase pledge, and her opposition to cap-and-trade and healthcare reform legislation made her "adquately conservative in an upstate New York district."
Gingrich also attacked Hoffman for not having proper knowledge of local issues and living outside the 23rd district.
"So I say to many conservative friends who suddenly decided whether they're from Minnesota, or Alaska, or Texas, they know more than the upstate New York Republicans? I don't think so," he added.
52% of this "conservative" district voted for 0.
It's not as conservative as it is being portrayed. The problem is instead of picking someone in the middle the party picked a leftist that supports everything the Rats are doing. I'm praying Hoffman wins if for no other reason than to send a message to local party hacks.
Very appropriate! :)
And Tim Pawlenty passed the test with flying colors!
Good and Pawlenty!
If Hofmann has a legit shot at winning I’m all for him. But Newt is right that going the third party route is the way to screw yourself.
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Good point - if it wasn’t for Ross Perot, Bill Clinton would be a minor foot-note in history.
If you mean book sales I'm not so sure it's that simple. He has dough. He has smarts. But his political compass is broken.
I admit that money *could* be part of it but if I were to be that cynical I'd be more tempted to say that he sees the writing on the wall, has decided that the left will continue in power and has cast his lot in with them so as to retain power himself. The money would come later as a payback for undermining conservatives.
But this is a *very* cynical view and I'm not prepared to dump that on Newt just yet.
I'm still wondering why he's doing it...his stated arguments don't wash.
Regaining Congress with the likes of Madame Scozza would be the very definition of a Pyrrhic victory.
I don’t know, if the Republicans become the “moderate” party with 40%, the democrats the “liberal” party at 20%, 40% of the reps would be “conservative” party.
I could tolerate that.
“So I say to many conservative friends......”
You have none!
No, he’s just owned by Washington.
For some reason, he/they (GOP) won’t go after the real enemy, and is/are content with going after us.
Well, here it is. Time to push back.
And he throws out the “NRA supports her...” bone. Well, they supported Arlen Sphincter over Pat Toomey too. How’d that work out? Now, at least ol’ Arsehole has a big fat D in front of his name where it always belonged.
To the GOP: You either play ball with US, or you don’t play.
And if the GOP attempts to sabotage Hoffman, there needs to be consqequences to them. Hard financial consequences.
No RINOs. Not now, not ever.
if they were pushing a true moderate i could understand the argument... but they are pushing someone so totally far to the left I have no sympathy for what they are saying.
If we put true Conservatives out there than can articulate the message and counteract the frivolous Populist arguments of the Liberal Democrats, we can achieve success.
If we do this and the majority of Americans keep the Liberals in power, the Nation as we know it is finished.
We are not only fighting the Democrats, we are fighting their Political Allies in the Media. Unfortunately, the Media knows that it isn't the News, it's the News they choose to report.
Bias and Ignorance is the reason we have the current crop of Idiots running this Country.
He recently converted, he has sold out his conservative values. He started with global warming, i’ll bet he holds stock in green companies, and yes I am that cynical.
I hope you're right.
I think he also realizes if he's going to be the nominee for President he has to have the party structure fighting for him. What better way to develop loyalty than to support the party when they pick one of the worst candidates possible. He has been a pretty good tactician in the past.
You made me LOL. I stole that and sent it to everyone I know.
A purge? Isn’t that like inducing vomiting?
I think he also realizes if he’s going to be the nominee for President......
Newt has a fund raisng problem He will never get enough $$$ to run. But he and Shawn Hannity like to talk it up
If you're part of the rabscuttle crowd, go look in a mirror.
You may have a perfect right to be. His actions over the last couple years have been all in one direction. I'm just hanging on to some old hero worship, I guess.
We'll see. But I no longer give him the benefit of the doubt and that is a big deal in my little world.
Glad I gave you a smile today!!!! We all can use one. :)
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