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.
“This idea that we’re suddenly going to establish litmus tests
“This idea that we’re suddenly going to establish litmus tests....”
Yeah? How about the GOP platform as a litmus test?
Let me get this straight. GOP District Party bosses hold a little confab, and annoint a left wing candidate on the District. The Conservative Party of N.Y., a political party in its own right, that has been in existence some forty plus years, nominates a candidate that reflects their philosophy, and this becomes a PURGE of the GOP? Gingrich is an ASS!
Cedric, you know quite well that it's bad manners to talk about people without pinging them.
Apparently her husband, a Union big wig, sounded out the Dims about running her if her GOP godmother couldn’t deliver the nomination.
I prefer your term spelled differently: Nuts, the same response Gen. McAuliffe gave to the Germans at Bastogne.
I have learned that this factoid of history is no longer being taught in schools. My younger in-laws, who also teach, all gave me a blank stare when I asked them "what was the one word response given by BG McAuliffe, commander of the 101st Airborne, to the Germans at Bastogne?"
IMO, conservatives have been saying "Nuts" to the Washingtonian Republican Party for much of the past 2-3 years.
Perhaps "Nuts" is the best response to the RNC and their fundraisers, in light of their deplorable support to RINOs like Scozzafava.
You deserve nothing more.
Newt’s from the Beltway. Hasn’t been from Georgia [in any meaningful sense] in years.
RE Cedric: “...If you’re part of the rabscuttle crowd, go look in a mirror...”
And if YOU’RE not, you’re part of the problem. You support whom you want, and we’ll do the same.
If you can’t deal with it, too bad.
Newt does not = family values. He’s an egotistical Washington strategist whose god and goal is party power— nothing more, nothing less. His value system is such that he’s incapable of understanding why the country feels betrayed by his ilk, why we rejected him and his party, and why he’ll never again have that which he most desires.
I think he is planning to overcome the money obstacle. I suspect he's figuring the conservatives will be as rigid as they were in the fight over illegal immigration and as we lose momentum a centrist candidate will be a real alternative to the radical leftists of the Rat party.
Ask yourself, how many of the conservatives who refused to vote for McCain will sit out the next election now that they see the consequences of having radical leftists in power. I know I will fight hard in the primaries, but in the general election I will vote Pub.
I think I may have just come up with a motive. When Newt was speaker, we were all screaming about Clinton and Monica. Then Newt turns around and does the same thing. Rightfully so we couldn't stand a hypocrite and the dems were killing us with the issue. It was us Conservatives that forced him to resign killing his political career.
He knew at that point that he couldn't return to politics as a Conservative so he started schmoozing the country club set. This is all about revenge for us ruining his career.
Why did you stop taking your meds, RINO shill?
And that's the question, isn't it?
I'm a big tent guy, and I don't apologize for it. If in some deep blue district we need to have some left-of-center person on the GOP ticket because his opponent is a Bernie Sanders type and we need to take what we can get, that's fine. Parties are messy.
But this woman...yeesh. She's to the left of the Dem on a raft of issues, including gay marriage, which he opposes. Plus, sitting on the board of Planned Parenthood, winning the Margaret Sanger award or getting endorsed by the Daily Kos should each be things that repel the RNC from your candidacy like garlic repels vampires...but Scozzafava's got all three going for her, and Steele and Gingrich double down.
As Emerson said, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds." To say, "the local party is always right" or "electing a Republican is always better than electing a Dem and helping Nancy Pelosi" is a foolish consistency, and we're seeing just how foolish with this race and Newt's rise to hysteria.
Perhaps we'll see the advent of Contract With America II - sponsored and headed by Sarah Palin.
That makes a lot of sense, actually. Newt is not a coward and he is not a quitter. He is a fighter. And if he has become soured on conservatives it follows that he would fight against us.
Doing it in this way, against the best interests of the American people, is petty but Newt is human.
Your theory deserves some thought, FRiend.
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