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Hoffman doubles down, says election stolen
The Hill ^ | 11/18/2009 | Jordan Fabian

Posted on 11/18/2009 7:20:13 PM PST by iowamark

Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman on Wednesday accused ACORN and union interests of stealing the upstate New York special election that he conceded on Nov. 3.

Hoffman on Monday "unconceded" after recanvassing of votes across the district showed Democratic Rep. Bill Owens' margin of victory narrowing. Hoffman originally conceded after trailing Owens by 5,335 votes, but further counts showed him trailing by 3,176 votes. A recent count of absentee ballots in three counties showed Hoffman still trailing by 2,951.

Until this point Hoffman has said a victory would be a "long shot." Now, Hoffman is accusing liberal groups of unjustly influencing the outcome of the election.

"As evidence surfaces, we find out that reported results from election night were far from accurate. ACORN and the unions did their best to try and sway the results to Obamacare supporter Bill Owens," Hoffman wrote in an internet message to supporters. "Recent developments leave me to wonder who is scheming behind closed doors, twisting arms and stealing elections from the voters of NY-23."

The message asks supporters for donations to "ensure every vote is counted."

In the letter, Hoffman touts a new lead in Jefferson County where Owens had won on Election Night. Hoffman, however, still trails in other counties. Hoffman would need to overcome a 3,176 deficit out of the 7,419 absentee ballots returned, a highly unlikely feat. In the letter, Hoffman says the outcome would be decided by the 10,200 absentee ballots distributed. Not all of them, however, were returned.

Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava, who dropped out of the race three days prior to Election Day, appeared on the absentee ballots. Reports in the Watertown Daily Times showed that voters selected Scozzafava more frequently on absentee ballots than they did on Election Day.

Owens was sworn in on Nov. 6, a day before the House voted on its version of healthcare reform legislation.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Politics/Elections; US: New York
KEYWORDS: doughoffman; ny23
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To: kosciusko51
Bad move IMHO

This isn't chess. Do you understand that liberals are waging war on America? Who cares what they think. The survival of our country is at stake.

I say we fight.

21 posted on 11/18/2009 8:24:11 PM PST by Gelato (... a liberal is a liberal is a liberal ...)
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To: Gelato
The bad move is the playing the victim and accusing chicanery on the left without sufficient evidence. I think he is right in "un-conceding" and asking for a recount.

This is a fight; a fight to win hearts and minds. If the squishy middle thinks that there is no difference between the two parties, and believe both sides resort to over-the-top accusations, they probably won't vote conservative; they'll just stay home.

If Hoffman has proof that the election was stolen, then he can make the claim. Until then, he should let the process continue.

22 posted on 11/18/2009 8:37:52 PM PST by kosciusko51
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To: iowamark
Mr. Hoffman is acting divisively and in a very partisan fashion which borders on racism... /s


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

23 posted on 11/18/2009 8:47:32 PM PST by The Comedian (Evil can only succeed if good men don't point at it and laugh.)
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To: CharlesWayneCT
I must respectfully disagree.

2010 looms. This is just a precursor to that campaign, imho.

24 posted on 11/18/2009 8:55:22 PM PST by berdie (Hey, Bill Mahr...That's Mrs. Cracker to you.)
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To: arthurus
"Had Hoffman not conceded a lot more Demovotes would have been “found” before the count got too close for comfort."

Yep. Whatever it takes. Still, it really shouldn't be allowed! Whatever "fighting back" Hoffman does may seem Quixotic (or whiney, depending on who you're talking to), but at least it will help the "drip drip drip" on the stone of election fraud by Acorn and their ilk...just keep shining that light on it!

(how's that for some mixed metaphors? LOL!)

25 posted on 11/18/2009 8:55:40 PM PST by 88keys (First one in, turn the lights back on...)
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To: iowamark
frankensteal

We know the RATS steal elections. I hope Hoffman makes plenty of noise so they will have a hard time stealing it in 2010. Our freedom depends on it.

26 posted on 11/18/2009 8:57:39 PM PST by Nateman (If liberals aren't screaming you're doing it wrong.)
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To: iowamark

Now how much money did the RNC spend on this election? I just got a begging letter from the RNC with 15 questions that ask my opinion so the RNC can rebuild and refocus the party. I am stunned by the questions and I do not trust the RNC.


27 posted on 11/18/2009 9:13:07 PM PST by Just mythoughts
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To: iowamark

Even when they are in the right, candidates who concede and then un-concede inevitably look like sore losers.


28 posted on 11/18/2009 9:34:55 PM PST by wideminded
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To: kosciusko51
The bad move is the playing the victim and accusing chicanery on the left without sufficient evidence.

I don't think anyone would have a problem with Hoffman's statement except political strategists who follow the unwritten rules of their timid imaginings.

Hoffman broke the rules to begin with by running third party. That is the kind of unscripted, bold action lacking from the typical Republican mindset.

29 posted on 11/19/2009 12:14:39 AM PST by Gelato (... a liberal is a liberal is a liberal ...)
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To: iowamark

It’s about damn time a Conservative stood up for himself.


30 posted on 11/19/2009 12:19:15 AM PST by Republic of Texas (Socialism Always Fails)
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To: berdie

There are at least two good conservatives who live IN the district who would be much better candidates. The only reason we ended up with Hoffman is because the other candidates decided to keep their word and not run against the Republican choice.

While I know many people disagree with them, I certainly don’t think we should hold it against them that they kept their promise. We want moderates to keep the promise not to run against our nominees if they win, after all.

If Hoffman had NOT conceded, and had instead had his team checking counts on election night (one problem with an upstart 3rd-party campaign is you don’t always know what is “standard practice”), he might well have prevented the Democrats from seating Owens until the contest was officially over, which would have taken a vote from Pelosi.

And even if he was completely right now (and without proof it’s hard to say), changing his mind makes him look like he’s grasping at straws, plus with Owens already serving it makes little difference. His words won’t change a thing — the count will go on with or without his anger, and at the end the count will decide who wins the election.

This text was about nothing more than getting money in the bank for the next run; my recommendation to conservatives is to wait for the primary and back the best conservative who lives IN the district, not just blindly back the guy who ran 3rd-party this time.


31 posted on 11/19/2009 5:06:33 AM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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To: iowamark

I think its assumable...that in a close election...if We the People continue to allow it.. the Dems will win...


32 posted on 11/19/2009 5:10:48 AM PST by mo
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To: Cyclone59
We are really going to need to go to a picture ID for voting in order to clean all this crap up.

Needs to be repeated over and over!!!

We are really going to need to go to a picture ID for voting in order to clean all this crap up.

33 posted on 11/19/2009 5:13:32 AM PST by airborne (As long as Muslims are a "protected species", all Americans are an "endangered species".)
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To: stormer

I would only allow the military to use absentee ballots - PERIOD.


34 posted on 11/19/2009 5:20:01 AM PST by Cyclone59 (I ROCK, Guitar Hero said so........)
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To: Cyclone59

In NYS it’s harder to get a fishing license than it is to register to vote.


35 posted on 11/19/2009 5:20:19 AM PST by mewzilla (Voter fraud is treason.)
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To: Gelato
Now this is sufficient evidence. Viruses are the result of someone tampering with the voting process.
36 posted on 11/19/2009 12:31:33 PM PST by kosciusko51
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