Doug Hoffman Republicans Overreached?

U.S. News and World Report's Religion section says that "political analysts" view the Owens-Hoffman_Scozzafava debacle in New York's 23rd District as a failed result for Republicans because Republicans "overreached," by abandoning Dede Scozzafava, who has never been a true Republican, and supporting Doug Hoffman (for 3 days), who then lost to a Democrat - the first time in more than a century.

Republicans

Don't they wish that were the case. The truth is, Liberals understand that Doug Hoffman lost by a miniscule margin, after receiving no backing, monetary or endorsements, from the GOP, and had two opponents against him until the weekend before the election when Scozzafava quit the race - and then endorsed the Democrat.

While Liberals "get it," although they won't admit it, GOP leaders are less clear. Can it be that the heart of the party, the voters, do not want party leadership choosing our candidates? Can it be that voters want true conservatives to have a chance in the primaries before the GOP starts announcing their endorsements? Well it can be, and as Newt Gingrich finally admitted after his careless hawking for Scozzafava, "the age of party leaders picking people is over." 

U.S. News and World Report's Dan Gilgoff points out some interesting dynamics in the race to unearth conservative candidates:

(1) Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio - Florida: 

The ongoing tensions are on clearest display in Florida, where Gov. Charlie Crist, facing the more conservative Marco Rubio, a former Florida House speaker, in the primary for an open U.S. Senate seat. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the GOP's senate campaign arm, has endorsed Crist, while Rubio is pitching himself as the grass roots' choice. "The conservatives are the ones being purged from the party," says Rubio, who claims the national senatorial committee has scared off potential donors, though the group denies it.

 (2) Carly Fiorina and Chuck DeVore - California:

A similar battle is underway in California, where former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who supports abortion rights, is fighting state legislator Chuck DeVore, an abortion-rights foe, for the party's nomination for U.S. Senate. An adviser to John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, Fiorina is receiving fundraising support from McCain and other establishment types. DeVore hails from Orange County, a bastion of conservative Christian activism and is a fixture on the tea party circuit, whose economic conservatives are helping fuel bids to take on establishment candidates.

 (3) Phyllis Schlafly and Sen. Bob Bennett - Utah:

In Utah, meanwhile, a longtime "pro-family" activist endorsed by Christian right icon Phyllis Schlafly is among the conservatives running against Republican Sen. Bob Bennett. Cherilyn Eagar says her state's tradition of picking nominees by convention makes it easier for her to benefit from the support of activists, including religious conservatives. "Bennett's version of national healthcare had a provision requiring insurance companies to supply abortions," she says. "I find that reprehensible in a state that is highly pro-life."

 It took Sarah Palin's endorsement of Doug Hoffman to grab the attention of voters outside of New York City. Gingrich hit back hard at Palin, saying that a win by anyone other than Scozzafava would result in Nancy Pelosi being "speaker for life." Most conservatives would rather lose the seat, than entrench another Olympia Snowe or Richard Lugar in the party. We've learned our lessons. So Gingrich had to go to bed knowing that the RINO he supported [Dede Scozzafa], asked her followers to cast their vote for the Democrat. Bitter, bitter lesson. And even after all that, Hoffman lost by only a small margin. Just think what could have happened had the GOP abandoned politics-as-usual and looked around for a real conservative. No, it wasn't "overreaching," it was an awakening. Thank you Sarah Palin.

Doug Hoffman NY23 Ballots Errors Updated: NY23 Doug Hoffman Uncounted Ballots?

What if Doug Hoffman was the winner in the NY23rd House race, and not David Owen? The short story here is that "errors in the vote count have narrowed" between Democrat David Owens and Conservative Doug Hoffman in the special election for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 23rd District. It's interesting to note that David Owens has already been sworn into the House and voted yea for Nancy Pelosi's Health Care bill, after promising constitutients he would vote no.

From Syracuse.com:

Washington -- Conservative Doug Hoffman conceded the race in the 23rd Congressional District last week after receiving two pieces of grim news for his campaign: He was down 5,335 votes with 93 percent of the vote counted on election night, and he had barely won his stronghold in Oswego County.

As it turns out, neither was true.

In Oswego County, where Hoffman was reported to lead by only 500 votes with 93 percent of the vote counted election night, inspectors found Hoffman actually won by 1,748 votes -- 12,748 to 11,000.

At least 7,178 absentee ballots were turned in, and 10,200 mailed out, with Hamilton district yet to report. These ballots will be counted to determine the winner in this race. According to this report, "Federal and military absentee ballots have until Nov. 16th to be turned in." So what happens if Hoffman won, and conceded only because of the vote status he was given:

Conklin [Communications Director] said the state sent a letter to the House Clerk last week explaining that no winner had been determined in the 23rd District, and therefore the state had not certified the election. But the letter noted that Owens still led by about 3,000 votes, and that the special election was not contested -- two factors that legally allowed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to swear in Owens on Friday.

"We sent a letter to the clerk laying out the totals," Conklin said. "The key is that Hoffman conceded, which means the race is not contested. However, all ballots will be counted, and if the result changes, Owens will have to be removed."

 The Christian Science Montior (linked above) doesn't report quite that way.

 But what happens if Hoffman is certified the ultimate winner by the New York State Board of Elections? That’s up to the House of Representatives. The board of elections will certify the result at its December board meeting.

Broadly speaking, each house of Congress is in control of whom it admits to its membership. Hoffman conceded the election right away. So it was an easy call for the Democrats to swear in Owens, based on the election results reported by the board as of Nov. 5. But if Hoffman is certified as the winner, in all likelihood he would be allowed to take the seat.

Beyond the obvious intrigue of discovering the winner, is this question: Did Pelosi receive this order before the late Saturday night vote on Health Care? And who gave the Hoffman campaign erroneous results on election night.

Bill Owens NY23 Campaign Promises Trashed: Owens Sworn In Abandons Campaign Promises

Just like a lying Democrat, Bill Owens the Democrat winner of the NY 23rd District special election race for the U.s. House of Representatives, was sworn in and minutes later abandoned his campaign promises. Today he will vote for PelosiCare.

Bill Owens

Owens was against a public option - that was "then," and "then" was during the campaigning period. According to The Gouverneur Times, he now supports PelosiCare:

A spokesman for Congressman Owens indicated correctly that Mr. Owens had recanted his solid position against public option later in the campaign, clarifying that he did not wish public option to be a 'litmus test' for the Health Reform bill and that on Oct. 30th, several days prior to the election, in a debate had stated that he generally supported the public option as it was now written (at that time.)

Mr. Owens also indicated during his campaign that he was firmly opposed to cutting Medicare benefits, taxing health care benefits, and increased taxes on the middle class in any way as you can see clearly in the screenshot below, taken directly from Mr. Owens' campaign website.

Obviously, Owen needed to lie to win the election. This is a good sign for the November 2, 2010 House race when Owen will have to defend his ascendancy to Capitol Hill, probably facing off with conservative Doug Hoffman.

Related and Background:
Doug Hoffman receives Sarah Palin's endorsement

Newt Gingrich Backs Hoffman - Age of Party Leaders Picking People is Over

Doug Hoffman Loses NY23: Conservatives Win Battle of Principle

It has just been announced that Doug Hoffman lost the NY23 special election for the U.S. House to Democrat David Owens. So be it. Message to Newt Gingrich: This is not a win for you. Message to John Boehner: This is not a win for you. Message to Eric Cantor: This is not a win for you.

The problem is, you backed the wrong candidate from the beginning, plying hundreds of thousands of dollars into the campaign of the wrong candidate until she quit and endorsed a Democrat.

You, the leadership, are to blame for this loss. Count the days you dithered away after Sarah Palin endorsed this conservative candidate. And take note Newt: Nancy Pelosi will not be Speaker for Life. Conservatives across the country won the battle of principle tonight.

Rahm Emanuel DeDe Scozzafava: Rahm Calls DeDe: Scozzafava Owens Endorsement Follows

Rahm Emanuel, President Obama's Chief-of-Staff called-up DeDe Scozzafava and according to Darrell Issa, her endorsement of Democrat Owens followed. The question is: what did Dems offer to RINO Republican, Ms. Scozzafava? I have an idea about that.

Darrell Issa

The Hill reports this from Issa:

Just hours before [Scozzafava] endorsed the Democrat, she received calls from Barack Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. She also received calls from the Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Senator Chuck Schumer," Issa wrote. "Was Scozzafava promised something in return for her endorsement of the Democrat? Time will tell."

I doubt that it would have taken much for Scozzafava to flip - in fact, maybe nothing. Revenge is sweet, but it must be even sweeter when the White House calls. For Rham Emanuel to call Scozzafava...that's a big deal. I suspect that Scozzafava has a czarship in her future, in return for the Owens endorsement.

Gateway Pundit reports on Patrick Gaspard, the White House ACORN czar, and his part in Scozzafava's flip. The story suggests that DeDe's husband, union organizer Ron McDougall, was "in talks months ago," with Democratic operatives about a switch to the Dem party. Read that story here.

Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) originally supported Scozzafava, but moved to Doug Hoffman's camp the day before Scozzafava exited left. Here's his statement:

Doug Hoffman is a Ronald Reagan conservative that has received endorsements from conservative leaders all over the country including conservative New York Republicans like former Governor George Pataki, but most important, he has the endorsement of conservative Republican voters in his own district," Issa said in his endorsement.

I have to wonder why Issa would have ever endorsed Scozzafava. There is nothing in her political background to bring a conservative to support her political philosophy.

My hope is that Scozzafava changes parties. As my husband so elegantly said, we don't need these people "who don't stand for crap."

Others talking about White House offers for DeDe:
The Lonely Conservative 


Related and Background:

Rush Limbaugh on Screwing RINOs, Bestiality and PETA - video

Scozzafava endorses David Owens

Newt Backs Doug Hoffman: Gingrich Age of Party leaders Picking People is Over

NRCC Backs Doug Hoffman: RNC Backs Doug Hoffman

NRCC wastes $900,000 on Scozzafava: What is the RNCC doing for Hoffman now?

RINO DeDe Scozzafava Quits NY23: Hoffman NRCC Funds Available? 

Doug Hoffman and Sarah Palin's Endorsement

Matt Burns is DeDe Scozzafava Ex Campaign Manager: Burns Endorses Doug Hoffman

DeDe Scozzafava, a New York Republican, dropped out of her bid for the U.S. House from New York's 23rd district and endorsed her Democrat opponent, David Owens. Assemblywoman Scozzafava's ex-campaign manager endorsed Hoffman.

New York 23rd Congressional District

Republican Burns took a stab at defending Scozzafava's "capable" legislating, but said he disagrees with her decision to back Democrat Owens:

I am supporting Doug Hoffman, because denying Nancy Pelosi another foot soldier is vital to restoring fiscal responsibility and common sense in Washington.

Mr. Burns said he agreed with Newt Gingrich:

...the party needs to recruit both moderates and conservatives if it expects to pick up seats in '10. He said he agrees with ex-Speaker/ex-Scozzafava backer Newt Gingrich (R) that the party needs to find candidates that fit their districts. Burns: "Otherwise, it's going to be tough to take back the House."

Perhaps Burns didn't hear the latest from Newt:

The age of party leaders picking people is over.

This is both a tribute to the power of the national conservative movement to define an issue and a commentary on the populist anger against politics-as-usual.

 Burns did the right thing. Scozzafava was not statesman-like, and Doug Hoffman is the only conservative who has run in this race, or is running in this race.

Related:
Scozzafava endorses David Owens, Newt calls Scozzafava's exit left, "statesmanlike."

Newt Backs Doug Hoffman: Gingrich Age of Party leaders Picking People is Over

NRCC Backs Doug Hoffman: RNC Backs Doug Hoffman

NRCC wastes $900,000 on Scozzafava: What is the RNCC doing for Hoffman now?

RINO DeDe Scozzafava Quits NY23: Hoffman NRCC Funds Available? 

Doug Hoffman and Sarah Palin's Endorsement

Hoffman Scozzafava a turncoat: Scozzafava Endorses David Owens: Scozzafavas Unstatesman like behavior

Newt Gingrich with ickky egg on his face once again! After saying that Republican DeDe Scozzafava's exit from the NY23 race was "statesmanlike," Scozzafava endorsed Democrat David Owens today. See post election update below.

Scozzafava did the "statesman like thing in dropping out..."  said Newt. That enraged he when I read it this morning because I ignored it because he also admitted that "the age of party leaders picking people is over.

How wrong can one man be about the principles of the party he once led? One thing is certain, that rarified air Gingrich breaths bears a bit of a stench today.

In the meantime, Scozzafava supposedly withdrew from the NY 23rd District special election for a U.S. House seat because Doug Hoffman, a Republican running on the Conservative Party ticket, left her in the dust in the polls. Newt saw that as statesmanlike, A Hoffman spokesman called her a turncoat.

Those in the camp of the Conservative candidate Douglas L. Hoffman called Ms. Scozzafava a turncoat.

“This afternoon Dede Scozzafava betrayed the GOP,“ Senior Communications Advisor Rob Ryan said in a statement. “She endorsed a Pelosi Democrat who will spend more, tax more, and push the liberal agenda that is dragging down this nation.”

Here is DeDe Scozzafava's statement:

Many of you have asked me whom you should support on Tuesday. Since announcing the suspension of my campaign, I have thought long and hard about what is best for the people of this District, and how to answer your questions. This is not a decision that I have made lightly.

You know me, and throughout my career, I have been always been an independent voice for the people I represent. I have stood for our honest principles, and a truthful discussion of the issues, even when it cost me personally and politically. Since beginning my campaign, I have told you that this election is not about me; it's about the people of this District.

It is in this spirit that I am writing to let you know I am supporting Bill Owens for Congress and urge you to do the same.

Scozzafava has received endorsements from the socialist ACORN-fronted Working Families Party (WFP) in the past. The WFP is a political party that strongly endorsed Barack Obama. She supports abortion, union card check, and legislation to codify same-sex marriage.

Scozzafava's husband, Ron McDougall is the head union organizer for the Jefferson-Lewis-St.Lawrence Country Central Labor Council that was instrumental in creating the Working Families Party. She was also endorsed by the UAW, of which Ron McDougall is a member. Just like a Democrat Newt? Do you get it now? Can you hear us now?

Related:
Hot Air has the story of a conference all with the Hoffman campaign.

NEW Update: Doug Hoffman Loses NY23: Conservatives Win Battle of Principle

Scozzafava endorses David Owens, Newt calls Scozzafava's exit left, "statesmanlike."

Newt Backs Doug Hoffman: Gingrich Age of Party leaders Picking People is Over

NRCC Backs Doug Hoffman: RNC Backs Doug Hoffman

NRCC wastes $900,000 on Scozzafava: What is the RNCC doing for Hoffman now?

RINO DeDe Scozzafava Quits NY23: Hoffman NRCC Funds Available? 

Doug Hoffman and Sarah Palin's Endorsement

 

Newt Gingrich Backs Doug Hoffman: Gingrich Age of Party Leaders Picking People is Over

Newt Gingrich is backing Doug Hoffman. What a difference a day, a Sarah Palin endorsement, and a few tea parties make. The age of party leaders picking people is over. See update 11-3-09 below. Also see post election update below:

Newt Gingrich

This from Newt is a brave statement:

The age of party leaders picking people is over.

However, he goes on to  call Dede Scozzafava a "statesman:"

 Scozzafava did the statesmanlike thing in dropping out.

And he says the populist movement wins over politics-as-usual:

This is both a tribute to the power of the national conservative movement to define an issue and a commentary on the populist anger against politics-as-usual.

Gingrich admits that he has been a part of "politics-as-usual." Isn't that pitiful? Sarah Palin brought DeDe Scozzafava to national attention. I doubt many of us would have known about her without Palin's endorsement of Hoffman. Sarah is no longer an elected official. She is now one of the conservative sentries sprinkled around the country - standing guard, as are our the tea parties. We are back on track.

In an interview with Rush Limbaugh in January 2008, Gingrich said this:

We are at the end of the Reagan era. We're at a point in time when we're about to start redefining -- as a number of people started talking about, starting to redefine -- the nature of the Republican Party, in response to what the country needs.

Wrong!

Newt, the great modern day, post-Reagan brain of conservative politics, has forgotten that Ronald Reagan did the hard lifting. Reagan didn't "redefine," he didn't figure it out for himself, he just took the Constitution's conservative principles and planted both feet squarely. When he could not get the policy he wanted, he didn't stop talking about conservatism. He didn't start making excuses, redefining and looking around for a bigger tent.

Newt fell into the trap. He forgot that conservative populism is constitutional populism. He forgot that populism is "we the people." He knew it when he was Speaker. Conservative principles haven't changed. As Newt once said, the primary purpose of a political leader is to:

"build a majority. If [voters] care about parking lots, then talk about parking lots."

So let's get on with it and talk about conservatism. If we can fill a big tent with pro-choicers joining us because conservatism, in the main, is a constitutional and very decent position, then let them enter. Let us talk, and talk, and talk about what is constitutional and what is not.

Newt gets it: The age of the party picking people is over. It should have never started. "We the people" allowed it to happen. We thought our chosen leaders would be on watch, but that sentry failed. Even as we began to wake up, the leadership didn't listen. We'll keep our sentry posted. Now let's work on getting support for Marco Rubio in Florida who is the only conservative in the race for the U.S. Senate.

Update 11-3-09:

Gingrich has told the AP that he is "deeply upset" that Scozzafave endorsed the Democrat, David Owens in the NY23 congressional race. He asked:

How could she have accepted all that support?" he said, adding later: "I'm very, very let down because she told everybody she was a Republican, and she said she was a loyal Republican."

Earth to Newt: did you ever take just a minute to check out her voting background or her associations? All the info was very public and very available. Hoffman was in the area telling everyone, everything about her. How did Sarah figure it out and you didn't?

Post election update - my message to Newt Gingrich and party leaders:

Doug Hoffman Loses NY23: Conservatives Win Battle of Principle

NRCC wastes $900000 on Scozzafava: What is the RNCC doing for Hoffman now?

The NRCC has spent $900,000 to get DeDe Scozzafava elected in New York's 23rd district special election on November 3rd. Scozzafava "suspended" her candidacy today - $900,000 wasted - donated by Republican and or conservative voters. $900,000.

Pete Sessions - Chair of NRCC

As RedState's Eric Erickson says, NRCC chair, Pete Sessions is "batting his eye lashes at Doug Hoffman" while "wearing a fig leaf." The grand old party establishment has no choice but to get behind the conservative choice in NY23, Doug Hoffman. Congressman Pete Sessions gulped and said:

He [Hoffman] would be very welcome, with open arms.

Doug Hoffman is running as a candidate for the Conservative Party in New York and there is a lot of talk about a third party gaining momentum which will, in the end, be hurtful to Republicans, but Hoffman tried to gain the Republican nomination. He is/was a registered Republican but could not get the party chair's support.

I have not left the Republican Party. The Republican Party has left me and has turned its back on the voters of the 23rd Congressional District and on the values that made our party strong," Hoffman said in prepared remarks after his introduction.

Republican leaders in the people's House, John Boehner and Eric Cantor have learned an important lesson from their shotgun endorsement of a RINO Republican, who in truth is a liberal Democrat: Republicans want more than talk about conservatism, we want conservatism.

While it is not much remembered these days, the Republican party is historically the party of conservatism. The party has been hijacked - steamrolled by the "politically correct" movement that began with Bill Clinton. We don't need a third party. We just need conservative candidates, so that we can vote for them and put conservatives in Congress.

Message to the Congressman Pet Sessions and NRCC Executive Direction at the NRCC: just give us conservative candidates and let us show you how to take the party back from PC voters.

So, how much of the $900,000 is still scheduled for advertising for Scozzafava over the next three days? Has the NRCC pulled ads for the assemblywoman? Is the NRCC furiously producing ads for Hoffman? What is the RNCC doing for Doug Hoffman in the next three days?

Related:
Scozzafava endorses David Owens, Newt calls Scozzafava's exit left, "statesmanlike."

Newt Backs Doug Hoffman: Gingrich Age of Party leaders Picking People is Over

NRCC Backs Doug Hoffman: RNC Backs Doug Hoffman

RINO DeDe Scozzafava Quits NY23: Hoffman NRCC Funds Available? 

Doug Hoffman and Sarah Palin's Endorsement

RINO DeDe Scozzafava Quits NY23: Hoffman NRCC Funds Available? Scozzafavas Scuzzy Suggestion

RINO DeDe Scozzafava tearfully quit suspended the NY23 special election for New York's 23rd Congressional District. It begs the question, will the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) switch their big campaign contributions to conservative candidate Doug Hoffman? In a last attempt to desecrate conservatism, Scozzafava's scuzzy and subtle suggestion that her name will remain on the ballot and, although she is not in the race, voters can still cast a vote for her, is despicable.

Doug Hoffman

Scozzafava has a long-time liberal-leaning-performance as a Republican in New York. Hoffman is a business man who lives just outside the congressional district and says he was "redistricted out" of the voting area. His candidacy got a giant boost when former governor, Sarah Palin stepped in and supported him, over Newt Gingrich's foolish endorsement of Scozzafava. The sparks flew.

Endorsements for Hoffman have come from Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Governor George Pataki, former senators, Fred Thompson and Rick Santorum, Dr. James Dobson, Concerned Women for America, Club for Growth, Steve Forbes, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, The Minuteman PAC, Rep. Jeff Flake, and the Wholesale-Distributor PAC, among others.

The New York Post is endorsing Hoffman and says assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava:

"...is the product of an obscenely corrupt political bargain by GOP bosses that sells out their party - and New Yorkers generally....

And then comes the damning claims of Scozzafava's cozy relationship with socialists tied to ACORN:

With the backing of the ACORN-allied Working Families Party, she supports Big Labor's favorite organizing bill -- card-check -- as well as the federal stimulus, opposed by every House Republican.

Michelle Malkin has a column out on the Working Families Party.

Sounding just Democrat, DeDe's farewell message is a whine and devious message:

In recent days, polls have indicated that my chances of winning this election are not as strong as we would like them to be.

On Election Day my name will appear on the ballot, but victory is unlikely. To those who support me – and to those who choose not to – I offer my sincerest thanks.

Even in defeat Scozzafava's smary behavior continues. Rather than sincerely asking that her supporters switch their vote to conservative Doug Hoffman, she hints that votes can still be cast for her. Are her supporters really Republicans? The district yielded a 52% vote for Barack Obama in November 2008. Was that just a vote against Bush? Are her supporters RINOs too, who will cast their vote for Owens? Whatever the answer, Scozzafava should have said that a vote for Hoffman is the proper way to Republicans and her. In such an important contest, Scozzafava's subtle suggestion is unforgivably scuzzy.

In latest polling dated October 31, Siena shows Hoffman at 35%, Owens at 36% and Scozzafava 20%.

So RNC, can you hear us now? While Hoffman can still lose Tuesday's election to Democrat candidate David Owens, conservatives are sending the message that we will no longer tolerate RINO traitors. We will fund conservatism, and, Newt, we are willing to take the chance that Nancy Pelosi will be "Speaker for Life," in order to try to do the right thing for the future of our country and families.

Related and background:

Sarah Palin and Doug Hoffman: Newt Gingrich and DeDe Scozzafava

Scozzafava endorses David Owens, Newt calls Scozzafava's exit left, "statesmanlike."

Newt Backs Doug Hoffman: Gingrich Age of Party leaders Picking People is Over

NRCC Backs Doug Hoffman: RNC Backs Doug Hoffman

NRCC wastes $900,000 on Scozzafava: What is the RNCC doing for Hoffman now?

Doug Hoffman and Sarah Palin's Endorsement