Thread: Republican Leaders Seeing the Light and Going Conservative?

Republican Leaders Seeing the Light and Going Conservative?


Posted by Bobby Eberle
October 30, 2009 at 8:03 am

There is something fascinating occurring in the state of New York. In a special election for the state's 23rd congressional district, some Republican leaders are bucking the Republican Party establishment and supporting the Conservative Party's candidate, Doug Hoffman.

Polls show Hoffman surging in these closing days. The election is on Tuesday. The Republican candidate -- the one supported by the establishment -- is more liberal than almost half of the Democrats in the state legislature. Rather than sticking up for conservative values, so-called Republican "leaders" have once again gone with a pick that doesn't represent the true Republican Party. Perhaps now, with some Republican office holders turning away from this approach and supporting the "true" Republican, we can send a message that conservative leadership is what America is looking for!

So here we have it. On November 3, 2009, the voters of New York's 23rd congressional district will select a new representative in a special election. The Republican nominee, Dede Scozzafava, the one supported by the National Republican Congressional Committee and the likes of Newt Gingrich, supports gay marriage and is pro-abortion. As I noted in a previous column from the blog New Majority:

Across the country, Republicans are scratching their heads and wondering, "How in the world did we end up with Scozzafava?" How did the GOP pick someone who is in favor of card check and had been approached by the Democrats to be their nominee? How did the Republicans in upstate New York choose a candidate who, according to one rating system, is more liberal than 43% of New York State Assembly Democrats?
How? The answer is easy. The reason Scozzafava was supported was because the Republican establishment doesn't believe in the conservative cause. They think that Republicans can beat Democrats by acting like Democrats. We all see what big spending, corruption, and lack of principles regarding illegal immigration got us: back to back election defeats in 2006 and 2008. We did not lead with conservative values. We had a moderate nominee in 2008. We lost! And now the strategy is to go more moderate? Give me a break!

I'll never forget going up to Washington, DC earlier this year to cover the election for Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman. I heard speech after speech from so-called Republican "leaders" saying that the Republican Party was turning away from being a regional (i.e., Southern) party. In other words, the message from the speakers was that to win nationally, the Republican Party had to be more moderate. More moderate than what??? That's my question. They sure weren't conservative when they were spending and spending. They sure weren't conservative when they passed the massive entitlement for prescription drugs. They sure weren't conservative when they tried to grant amnesty to illegal aliens.

But look at what is happening now in New York's 23rd. Again... this district is in New York. It's not in Georgia, it's not in Mississippi, and it's not in Tennessee. This is a New York district that is truly a toss-up, and more and more voters are turning to the Conservative Party's candidate, Doug Hoffman.

As noted in a story on Politico.com, a recent poll shows Hoffman only one point behind Democrat Bill Owens, 33 percent to 32 percent. Scozzafava is in third with 21 percent. Among Republicans, Hoffman leads Scozzafava 41 to 34 percent. Thus, Republicans in the district are identifying more and more with the candidate who is actually more Republican.

Republican leaders are starting to step forward and see the light as well.

While the NRCC-along with House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.)--have all thrown their backing to Scozzafava, grassroots conservatives have revolted against the GOP nominee, asserting that she is too liberal for them to support. Some have even called for conservatives to withhold donations from the NRCC in protest.

On Thursday afternoon, (NRCC Chairman Pete) Sessions appeared to tacitly acknowledge that Hoffman may represent the GOP's best chance to keep the Republican-held seat from being picked up by a Democrat.

"I think it's pretty clear that a person who would vote for John Boehner, support tax cuts, support growing our economy, and defeat Nancy Pelosi's tax and spend agenda will be really welcome in our conference, and I think having a person who can win that district off that message would be really good for the Republican Party," Sessions said.
Republican endorsements for Hoffman include Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, and former presidential candidate Fred Thompson. In addition, as Politico.com notes, former NRCC Chairman Tom Cole is endorsing Hoffman.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, in his endorsement, called Hoffman "the true conservative candidate in NY-23."

There is a reason that our party lost power in Washington, D.C. A lot of folks went to Congress wearing the Republican jersey, but far too many played the game like Democrats. People all around Texas -- and frankly, all around this country -- are fed up with the federal government running up trillion-dollar deficits and mortgaging our kids' future. From Obamacare to cap-and-trade, there are simply too many critical issues at stake right now to send yet another rubber stamp for this administration to Washington.
Republicans can win by sticking with a strong conservative message. That is the ONLY way to go. It shows a complete lack of vision and guts to support someone like Scozzafava who is not anywhere close to what a true Republican has been in the past. Gingrich's logic was that we need to support the likes of Scozzafava to retake the majority. At what cost? First, conservatives can win! Second, when you support the likes of Scozzafava, who get candidate who will switch parties once elected. Third, if they don't switch outright, then they block key conservative legislation. That's what we want in a "Republican" candidate?

Let's stick to conservative principles. Then we can not only win, but we can move the country forward.
http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=47

The question is are they really seeing the light? I think it is hard to believe we can not find politicians who are willing to take a firm stand against illegal immigration....we need some back bone in offices across this country and in DC.