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'Republican' Scozzafava endorses Democrat against Conservative Party's Hoffman UPDATED!

By: Mark Tapscott
Editorial Page Editor
11/01/09 2:49 PM EST

Only hours after suspending her campaign for the good of the Republican Party, liberal Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava has now endorsed Democrat Bill Owens for in Tuesday's special election to fill the upstate New York congressional seat vacated by Rep. John McHugh, R-NY.

In a statement published by the Watertown Daily Times and linked at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee web site, Scozzafava encouraged voters to support her former Democratic opponent instead of Conservative Party of New York nominee Doug Hoffman, who is in a dead heat with Owens, according to polls.

"I am supporting Bill Owens for Congress and urge you to do the same," Scozzafava said. "In Bill Owens, I see a sense of duty and integrity that will guide him beyond political partisanship. He will be an independent voice devoted to doing what is right for New York. Bill understands this district and its people, and when he represents us in Congress he will put our interests first."

In her statement Friday announcing suspension of her campaign Scozzafava said "I am and have always been a proud Republican. It is my hope that with my actions today, my party will emerge stronger ..."

UPDATE: No surprise, says CP head

Mike Long, chairman of the Conservative Party of New York is not surprised to hear of Scozzafava's endorsement of Democrat Bill Owens: "We always said Assemblywoman Scozzafava and Bill Owens were a pair of liberals. Doug Hoffman remains the only alternative to giving Nancy Pelosi another vote for her liberal agenda in Congress."

Similarly, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which has been among the most aggressive and effective national organizations working for Hoffman, had this to say about Scozzafava's latest decision:

“By her actions today Dede Scozzafava has confirmed why it was so important for conservatives and people who care about the GOP to get involved in this race.

"Doug Hoffman's candidacy is based upon the core principles of limited government, lower taxes and strong family values.

"When a GOP candidacy is not based on fundamental conservative values, the party and the principles are inevitably betrayed at critical moments.

"In this race and in future races, we will stand for the candidates who firmly believe in these fundamental American ideals. These principles are not only right, they are the path to electoral victory."

UPDATE II: Why can't moderates play nice with conservatives?

RedState.com's Erick Erickson notes multiple examples of moderate GOPers losing primary battles with more conservative challengers, then either endorsing the Democrat or doing little or nothing to help the Republican candidate.

Playing nice has to go both ways, Erickson writes: "All the time we hear 'conservatives can’t win the general' and 'conservatives should play nice with moderates.' The record shows that the moderates cannot take losing and conservatives don’t win the general because the moderate GOP stabs them in the back. If we are a team, it can’t just be the conservative players in trouble for not passing the ball."

UPDATE III: White House, Schumer moved Scozzafava

White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, lobbied Scozzafava to endorse Owens, according to the Watertown Daily News, quoting Schumer's spokesman.

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Reader Comments

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Examiner or its staff. Comment box is limited to 250 words.

Tom

Nov 1, 2009

Moderates and centrists are not welcome in the Republican Party. You belong in the Democratic Party.

Nov 1, 2009

People who actually care about the Declaration of Independence and Constitution should be voted into office regardless of Party affiliation.

WHAT!!!

Nov 1, 2009

Scozzafava is a traitor. There is no way she was a real Republican. Now the Republicans who were going to vote for her and didn't realize her record will probably throw their support for Hoffman.

StopSocialism

Nov 1, 2009

What a TOTAL "B". The good news is that she is fully exposed for the disgusting person she is now. If the loony-left had elected her (she is even more loony than her d-crat opponent), there was a good chance she would have pulled a specter and switched to her REAL party then.

Exposed!

Nov 1, 2009

The ends justified the means for Scozzafava. Her goal was always to switch Partys in the end.

LadyChurchill

Nov 1, 2009

This woman is no moderate she is a liberal. She belongs in the democrat high tax, no rights party. She is for card check which takes away the secret ballot and for cap and trade which takes away your energy independence.

ggordon

Nov 1, 2009

she is irrelevant. this is her way to strike back like a spoiled child.

Mad Monica

Nov 1, 2009

Not a surprise to me. I knew this woman wasn't a republican. She should be drummed from the party. And any money the GOP gave her oughta be returned. Typical RINO behavior.

Tex Expatriate

Nov 1, 2009

All of today's Democrats "moderate" Republicans are socialists or fascists, and need to be understood that way. Only Conservatives are genuine Americans. A real genuine American does not support socialism or fascism.

markit8dude

Nov 1, 2009

The other posters said the sentiments I feel regarding Scozz..

It'll be interesting the spin Gingrich will put in his editorial regarding his choosing this RINO rather than Hoffman.

ladybug

Nov 1, 2009

Now the voters have a clear choice between a liberal candidate and a conservative candidate. I'm not sure what attracted the selection committee to Dede, but she doesn't seem to have the fire in the belly to make it to election day, so better she bow out and let the voters not be distracted by her.

And and question for Newt Gingerich, why did you think she would vote with the Republicans?

songspiritUSA

Nov 1, 2009

Agree - Scozzafava is a liberal, and a phony without any integrity. Why isn't anyone asking why moderates and conservatives aren't welcome in the Democratic party? That is, if they have any integrity. It's the Dems and other "living Constitutionalists" that are in trouble. Americans who have always loved this country are plenty P'O'd.

Sdsali

Nov 2, 2009

Scozzafava isn't a moderate. She is a liberal. Someone who wants to cut taxes and spending, use a free market approach to resolve health care supply issues, is in favor of civil unions but not gay marriage, opposes late term abortions But not early term abortions, --that's a moderate. We have plenty of room for moderates-- that is people near the center. Scozzafava was a leftists masquerading. She refused to even pledge to stay Republican. All we ask is that people who ask for our support be more conservative than Nancy Pelosi.

Choose Liberty!

Nov 2, 2009

In addition to Gingrich, RNC Chief Richard Steele should be held accountable for supporting this RINO. As late as last Thursday, Hannity called Steele on his support for RINO Scuzzyfava and Steele stood strongly behind the candidate the local RINO party officials selected. This is exactly the reason the Republican Party is in Big Trouble! Replace Steele before its too late!

BornFreeAmerican

Nov 2, 2009

She had a huge "LD" (liberal democrat) on her forehead!! Newt, Michael Steele, we will not stand for RINO's! Are you listening? Can you hear us now?? Conservative all the way baby!

NoRino

Nov 2, 2009

Scozzafava was a fraud and hopefully this will be a wake up call to all the other district party leaders develop a spine.

libertieschild

Nov 2, 2009

As millions of Americans were putting on masks this Halloween, Dede was made to take her mask off. Now we see her for what she truly was a wolf in sheeps clothing, who no doubt would have shown her true colors by voting with Pelosi. Thank GOD and that scheme was thwarted. Let us continue to remind the ruling class the consept of a GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE.

Perspective

Nov 3, 2009

Wow, just found out that the RNC, too late to the table but still, at least they finally endorsed the correct candidate who is an ACTUAL Repbublican, Hoffman. If they keep this up, maybe I will start sending them money again. Quit a couple years ago when I finally figured out they were cutting me off at the knees and endorsing nothing by RINOs. By the time McCain came along we had no real Republicans AKA VERY SMALL FED GOV left to rep the Party,just socialists, who are to the right of the marxists now in power, but still, not Republicans.

Well, the RINOS are now well represented by Skuzzy, aren't they? Quite too late to stop the absentees from voting for her, then throw her weight behind a Democrat. Way to go RINO Skuzzy!!

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'Republican' Scozzafava endorses Democrat against Conservative Party's Hoffman UPDATED!

By: Mark Tapscott
Editorial Page Editor
11/01/09 2:49 PM EST