Scozzafava and the GOP civil war
Besieged by the hard right, moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava withdrew from NY-23: Is the GOP going too extreme?
Former Republican candidate for Congress in New York's 23rd district, Dede Scozzafava
(AP Photo/Todd Bissonette)
Palin-style conservatives claimed a big victory over the weekend as Dede Scozzafava, the moderate, pro-choice GOP nominee in a special election in New York’s 23rd congressional district, quit the race. Though the gay-rights-supporting Scozzafava further “betrayed” the GOP by endorsing the Democratic candidate, Bill Owens, a third-party conservative, Doug Hoffman, is surging in the polls—buoyed by support from the likes of Rush Limbaugh. What does Scozzafava’s force-out mean for the future of the GOP? (Watch our Sunday Talk Show Briefing on the GOP civil war and NY-23)
The GOP has become a party of doomed Stalinists: This “bloody national GOP civil war” between the party’s conservative and moderate wings is a gift to Democrats, says Frank Rich in The New York Times. It confirms “just how swiftly the right has devolved into a wacky, paranoid cult that is as eager to eat its own as it is to destroy Obama.” Whatever happens in the NY-23 election this Tuesday, “the Republicans are the sure losers.”
“The GOP Stalinists invade Upstate New York”
Hold on—why would any Republican back Scozzafava? I’m not sure why this is a big deal, says Jonathan Chait in The New Republic. Scozzafava, a “relative moderate” who supports abortion rights, gay marriage, and the stimulus in a solidly GOP district, was picked by “party bosses,” not voters. Why shouldn’t local conservatives try to elect “a more right-wing alternative”? Wouldn’t liberals pull a similar move if the tables were reversed?
“Third-party challenger = Stalinist?”
The GOP leadership needs to be more inclusive to survive: "If we don't get some adult supervision,” says former Virginia Rep. Tom Davis (R), quoted in the Associated Press, “basically the party could explode and split itself up." Republicans won’t be able to retake the majority with a far right agenda that excludes moderates.
“Future of GOP and moderate Republicans uncertain”
This is a wake-up call for the GOP, not a new agenda: This “voter revolt” could help “return the GOP to first principles,” says the Wall Street Journal in an editorial, and force the GOP elite to pay heed to "public dismay against the Democratic agenda.” But a “bloody-minded and intolerant” party won’t retake power any time soon, “and conservatives will do their cause no good by forcing GOP candidates in Illinois, California, and Connecticut to sound like Tom DeLay.”
“Revolt in New York”
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83 Comments
Posted by Aaron, Monday, November 2, 2009, 11:58 am Sounds to me like this person was a RINO and should not be running under the R ticket anyway. In any case, the GOP does not reflect truly conservative values anymore, so why should true conservatives worry about what the party bosses think or do?
Posted by John, Monday, November 2, 2009, 12:37 pm The GOP struggles to find power at any means possible, even it means turning on their own. They are an evil party who excludes anybody who does not follow their radical agenda or who isn't focused on making the superduper wealthy, wealthIER! While the GOP is busy playing musical chairs, the Democratic Party is busy working hard to provide Americans with healh care and trying to clean up the MESS that the Bush Administration left behind! The Democratic Party accepts everyone, regardless of race, gender or economic status!
Posted by Angela, Monday, November 2, 2009, 12:39 pm This is why I left the Republican Party and voted for President Barack Obama! And I am so proud I did! Republicans have lost their identity, they have no clear leadership or agenda. Their only agenda is to topple our President anyway they can! They have literally turned into the party of LOSERS.
Posted by Bob, Monday, November 2, 2009, 12:47 pm This is not isolated to the republican party. The same thing happening with progressive vs. moderate democrats is not a farfetched idea.
Posted by Ben, Monday, November 2, 2009, 12:58 pm It is apparent that the development that kicked out Republican Candidate in New York is a freightening new phenominon which every Republican should condemn. While I philosophically disagree with what Mrs. Dede Scozzafava espouses as I did with John McKay, but nevertheless, I voted for both of themabsentee ballot as a loyal Republican. The conversative candidate although would have been my first choice, he was not nominated by the county officials who nominated Ms. Dede Scozzafava out of the believe that her policies would defeat the democrat
Posted by Jackie Flaum, Monday, November 2, 2009, 12:59 pm I agree with Angela: I left the Republican Party after years of service, including campus president of the Young GOP and intern for US Senator. The right wing crazies do not begin to represent me...I feel uncomfortable about some of the president's policies but I'm far LESS happy with the GOP party of naysayers and mememe, don't touch mine. I've concluded that the current talk show Republicans and teabaggers love Amerca, but hate Americans.
Posted by Alan, Monday, November 2, 2009, 1:05 pm The Democrats struggle to find power at any means possible, even it means turning on their own Senator Liberman. They are an evil party who excludes anybody who does not follow their socialist agenda or who isn't focused on making higher taxes and an agenda of socialist government control. While the Democrats are busy praying to the Obama puppet, the Republicans are busy working hard to lower taxes, reduce government, and protect the US. The Republican Party believes in personal responsibility, not gov handouts.That, is the truth. Period.
Posted by Bethaney, Monday, November 2, 2009, 1:20 pm John, would you accept me as a Democrat? I don't believe in homosexual marriage, I believe the federal government is way too big, and I think taxing the super rich to pay for federal programs is shooting yourself in the foot. Hmm.... I guess that Democrats only accept people that believe the things they do. Which is the POINT of a political party. I think it is a little silly to think that the Democratic party is altruistic and above the behavior of the Republicans. That's politics, folks!
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