GOP Ex-Candidate Backs Dem. in N.Y. Race

Republican Dierdre Scozzafava, Who Suspended Her Campaign Sunday, Endorses Democrat Bill Owens

(AP)  A day after Republican state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava abruptly suspended her campaign for a New York congressional seat, she announced Sunday she's endorsing the Democrat in the race - not the Conservative Party candidate favored by fellow Republicans.

Scozzafava said Democrat Bill Owens would be better at building on the legacy of Republican John McHugh, who previously represented the 23rd Congressional District. McHugh vacated the seat after accepting a position in the Obama administration as secretary of the Army. The special election to replace him is scheduled for Tuesday.

"John and I worked together on the expansion of Fort Drum and I know how important that base is to the economy of this region," said Scozzafava's statement. "I am confident that Bill will be able to provide the leadership and continuity of support to Drum Country just as John did during his tenure in Congress."

Scozzafava added, "It's not in the cards for me to be your representative."

A recent Siena College poll showed Scozzafava finishing a distant third behind Owens and conservative Doug Hoffman. Big-name Republicans including Sarah Palin and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson threw their support behind Hoffman.

The race pitted conservative and moderate wings of the Republican Party. Hoffman painted Scozzafava as too liberal, specifically noting her support of abortion rights and same-sex marriage. He told voters in the historically GOP district that she's not the kind of Republican they want representing their interests in a Democrat-led Congress.

Owens released a statement saying he's honored to receive the endorsement.

"Over the course of her career, Dede has always committed to serving the people of Upstate New York before serving a partisan agenda. I have a tremendous amount of respect for what she's accomplished," Owens said.

[formrusmcsgt]

Neocon Purity Test

1. Do you take the Bible as a factual document to be used as the blueprint for our domestic and foreign policy formulation?

2. Do you think "Creation", as defined in the Book of Genesis, accurately details the process of our existence?

3. Do you believe that the government should decide for all what is acceptable in regards to individual "morality" issues?

4. Do you think we should have religious endorsements on our currency?

5. Do you think the U.S. should pursue foreign policy that benefits only the U.S. as opposed to working for the common good?


If ANY question is answered with a "yes" response, pack your $#!- and git you LIBERAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[formrusmcsgt]

....make that ANY "no" answers....sheesh.

[formrusmcsgt]

From The Neocon Field Manual (Definitions)-

"Purge" - grow the party by reducing our ranks to include only the ideologically "pure".

Note: When moderates are purged, they are to be immediately and incessantly attacked as traitors. (See page 63 for suggested attack strategies.)

[robinspp]

Do you think any woman can support the Republican Party?

[formrusmcsgt]

Sure they can if they're dogma drones and ignore a woman's right to choice.

It helps if they're xenophobes as well....

[robinspp]

Right wing extremists only can survive in Republican Party. People with common sense cannot be in that party.

[formrusmcsgt]

Cloin Powell might be able to express it best......

[skyk-2009]

I think it's great that this REAL Republican saw fit to endorse the Democratic Candidate. I'm sure if the Extremist had stayed out of this race the district would have been won by her and the local party. That is not the case and it is in the best interest of the district that someone who knows about the issues confronting them the district represent it. When we finally reject the Confederate Party, AGAIN, with it's hate for the UNITED States, we will again be able to move forward.

[formrusmcsgt]

The best thing that could happen for the U.S. in the long run would be for the repubs to continue to show moderates that they have no voice nor are even welcome in the party.

Their "Extremists Only" policy will give them purity alright, while reducing them to fringe status.

Please proceed with all due haste.

[michaelm07]

Logically speaking, her endorsement demonstrates her true colors now, doesn't it. This is why the Constitutional candidate will win. There is no longer any difference between the two major parties. Dems as well as Reps are disgusted with their parties.

Obama was a proptest vote against Bush and the status quo. 2010 will be the same. Tomorrow's elections will be very interesting to watch.

[babooph]

The KKK also claimed to be a Christian outfit-like modern republicans their reading ability was lacking...their "new " bible is much like a comic book & they still do not get it.

[natdef_1]

I recommend a mental health professional for you.

[proudmilvet]

Looks like the Republicans stepped on their own Dick with this one! LOL!!

[natdef_1]

Interesting comment, especially since the candidate who got pushed out is a woman...

[Former_Marine_Sgt]

THey stepped on thier own Dick with this one?

Cheney? where's Cheney?

;-)

[natdef_1]

CONTRARY to what many of the liberal bloggers have stated, the Conservative Party does NOT have specific positions on things like abortion or gay rights. Under its platform, which is based on a Madisonian model of LIMITED federal government power, the Party believes that such issues are RESERVED for the STATES to decide.

The American Conservative Party has a great platform, with which any freedom-loving American can identify. If you are uninformed about it, avoid falling for the hateful, ignorant, and incorrect statements on this board and check it out for yourself.

[Former_Marine_Sgt]

So constitutionally protected rights like equal rights are state rights? Wow. I didn't know that the Madisonial model supported not allowing equal rights to people.

Not supporting gay rights at the national level is saying that civil rights are not a federal issue.

Religious arguments cannot decide gay rights - Not everyone happens to follow the ideal that Christianity is written into the constitution of this country as -the- one and only religion. The United States is not a Christian religious theocracy. AND that was darn sure not written into the constitution than any state can do whatever they want with denying any person equal civil rights.

[skyk-2009]

natdef_1, have you ever actually READ the 14th Amendment or actually figured out who WON the Civil War? We have learned, those of us who wish to learn that is, that you can NOT leave such things as rights to the States.

This is what the 14th Amendment says; "No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States, nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; NOR DENY ANY PERSON WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION THE EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAWS."

It is the LAW of the Land, it ended "States Rights" AND it is WRITTEN in BLOOD!

[stn_sage]

The Republicans are certainly making maximum effort to get the NY 23rd district seat by whatever measures are necessary...including 'headgames'!

Nice touch! Scozzafava QUITS the race...then turns around and ENDORSES the Democrat! Probably, hoping to suppress any moderate Reps who absolutely WILL NOT vote for Hoffman...from voting for Owens, the Democrat!

Well...don't count on THAT to work! A lot of the moderate Reps are probably going to want to vote for the Dem than another extremist, far right-winger!

[jsilver2th]

Republicans that these freaks would kick out of the Republican Party today as satanists:

(1) Barry Goldwater - pro-choice & pro-gayBarry Goldwater:

"A lot of so-called conservatives today don't know what the word means. They think I've turned liberal because I believe a woman has a right to an abortion. That's a decision that's up to the pregnant woman, not up to the pope or some do-gooders on the religious right. It's not a conservative issue at all."


(2) Gerald Ford - pro-choice & pro-gay
(3) George HW Bush- pro-choice
(4) Dick Cheney- pro-gay
(5) Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson on Abortion: "Government should stay out of it... The ultimate decision must be made by the women... Government should treat its citizens as adults capable of making moral decisions on their own." -- Fred Thompson, July 1994

AND EVEN MICHEAL STEELE on FOX NEWS:

"Michael Steele, the new chairman of the Republican National Committee wants the GOP to reach out to candidates who support gay marriage and are pro-choice. Steele told Fox's Chris Wallace that it was "important" to reach out to those voters.

WALLACE: You are one of the co-founders of something called the Republican Leadership Council which supports candidates who favor abortion and gay rights.

STEELE: Yes.

WALLACE: Does the GOP needs to do a better job of reaching out to people who hold those views?

STEELE: I think -- I think that's an important opportunity for us, absolutely. Within our party we do have those who have that view as well as outside and my partnership with Christy Todd Whittman was an effort to build a bridge between moderates and conservatives."

HA HA HA HA HA HA

I don't think the Democrats could ever do this on their own...

[vcponsardin1]

Oh, it's so much fun watching the GOP implode from its own lunatic fringe. With fewer and fewer people identifying themselves as Republicans (a mere 17% in the most recent Wall Street Journal poll, as opposed to 30% who call themselved Democrats), the end of the GOP and the American conservative movement, led by Limbaugh and Beck, is eminent.

[mooksie1]

I suppose Scozzafava was never a true Republican, nor a moderate, but a liberal, and a turn-coat to boot. However, I say good riddance to her and to her kinds of beliefs. She supports gay rights (same-sex marriage) as well as abortion on demand. No true conservative will support such issues. Doug Hoffman will likely win in New York. We need him amongst all the liberal crazy clap-trap.

[jsilver2th]

You people are priceless! No "true conservative" will support gay rights and pro-choice? HA HA HA- How about Barry Goldwater for example? Lauded by the John Birch Society as father of the modern conservative movement? And the Gerald Ford must have been a satanist as well-

The next election will be a push over for the Democrats!

You betcha! Wink Wink- Thanks Sarah-

Here's all the Democrats will have to say:

If you believe history started more than 6000 years ago- Vote Democratic-

If you don't believe history started only 6000 years ago in "speaking in tongues" is your direct link to Jesus- get out of the Republican Party- good riddance!

Just priceless! Gotcha!

[toldyouso21]

by klgrube1 November 1, 2009 8:47 PM EST
Your comment about my wanting to 'bestow' my beliefs on others is laughable. What do you think the Dems in Congress are trying to do with trying to force us all to buy health insurance, raising our taxes, and trying to take away our freedom of speech by passing so-called "Hate Crimes" legislation?"


"Beliefs" refers to spiritual or religious leanings and is entirely subjective. Since it involves something as subjective as religion and a person's personal view, no person should seek to make his view of religion become the law of the land--that is what is meant by separation of church and state. If you don't believe abortions are right--don't have them. But your "belief" should begin and end with your own body and your own acts.

Prostitution was legal in Christ's day as was infanticide;/abortions---you did not see him campaigning against it though--that is because Jesus was smart enough to recognize what are the "laws of men" and what laws from God He came to clarify. It is a sad commentary indeed that so called followers of Him have designated themselves side kicks and actually turn more people away from both God and religion by their political antics. If abortion is wrong--then don't YOU do it--but all of you need to stop trying to make earth into some sort of reflection of Christianity--it will never happen. God plans to destroy this world, if you truly believe in Christ--invest in the world to come and stop trying to remake what God promised that He would eventually destroy--it only shows that many Christians are materially and fleshly oriented and can't let go of this world or the perceived power and control that they want from it.

Imagine, if every religion sought to make their beliefs YOUR laws. This is why the far right is called the Religious Taliban of America--because the belief system and way you guys plan on enforcing your beliefs is very similar to Islamic countries.

[IrishWench01]

Excellent post!

[randomlybanned]

Well, I guess we can see her true colors now. Not like anyone ever had any doubt that she was just a stupid lib to begin with.

[debinok1]

My biggest problem with the Republican Ultra-Conservatives is and always will be their supposed "Strong Christian Values" all the while they vote against the poor, the children, the elderly, the sick, and their fellow man. Those are the "Christian Values" I learned in sunday school as a child, yet those are the things they fight against. That has never made much sense to me.

[BeckieBest]

There is nothing remotely Christian about them.

There are few groups of people who embody the teachings of Christ less than modern conservatives.

If Christ ever did come back, they'd surely crucify him again for not being conservative enough.

[velma179]

by BeckieBest November 1, 2009 9:55 PM EST

"If Christ ever did come back, they'd surely crucify him again for not being conservative enough."

AGAIN... yes.

This ideology has been around for a long time. Hypocrisy hasn't changed.

[debinok1]

Exactly my point. The "values" they claim to be the foundation of their party are nowhere near what "true Christian values" are. Nowhere in the Bible does it teach the lesson of "I have mine, you get your own".

[mbburch06]

I'm not a Christian, but you have to admit they do a tremendous amount for the poor in this country and around the world. They do it through VOLUNTARY charity, not government programs. Just because you oppose state-sponsored wealth redistribution (ie theft) does not mean you are "against the poor." Government programs to "help the poor" are nothing more than a scheme for politicians to build a class of people who are permanently dependent on the state for their wellbeing. Poverty rates have gone up since The Great Society despite trillions in spending, while politicians have become more powerful.

Perhaps the Christians are on to something?

[dd7979]

It just proves her critics right. Scozzafava was a RINO(Republican in name only) and now there isn't a doubt. I think this only helps Hoffman even more. Scozzafava is a quisling and should be booted out of the GOP. I doubt she'd win in a Republican primary for her assembly seat.

[BeckieBest]

By your definition of Republican, the "true" Republicans are a small group of extreme right wing lunatics who march in lockstep with Rush Limbough and Sarah Palin.

[tonyatq]

The GOP destroyed this women and you expected her to support a man that does even live in the district. The only way you can be a Republican you have to lead be Rush, Beck, and Palin. These people only care about their own pockets.

[antoniof123]

The republicans haven't figured it out they have moved so far to the right that they are no longer conservatives they are reactionaries and that means facism.

They are moving themselves right into the abyss.

Good luck with that move right wing nuts.

Soon there will be no moderates left in the Republican party.

[skyk-2009]

antoniof123, what do you mean soon? My neighbor was a republican for 35 years... he is NO MORE!

[velma179]

Well, one thing in Owens' favor --- The photo is actually him!

:)