Ellis - NY23: What It Meant And What It Didn't Mean

[Terri]

By John Ellis
November 6, 2009

When dismal polls forced Dede Scozzafava out of the NY23 congressional race, the mainstream media were quick to interpret what had happened in a way that was unflattering to the GOP, and they have continued in the same vein after the election. In the New York Times, Adam Nagourney and Jeremy Peters wrote that Scozzafava's views "might not be in keeping with much of the national party, but are more reflective of the district." The Washington Post agreed that she "seemed a good fit for a moderate district but was out of step with national Republicans." And Thomas Fitzgerald in the Philadelphia Inquirer said that the race "had become a knife fight between conservative Republican purists and pragmatists over the future of the party." The thrust was clear: a moderate district wanted a Republican moderate, but the intolerant conservative orthodoxy intervened to enforce ideological purity.

But none of this was true.

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[Goatlady]

I have been leery of Newt Gingrich for a long time now even on this forum where it earned me some criticism. He has tried to have it both ways on many issues. I was disgusted with him over the commercial he did with Pelosi about global warming. I hope people see Newt's true colors now and don't just blindly follow him.

[greg]

Here's one thing that it meant, in the solid Democrat Obama tradition of integrity and honesty (truth in advertising):

Owens Breaks 4 Campaign Promises in first hour in Congress (Northern NY News)

Owens indicated in a press release released shortly afterwards that he was now in favor of the the "Affordable Healthcare for America Act" bill in direct contrast to his earlier position during the election campaign.

According to Politico.com, Mr. Owens assured voters that he felt the public option had no place in the health care reform bill. Contrary to that position, Mr. Owens now indicates that he intends to vote in favor of the bill even though it now contains a public option.

From Politico:

It's dangerous to read too much into any localized special elections, but the political leanings of the Democratic nominee in an upstate New York race may be a sign of things to come for the 2010 cycle.

Bill Owens, who hopes to replace Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.), has come out against the public insurance option, saying it doesn't belong in the House health reform bill. Owens is actually a registered independent, another sign that some Democrats running in conservative districts may need a little distance from President Obama for the time being.

Draw your own conclusions.


Doug Hoffman should run again starting now taking advantage of this local reportage to win next November.

[Charie]

You're right, Greg. Hoffman should hit the ground running right now and make sure every voter in the 23rd knows every time Owens lied through his pearly whites. Maybe he could make a big thermometer as is done when a town starts a big project done with donations. I'm sure, with Owens history he'll have mercury spouting out the top before the year's half through.

once the details of Scozzafava's leftist record became known the party united with remarkable speed

Just the fact that Newt and the rest of the NRCC had no idea of who and what she was before endorsing her is troubling to say the least. Further, for Newt to weasel out on this tells me that he is, shall I say, ethically challenged.

I was much bothered when he divorced his wife who had cancer, even more so when he seemed to be unable to keep his pants zipped and it makes me sick that he's writing books and going around the country with God and Callista. Anyone who is that much of a hypocrite has no business trying to be a leader of anything.

A lot of people say, "It's only sex," but I maintain that a person who can't be true to his marriage can't be true to his constituency, either.

Sure hope he isn't planning to run for president in 3 years.