Dierdre Scozzafava, who has dropped her candidacy for New York's State House of Representatives in the face of a Conservative Party challenge.
(Heather Ainsworth/AP)Photos (1 of 1)
Tea Party Express jubilant as Scozzafava exits in NY-23
Scozzafava’s departure is a blow to the establishment GOP. But the latest development in upstate New York’s special congressional race also means ‘outsiders’ clearly are viable in US politics.
By Patrik Jonsson | Staff writer/ October 31, 2009 edition
Atlanta
After dramatically dropping behind in three-way polling, embattled New York Republican Dede Scozzafava jumped ship Saturday in the hotly-contested NY-23 congressional election scheduled for Tuesday.
That leaves the door wide open for Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, supported by national Republican figures like Sarah Palin and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, to take on Democrat challenger Bill Owens in a head-to-head special election in the historically Republican enclave.
Scozzafava “released” her endorsements on Saturday as she suspended her campaign, effectively dropping out. Pressure on her to bow out had increased as Mr. Hoffman quickly overtook her in the polls as national conservatives — as well as out of town volunteers — joined the fray. One fear was that Hoffman and Scozzafava would split the conservative vote, allowing a Democrat to take NY-23 for the first time since the 19th century.
More critically, Scozzafava’s decision is a sure sign that disaffected conservatives, symbolized by this summer’s national Tea Party protests and heated healthcare town halls, are surging across the US, forcing the Obama administration to rejigger election day expectations in key races in Virginia, New Jersey, and now New York.
But the Republican party, too, appears in disarray. The GOP, with the approval of Beltway philosophers like former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, had picked the socially liberal Scozzafava over the more libertarian Hoffman as its candidate, saying a moderate would stand a better chance of winning upstate New York. Judging by Saturday’s news, the Beltway Republicans were wrong.
The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder had this to say: “Republicans will derive two lessons from the results of this race. One is that the activist base of the party is becoming increasingly powerful in the one area that had eluded them: candidate selection. Democrats, believing that Republicans will conservatize-themselves to death demographically, will take this as a positive trend for the long-term. The second lesson is that populist, regular guy candidates win in supposedly ‘moderate’ districts.”
He adds: “The race had become a proxy for debates about the future of the party. Since the situation in NY-23 is so unusual, it may be folly to squeeze out more meaning than’s already present.”
John Hinderaker at Powerline Blog has a different view of Scozzafava’s decision: “It is not clear that Scozzafava’s withdrawal will help Hoffman, as by this point most of her support may well be coming from voters who are more closely aligned, ideologically, with Owens. Still, if Hoffman can win on Tuesday, it will be viewed as a watershed movement in the resurgence of conservatism.”
But the impact of those candidacies on the high-profile contests points to an anti-incumbent, anti-establishment sentiment that could be a prevailing theme in the 2010 congressional elections and beyond.
“What it says is the public is looking for less self-interested parties and candidates who can reflect the needs of a very frustrated public,” said Douglas Astolfi, a history professor at Florida’s St. Leo University. “We have two wars and we’re in a recession that neither party seems to address in any positive way. There’s a deep sense that government has abandoned the common man. People are frustrated and angry.”
The Twitterati, of course, went wild.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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Comments
3. Rob | 10.31.09
This election means nothing as far as President Obama and Democrats are concerned but this certainly further accelerates the GOP’s slide into irrelevance. The Tea Baggers and other far right whackos are trying to hijack the republicans party yet they only represent 10% of the republican party and perhaps 5% of the American electorate. Tea Baggers and conservatives are still going nowhere nationally. Good luck to the splintering GOP! In 2-3 years they probably wont even be a national party. America is overwhelmingly evolving to being a progressive country like 80% of the world’s population.
4. sophia | 10.31.09
The use of the word “populist” is increasingly applied to extremist Republicans. The root meaning of the word is “people.” Demagogues who rise to power by claiming to speak for “the people” are well-recognized by sociologists as proto-fascist.
Fascism arises in a democracy when the conservative party defers to extremists in order to gang up on the left wing parties. Beware.
5. Dr.Phillips | 10.31.09
It has been reported that Dede Scozzafava withdrew from the NY House race today. This is certainly good news for those of us who are not ashamed to fight for and uphold traditional conservative values. I continue however to be amazed at former House speaker Newt Gingrich who is purported to have said “I think we are going to get into a very difficult environment around the country if suddenly conservative leaders decide they’re going to anoint people without regard to local primaries and local choices.”
Mr. Gingrich, in announcing your support of Scozzafava that’s exactly what you did since she was confirmed by backroom bosses, ignoring the counsel of the people, and without benefit of a primary. Newt, I am not ashamed of my commitment to a conservative Republican party and candidates. The era of the RINO’s is over, and if you do not realize this fact, and continue your worthless bipartisan efforts you would be wise to withdraw your own actions toward a presidential nomination.
6. Dan Francis | 10.31.09
Prof. Astolfi is correct in saying, “What it says is the public is looking for less self-interested parties and candidates who can reflect the needs of a very frustrated public. We have two wars and we’re in a recession that neither party seems to address in any positive way. There’s a deep sense that government has abandoned the common man. People are frustrated and angry.”
I tried to raise those issues twice, in my short run in 2008 (didn’t get the petitions from DEMS to get on the ballot) and in this race - county chairs picked OWENS, a non-DEM for a DEM slot. I am retired USMC, former infantry (both oficer and enlisted with 2 tours in VN, and former Interrogator (10 years and 2 years with DOD), and fomer teacher grades 1-12 and CC levels.
Owens is not a Dem and can’t be one legally until after this election. The Dems up around here seldom give a person a second chance to make a first impression and back them for a second run, and I’m a lifelong DEM. But, this race underscores one thing that has been missing for many many decades for DEMs here: when the party, money and machine gets behind someone, even a non-DEM their chances grow considerably… but for me, I’m tired of this worn out process of a select few setting the rules for the majority…
7. Web Smith | 10.31.09
The problem is that we had the far left wackos in charge, then the far right wackos, and now the far left wackos again. As a result, over 50% of the American public now favors the formation of a 3rd party which is not affected by the terminal disease of party brain and can think for its self to make decisions for the good of the country and its constituents.
Neither Palin or Pawlenty are Tea Party members. They are just trying to latch on tho resurrect their failing political careers.
8. L Anderson | 10.31.09
Extremist? Hardly. 40% of Americans interviewed in national Gallup Poll surveys describe their political views as conservative, 35% as moderate, and 21% as liberal. If anything the dropping out of the GOP LIBERAL candidate shows that the GOP is far from hijacked.
9. BK | 10.31.09
It’s amazing how conservatives no not respond to the name calling (right Wing Whackos) by the left. Must be a difference in morals and character.
10. Jay | 11.01.09
The name calling from the left is just the all too typical arrogant condecension from those that call themselves tolerant of others. It is this same intolerance that woke me from my A-political slumber a few years ago (remember all the hatefull attacks on a man that vowed not to forget 911). I have HOPE that they keep it up and expose themselves. Perhaps more Americans will become aware before its too late.
11. cj | 11.01.09
I don’t think we want to be like the other 80 percent of the world.
We need smaller government, less spending, and individual FREEDOM!
Definitely CONSERVATIVE ideas.
12. fjc | 11.01.09
Our friends, these self-named American patriots, remind me too much of the sheep that followed a certain man with a funny mustache and who, when it was all over, begged ignorence. If you do not agree with their views then you are a traitor and should be gotten rid of.
Not so long ago they were accusing most of those they were in disagreement with of not supporting our president. Now that they are doing the same, they call it patriotism. Beware of those hiding behind a flag for they will destroy this country. Hypocrites all!
13. Michael | 11.01.09
“traditional conservative values” You still believe in that lie? What a fool!
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1. windrider | 10.31.09
Well, now we’ll see how many Republicans vote for Hoffman and how many stay home, infuriated that once again, their party is being hijacked by fanatics and extremists