Infighting splits GOP support in New York race
When President Obama named Republican John McHugh as his Army secretary during the summer, he forced a special election in New York’s traditionally Republican 23rd Congressional District. What would have been a battle between the incumbent Republican candidate and a Democratic candidate for this U.S. House of Representative’s seat has instead turned into a battle between the moderate and conservative wings of the GOP.
With only two House races taking place this fall, one in California and the one that is getting all the attention in upstate New York, it puts the Republican Party-nominated candidate Dierdre Scozzafava and Conservative Party challenger Doug Hoffman in a battle that seems aimed at determining what direction that “Grand Old Party” is headed.
The excitement in this contest escalated because two giants in the GOP. Dick Armey and Newt Gingrich lined up on opposite sides of the conflict, each of them is trying to push what they feel is the right direction for the party to go in.
Armey’s candidate, Hoffman, would drive the party far to the right, while Gingrich’s support of the Republican choice Scozzafava would represent a more moderate candidate that would be more apt to attract votes from independents. And this leaves the Democratic candidate Bill Owens out there hoping to get the votes that a Democrat would normally get, and let the other two split the rest between them. Of course this is only speculation. The election isn’t until Tuesday.
What is so interesting to outside observers about this particular race is that it pits two former House Republican leaders against each other and begs the question as to whether the GOP is headed in the direction of a “big tent” party or a party made up solely of far-right “purists,” who demand all of their candidates walk the line or be threatened by the ever louder 20 percent, who could find it a real challenge to win in a national election.
Gingrich has let his feelings be known in various venues. He told Greta Van Sustern of Fox News, “And so this idea that we’re suddenly going to establish litmus tests, and all across the country, we’re going to purge the party of anybody who doesn’t agree with us 100 percent that guarantees Obama’s reelection. That guarantees Pelosi is Speaker for life. I mean, I think that is a very destructive model for the Republican Party.” He went on to say, “I believe in a Republican Party big enough to have representation in every part of the country, and I believe you don’t strengthen yourself by having a purge. You strengthen yourself by attracting more people, not by driving people away,” as was reported by Web site Politico.
Obviously the Republican Party in New York State, as well as many in Washington agrees with New Gingrich, including John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Pete Sessions and Peter King.
But those who line up behind Dick Armey and the Republican base claim they are in opposition to Gingrich’s philosophy. Some big names on the far right include former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, as well as outspoken House member Michelle Bachman, and Rick Santorum, Fred Thompson and Steve Forbes. All of these “Republicans” have come out and announced their support for the conservative third party candidate Doug Hoffman.
Dick Armey told Politico that, “It’s the first really great chance for small government conservatives to present themselves as attractive candidates in opposition to Obama. We treat this as an important opportunity for conservatives to win the race. We wish Republicans had picked a conservative.”
Armey and his “grassroots” volunteers are out in force in support of Hoffman. The New York Times reports that supporters have committed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the effort and plan to “run 800 radio spots, print 80,000 leaflets and 200 volunteers to work the polls” tomorrow. “Many of the workers acknowledge that their efforts could deliver the election to the Democratic candidate, but they say it is more important to send a message than to win the race.”
But a number of top Republicans are not so sure, fearing that undercutting their own party’s candidate could set a disastrous precedent heading into the all important 2010 midterm elections. Newt Gingrich defended his endorsement of Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava to the National Review by warning conservatives that “if you seek to be a perfect minority, you’ll remain a minority,” the Politico reported.
(Editor’s note: Over the weekend, after this commentary was written, Scazzofava suspended her campaign.)
ABOUT THE WRITER
Carol Jensen is a long-time Barstow resident, graduating from Kennedy High School and Barstow College, where she was an English instructor for many years. Much of her time now is spent writing political and social commentary. She may be contacted at cajensen49@msn.com.
