Gingrich endorses Scozzafava in NY-23 race ('Future of the party')

The Hill ^ | Oct. 16, 2009 | Tony Romm

[ConservativeMind]

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) may have stepped into a political quagmire after endorsing a moderate New York Republican's special election bid.

A host of GOP leaders have tried to distance themselves from the ongoing showdown between Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, a centrist Republican, and Doug Hoffman, the local Conservative Party's candidate. But Gingrich offered his perspective to the three-way contest for now-Army Secretary John McHugh's vacant seat on Friday when he became one of only a handful of conservative Republicans to openly back his party's struggling candidate.

“The special election for the 23rd Congressional District is an important test leading up to the mid-term 2010 elections,” Gingrich said of Scozzafava's candidacy in a statement to supporters, as reported by the The Post-Standard. “Our best chance to put responsible and principled leaders in Washington starts here, with Dede Scozzafava.”

Gingrich's key endorsement could spell good news for Scozzafava, heretofore supported only lukewarmly by her own party. Already, the Club for Growth, Concerned Women of America, evangelical leader Gary Bauer, former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) and a host of other GOP supporters and lawmakers have sided with Hoffman, who has recently posted gains in preliminary polls.

By contrast, only about 17 Republicans have even written checks to Scozzafava's campaign, and the party's conference chairman -- Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.) -- has altogether steered clear of the tough race.

At issue for some unsure Republicans seems to be a fear of a possible political backlash. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Tx.) knows that feeling all too well; after he announced his backing for Scozzafava, his conservative base attacked him viciously, specifically harping intimidate details of his personal life.

Gingrich, however, seems not to care about this brewing, inner-party divide. Instead, he championed Scozzafava's candidacy on Friday as the future of the party -- not necessarily the harbinger for a lingering party divide, as some pundits have speculated.

“The Republican Revolution in 1994 started very much like what we see today,” the former speaker said. “Like then, our country is reeling from misguided liberal policies, high taxes and out-of-control spending. This special election in New York’s 23rd Congressional District could be the first election of the new Republican Revolution, but we need the momentum to get it started.”

[Theodore R.]

I feel sorry for the lady that calls every week so faithfully from the Newton Gingrich organization. I just tell her I am “unable” to contribute and hang up. Next time, I can tell her that Newton is unreliable, but she probably already knows that.

[Theodore R.]

Newton did to Dornan what Trent Lott did to Woody Jenkins in the race against Mary Landrieu in LA. Turned out Lott’s indicted brother-in-law is a close friend of Landrieu’s. People in LA can’t figure it out: they turned on Jenkins and embraced Landrieu.

[stripes1776]

Gingrich is an opportunist. Now with his liberal third wifee, he wants to cozy up to the left-wing of the Republican party. Newt is becoming as relevant as that other politician from his state of Georgia--Jimmy Carter.

[Impy]

That same year many freepers including me were supporting black Republican Vernon Robinson in NC. He was at the time slandering his opponent Virgina Foxx as a Hillary Clinton clone, clearly big time bull.

[mentor2k]

You must have misunderstood my post. No where did I say "Hooray for Newt!! At least Scozzafava has an "R" in front of her name". Please, don't be so quick to scoff at people, especially when you know absolutely NOTHING about them (and I'm not talking about Scozzafava or Gingrich).

This is the same kind of mindless reactionary response that gives the conservatives a bad name. Please show a little thoughtfulness. All that I said was that it's puzzling to me why, and that I'm going to keep my eye on the situation.

[Impy]

Looking at Florida endorsement retraction

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/30/Opinion/McCollum_for_GOP.shtml

It actually doesn’t mention gay staffers in the Martinez camp. It just objects to the “bigotry” of the ads, natch.

[workerbee]

LOL.

You serious?

Spare me your lectures. And grow a thicker skin.

[McGruff]

Bumping for those with short attention span.

[Joe 6-pack]

I’ll see your October 19th Bump and raise you a December 3rd ;-)

[EternalVigilance]

"In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate — look to his character."

-- Noah Webster

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”

-- John Quincy Adams

"Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual--or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country. "

-- Samuel Adams

“There remains the one standard that has not yet been universally used, namely, the choosing of candidates on moral grounds. A nation always gets the kind of politicians it deserves. When our moral standards are different, our legislation will be different. As long as the decent people refuse to believe that morality must manifest itself in every sphere of human activity, including the political, they will not meet the challenge of Marxism. Contemporary history proves that modern political leaders, devoid of a moral inspiration and relying solely on a mass basis (might makes right), proves ineffectual in time of crisis."

-- Fulton Sheen

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

I’ll see your Dec bump and raise you 2012

[Joe 6-pack]

Indeed. Lest we forget.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Go look at every other thread today.

[PjhCPA]

Glad to see I’m not the only with the idea of going back to the archives.