NY-23 2009: Democrats Fan The Flames Of Scozzafava's Tax Troubles [she explored becoming a Rat]

The New York Daily News ^ | 2009-10-20 | Elizabeth Benjamin

[rabscuttle385]

Democrats once flirted with running Republican Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava for the seat Rep. John McHugh will soon vacate in NY-23, but now that she's a leading contender for the GOP nod, they are rushing to bolster conservative concerns about her alleged tax troubles.

Soon-to-be-former state Democratic Chairwoman June O'Neill today confirmed reports that Scozzafava's husband, an upstate labor leader, talked with key local Democrats and union heads about the possibility of his wife running on Row A if the party's presumed first choice, state Sen. Darrel Aubertine, takes a pass.

"Her husband spoke with several Democratic officials and, you know, people who are aligned with the Democratic Party," O'Neill said. "There was some discussion about whether or not Dede might switch parties, but the whole tax thing is problematic on a number of levels. We didn't want to start out with any problems."

According to O'Neill, this isn't the first time the Democrats have spoken to Scozzafava about switching sides.

The talks started after the GOP passed Scozzafava over in favor of her Assembly colleague, Will Barclay, to run against Aubertine in the 48th SD special election back in February 2008.

The Republicans worried Scozzafava would be seen as too liberal - particularly since she had voted "yes" on gay marriage, while Aubertine, a conservative Democrat, voted "no". Aubertine easily defeated Barclay in that election, and a number of GOP operatives privately conceded after the fact that Scozzafava would have been a better candidate.

I asked O'Neill why Democrats are suddenly willing to speak publicly about the tax issue - more than $192,000 in unpaid state and federal taxes owed by Scozzafava's brother's business, to which the assemblywoman says she now has only the most tenuous of connections.....

[listenhillary]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2366985/posts?page=57#57

Your sources?

[SeattleBruce]

Then why the hell are you telling a candidate to get out of a party you don't belong to?
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Mebbe he'll rejoin, if we take care of business? Like get rid of the RINO infestation?

[FreeReign]

Your sources?

Your source doesn't compare the two candidates. As I said the Republican is not more liberal than the Democrat.

[SeattleBruce]

I am not a believer in a 3rd party right now, but I trust no one active in either party.
++++++++++++++

I agree Irish. Right now, we need to clean up the Republican party. In the history of the United States, not a single third party has come close to winning the presidency, only 7 3rd parties have even won a single state’s electoral votes and only 5 third parties have won even 10% of the vote.

The only exception to this would be if there was a shock to our body politic of the kind that led us into the Civil War. Are we on the edge of that? Short of that, 3rd party politics will FAIL. Do we have 20 years to sit around and dink around with that?

Much better alternative: Clean out the Republican party and run a robust Reagan style conservative message. Much less compromise...and it will WORK.

That said, I support the Conservative in NY-23. His election would send a strong message to the national GOP, imho.

[SeattleBruce]

As I said the Republican is not more liberal than the Democrat.
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Who cares - still a horrible choice...support the Conservative.

[FreeReign]

If I were you I would removed the link, "Obama campaigns for conservative Democrat (NY23)" from your post. Owen isn't conservative and Obama would never campaign for a conservative.

Just a suggestion.

[IrishPennant]

100% with you on your post!!!!

[FreeReign]

Who cares - still a horrible choice...support the Conservative.

Why don't you ask that question to the posters who seem to feel the need to elevate the conservative credentials of the Democrat candidate?

Thanks.

[boxlunch]

We report, you decide (info provided by local tea party group)

DEDE SCOZZAFAVA

Website : http://www.dedeforcongress.com/

Prior public office experience : since 1998

Profession : COO for Seaway Capital Partner and Corporate Secretary for Wise Buy Stores

Education : Scozzafava holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Boston University School of Management and a Masters in Business Administration from the Clarkson Graduate School of Management.

Positions :
For the Obama stimulus
For card check / Against secret ballot in union elections
Does not support ‘no pork’ pledge
Signed no tax pledge October 15th
For Cash for Clunkers
Does not support school choice / vouchers
Does not support teacher testing / merit pay
Does not support concealed carry
For same-sex marriage
For expanded ‘hate crimes’ legislation
For inclusion of sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws
Believes abortion should be legal in all cases
For making morning-after pills available to minors without a doctor’s prescription
Endorsements / Supporters:
National Rifle Association
New York State United Teachers
Newt Gingrich
Rep. Pete Sessions
Rep. Jeb Hensarling
Republican National Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
Daily Kos
(Endorsed by Working Families Party (ACORN affiliate) in prior races)
Background :
Scozzafava was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 1998. She was a Village of Gouverneur Trustee for four years and Mayor of the Village of Gouverneur from 1993 until her election to the State Assembly. Scozzafava has been appointed to serve on the Assembly Standing Committees of Ways and Means, Ethics and Guidance, and Banks for the 2005-2006 Legislative Session, and is the Ranking Member on the Assembly’s Codes Committee. Previously, she served on the Task Force on Education Standards, the Nursing Shortage Task Force, the Legislative Commission on Critical Transportation Choices, and the Task Force on Integrative Medicine and Agriculture. Scozzafava is married to Ron McDougall, the head of the Jefferson-Lewis-St. Lawrence County Central Labor Council and a UAW member.
_________
Q : What is your source for the list of Dede Scozzafava’s positions on the issues?

http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=22881

http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=22881

http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=22881

Q : What is your source for the assertion that Dede Scozzafava is supported by Daily Kos, a left-wing blog?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/10/1/788504/-NY-23:-The-most-liberal-candidate-leads-(and-its-not-the-Dem)

Q : What is your source for the assertion that Dede Scozzafava has been supported by an ACORN affiliated group?

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/09/acorn-aubertine-ny-23-heats-up.html#more

Q : What is your source for the assertion that Dede Scozzafava is being supported by Jeb Hensarling?

http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1009/Scozzafavas_conservative_endorser.html

Further, I personally called Jeb Hensarling’s local office, and confirmed this information. The number is 214-349-9996, if you have any questions or would like to verify the information for yourself.

Q : What is your source for the assertion that Dede Scozzafava is being supported by Pete Sessions?

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=31D2EEAE-18FE-70B2-A8921DB076A7E7DF

[listenhillary]

Markos Moulitsas, of Daily Kos fame, has declared her the most liberal candidate in the race — that’s in large part a function of liberals’ dissatisfaction with the Democratic candidate, Bill Owens, though.

A “radical leftist” as Republican candidate?
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/10/20/ny_special/

[SeattleBruce]

No more reckless RINO labels!
++++++++++++++

What constitutes a RINO?
What constitutes a reckless RINO labeling?

[boxlunch]

If you compare the Democrat Bill Owens to the Republican, they agree on all the same things, except he is against same sex marriage, I believe the case could be made that the Democrat actually is more conservative than the Republican. So what is the point of electing a Republican, what does it gain us? I normally agree that 3rd parties don’t do anything but split the vote, but in this case it looks like the liberal vote could be split between Dems and Republicans, and the Conservative would get ALL the conservative voters.

DOUG HOFFMAN

Website : http://doughoffmanforcongress.com/

Prior public office experience : None

Profession : Accountant and Entrepreneur

Education : Hoffman holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from SUNY Plattsburgh, an MBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Connecticut (1976). He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Positions:
Against the Obama stimulus
Against Cash for Clunkers
Against card check / FOR secret ballot in union elections
Signed no tax pledge in August 2009
Signed no pork pledge
For school choice
Against same-sex marriage
‘Pro-life, period.’
Endorsements / Supporters :
Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN)
Rep. Dick Armey (R-TX)
Club for Growth PAC
American Conservative Union
The Conservative Victory Fund
National Republican Trust PAC
New York State Right to Life PAC
Susan B. Anthony List
Concerned Women PAC
Family Research Council Action PAC
Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers
Background :
Hoffman is a Managing Partner of Dragon Benware Crowley & Co. (www.dragonbenware.com) and oversees Hoffman Family Enterprises (www.hoffmanfamilyenterprises.com) a diverse group of companies involved in Investments, Real Estate, Construction, Hospitality and Tourism. Hoffman served as a member of the New York State National Guard from 1970 – 1973 and the U.S. Army Reserves from 1973-1976. Hoffman held the rank of Staff Sergeant at the time of his discharge. Hoffman also served as Corporate Controller for the Lake Placid 1980 Olympic Organizing Committee, overseeing a budget of $150 million and eventually 2,500 employees and 6000 volunteers. Hoffman’s wife Carol is a highly decorated Trooper in the New York State Police.
_________

BILL OWENS (D Candidate)

Website : http://www.billowensforcongress.com/

Prior public office experience : None

Profession : Attorney

Positions :
For card check / Against secret ballot in union elections
For the stimulus package
Against same-sex marriage
Pro-choice
Endorsements / Supporters:
President Barack Obama
Former President Bill Clinton
Vice President Joe Biden
SEIU
Working Families Party (ACORN affiliate)
Background :
Bill Owens is Managing Partner at the law firm Stafford, Owens, Piller, Murnane, & Trombley, PLLC, and has practiced for 30 years. Owens has served in the Air Force as a Captain at the Plattsburgh Air Force Base. Owens has also served on the boards of a number of civic organizations.

Bill is married to Jane Owens, his wife of 36 years.

[SeattleBruce]

“their path to electoral relevance in the northeast is to ditch the Southern-fueled ultra conservatism.”
+++++++++++++

Ya just gotta love the looney lefties stereotyped language of us...maroons..

[boxlunch]

See post 71 & 72

[SeattleBruce]

Nope. Not attacking every Repub. Just the ones who really ARE RINOs. Do the names Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Arlen Specter, Jim Jeffords, Lincoln Chaffee, Lindsay Graham ring a bell? At almost every opportunity these “moderates” ( I call them gutless cowards) side with the enemy most recenty Snowe screwed us over, last week.
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Right. It’s quite the infestation. Let’s come to an agreement there Cedric, Moose...can you agree on those names??

[boxlunch]

Oops, I meant post 69 and 72, sorry

[SeattleBruce]

If that means writing in a candidate that’s what I will do. I do not and WILL NOT automatically push the “R” lever just because “Oh my, oh gee, we just HAVE to beat the Democrat!”

Does us NO GOOD to replace a liberal with a liberal.
+++++++++++++++

In fact you could certainly argue that this hurts the party in the long run - driving it leftward in its quest to win baby, just win.

At what cost? ENOUGH! That measly, mealy mouthed victory is not what we’re fighting tooth and nail on the brink for. Sorry.

[Yorktownpatriot]

I’m voting for him...although he voted for Gvo. Wilder’s “one gun a month” fiasco.
Just have a hard time trusting a gun controller.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2284388/posts?page=128#128

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2284388/posts?page=67#67

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2283523/posts?page=60#60

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2197501/posts?page=45#45

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2130423/posts?page=25#25

and THIS ONE...

"McCain became my favorite candidate when he defeated Mitt, who was my favorite candidate after Fred dropped out, who was my favorite candidate because Cheney didn't run."

Finally, let's not forget Cedric's infamous list of "trolls":

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2119926/posts?page=9#9

Need I say anything more about this fruitcake?

[moose2004]

“....Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Arlen Specter, Jim Jeffords, Lincoln Chaffee, Lindsay Graham”

“...Moose...can you agree on those names??”

Yes. I’ll add one, Lisa Murkowski. I agree there are RINO’s, no question, but I also strongly believe that some on this site toss that name around too mch. Don’t you agree?