Future of GOP and moderate Republicans uncertain

[Old Round Guy]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_ny_special_election

Excerpt

By VALERIE BAUMAN, Associated Press Writer

ALBANY, N.Y. – In a Republican Party struggling to find its identity, the surprise withdrawal of the chosen GOP candidate for a New York congressional race — forced by a rising conservative upstart — renews a lingering national debate: Are moderates welcome in today's Grand Old Party?

The question became even more relevant Sunday when the ex-candidate, state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava, threw her support behind the Democrat in the race rather than the Conservative Party candidate favored by fellow Republicans.

The GOP leadership insisted on Sunday political TV talk shows the party is strong and inclusive while Democrats described a Republican party out of touch with the people.

"We accept moderates in our party, and we want moderates in our party. We cover a wide range of Americans," said Republican House Leader John Boehner in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union."

But in New York's rural 23rd Congressional District, the message was clear early: Scozzafava was too moderate; some even used the dreaded "L" word — liberal. Her endorsement of Democrat Bill Owens over Conservative Doug Hoffman only reinforced that perception — even her former campaign spokesman, Matt Burns, said it was a mistake and urged Republicans to back Hoffman.

During the campaign she failed to connect with voters, party officials or, perhaps most important, campaign donors, largely because of her support for abortion rights, same-sex marriage and union rights. That opened the door for Hoffman, who took every opportunity to remind people that Scozzafava was not the kind of Republican they wanted representing their interests in a Democratic-led Congress.

End excerpt

[Erika]

The new GOP, theocrats for corporatism rule. Just like when we fought the British for independence based on their robbing of the working class to feed the greed of the ruling class. Christianity in play? I think not. The GOP's God is the dollar and its accumulation.

[JIMV]

Actually, moderates are fine in the party...we just do not want them running the party of selected as candidates. We do not want to tiny RINO tail wagging the majority dog.

[kluwer]

Originally Posted by Old Round Guy

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_ny_special_election

Excerpt

By VALERIE BAUMAN, Associated Press Writer

ALBANY, N.Y. – In a Republican Party struggling to find its identity, the surprise withdrawal of the chosen GOP candidate for a New York congressional race — forced by a rising conservative upstart — renews a lingering national debate: Are moderates welcome in today's Grand Old Party?

The question became even more relevant Sunday when the ex-candidate, state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava, threw her support behind the Democrat in the race rather than the Conservative Party candidate favored by fellow Republicans.

The GOP leadership insisted on Sunday political TV talk shows the party is strong and inclusive while Democrats described a Republican party out of touch with the people.

"We accept moderates in our party, and we want moderates in our party. We cover a wide range of Americans," said Republican House Leader John Boehner in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union."

But in New York's rural 23rd Congressional District, the message was clear early: Scozzafava was too moderate; some even used the dreaded "L" word — liberal. Her endorsement of Democrat Bill Owens over Conservative Doug Hoffman only reinforced that perception — even her former campaign spokesman, Matt Burns, said it was a mistake and urged Republicans to back Hoffman.

During the campaign she failed to connect with voters, party officials or, perhaps most important, campaign donors, largely because of her support for abortion rights, same-sex marriage and union rights. That opened the door for Hoffman, who took every opportunity to remind people that Scozzafava was not the kind of Republican they wanted representing their interests in a Democratic-led Congress.

End excerpt

One thing the republicans can take from this race is how not to run a campaign.

[Bilge Rat]

Originally Posted by Old Round Guy

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_ny_special_election

Excerpt

By VALERIE BAUMAN, Associated Press Writer

ALBANY, N.Y. – In a Republican Party struggling to find its identity, the surprise withdrawal of the chosen GOP candidate for a New York congressional race — forced by a rising conservative upstart — renews a lingering national debate: Are moderates welcome in today's Grand Old Party?

The question became even more relevant Sunday when the ex-candidate, state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava, threw her support behind the Democrat in the race rather than the Conservative Party candidate favored by fellow Republicans.

The GOP leadership insisted on Sunday political TV talk shows the party is strong and inclusive while Democrats described a Republican party out of touch with the people.

"We accept moderates in our party, and we want moderates in our party. We cover a wide range of Americans," said Republican House Leader John Boehner in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union."

But in New York's rural 23rd Congressional District, the message was clear early: Scozzafava was too moderate; some even used the dreaded "L" word — liberal. Her endorsement of Democrat Bill Owens over Conservative Doug Hoffman only reinforced that perception — even her former campaign spokesman, Matt Burns, said it was a mistake and urged Republicans to back Hoffman.

During the campaign she failed to connect with voters, party officials or, perhaps most important, campaign donors, largely because of her support for abortion rights, same-sex marriage and union rights. That opened the door for Hoffman, who took every opportunity to remind people that Scozzafava was not the kind of Republican they wanted representing their interests in a Democratic-led Congress.

End excerpt

So much for inclusiveness in the RUSH-publican party. When it's so divided at the base they're already DEAD.

[kluwer]

Originally Posted by Bilge Rat

So much for inclusiveness in the RUSH-publican party. When it's so divided at the base they're already DEAD.

Truth in that!

[kluwer]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...r-in-virginia/

Exit poll: Obama not a big factor in Virginia

There's been plenty of talk by political pundits that Virginia's gubernatorial contest was a referendum on President Barack Obama, but voters don't agree, according to data from CNN exit polls of people voting Tuesday in that state's gubernatorial contest.

Fifty-five percent of Virgina voters polled say that Obama was not a factor in how they voted, with 24 percent suggesting that their vote was meant to express opposition to the president, and 18 percent indicating that their vote was meant to express support for Obama.

This and other races in today elections are not any sort of 'referendum' on the new President or the Democratic party.

[JIMV]

Originally Posted by Bilge Rat

So much for inclusiveness in the RUSH-publican party. When it's so divided at the base they're already DEAD.

Yet they seem to be winning big all over tonight...

[Erika]

Yeah, the toxic party won big in NY 23 tonight. s/off

Let's see who Palin, Beck, etc next offers their help to.

[JIMV]

We lot one, barely...but won the big ones big. Even in the loss in NY, the message was sent...no RINO's. I'd rather have a wack at the dem again next year with perhaps a more charismatic candidate then be stuck with a RINO forever.