RSS
Home
Was NY 23 a referendum on conservatism?
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Did the NY23 loss for the conservative candidate demonstrate that the “intolerant” GOP needs to open their arms to moderates and liberals? Democrat candidate, Bill Owens, narrowly won in the New York's 23rd district on Tuesday November 3, 2009, defeating third party conservative candidate Doug Hoffman. The Republican candidate had dropped out of the race right before the election was held, but her name remained on the ballot. Owens carried the evening after 88% of the state had reported their totals, with a 49% lead. By contrast, the Conservative candidate held a 45% share of the votes, and the dropped GOP candidate, Dierde Scozzafava, carried approximately 6%. (How uninformed were those voters?)
Pundits have already begun utilizing the loss as proof positive that the GOP needs to include more moderates and liberals in their party’s “tent.” But how accurate is that lesson? To begin with, the GOP managed to completely destroy their chances from the very beginning. NY23 is a traditionally Republican district, and therefore the Republican Party incorrectly assumed all voters with an “R” on their registration would blindly vote for the candidate that belonged to their party. In an attempt to attract liberals, not moderates, the GOP elected to put forward one of the most liberal Republicans they could find. If any doubts of Scozzafava’s liberal inclinations exist, it should have been put to rest with her endorsement of the Democrat candidate after she dropped her candidacy.
If anything, the race should demonstrate the need for primaries. Because it was a special election, no primary was held; resulting in the voters being unable to elect the person of their choice to represent their party. In a primary who might have won? Scozzafava or Hoffman? (Based on the surprisingly large number of votes Hoffman won tonight, it might be thought a candidate like him could have easily carried a primary.) But would that have changed the outcome of the election on Tuesday? Maybe, maybe not. But one thing is for certain: The Republican candidate most certainly would not have ended up endorsing their Democrat rival.
Just as important as the need for a primary, is the lesson to be learned from Hoffman’s relative success. He may have lost the election, but given his late entry, low budget, and comparably low level of experience, his ability to accumulate nearly half of the district’s votes speaks volumes to the power of conservative values. How can it possibly be said that conservative ideology is “fringe” and “exclusive” when nearly half of the district came out in full support of the Conservative candidate?
As conservatives, however, it is important to understand the loss, and take it in stride. The Republican Party will face a serious identity crises as next year’s elections approach. Will it cling to the notion that moderate and liberal Republicans will win elections? (Like the McCain campaign, the Dole campaign, the Scozzafava campaign, etc. etc.) Or will it recognize that people would rather have actual values as opposed to a more “inclusive” tent? The GOP should not be interested in accumulating voters without first, and foremost, being focused on the promotion of their ideology and message. When Liberal Republicans are put forward, the message is lost in the similarity between the Democrat, and the fake Democrat. (Read: Liberal Republican)
RINOs (Republicans In Name Only – or as Mark Steyn calls a few of them: DIABLOs, Democrats In All But Label Only) criticize, alienate and shun conservative values and conservative candidates. Look for a moment at Scozzafava. She, as noted before, feels more closely aligned with the Democrat than a candidate who represents a large base of her own party. And yet, it is the Conservative Movement that is blamed for wanting an “exclusive” GOP. Nothing about conservatism is exclusive. The promotion of individual empowerment, opportunity, respect for life, liberty, and the pursuit transcends race, income, and geography. The values that are held by conservatives are the very values upon which this country was founded. The notion that every person deserves the right to pursue their dreams, free from government intervention and liberal control over their actions, is not a fringe idea. In fact, according to a recent Gallup poll, it is far more accepted than that “fringe” ideology of liberalism. (Why else do Liberals often call themselves “progressive,” or "forward thinking," or “socialist.”)
But don’t be surprised to hear pundits, who claim the Conservative Movement hurts the GOP, carry on about the “referendum on conservatism” that was NY23. Also don’t be surprised to hear those same pundits gloss over the fact that New Jersey and Virginia both rejected the Obama sponsored Democrat candidates for Governor.
Congratulations to Doug Hoffman for providing the GOP with something to think about as they prep for next year’s elections.
To receive Michael’s articles in your email as soon as they are published, be sure to click on the “subscribe” option near the top of this article. For more information or to contact Michael, please visit Conservativeproject.com. Also, be sure to find Michael’s face book page, and become a fan.
Related Articles:
Comments
