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Palin, Fred Thompson show leadership, while Huckabee and Romney exude cowardice
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Fred Thompson was first prominent Republican to endorse Hoffman
Sarah Palin and Fred Thompson had the guts to do what Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and the entire Republican Party would not do. One month ago, Thompson became the first prominent national Republican to endorse Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the New York District 23 Congressional race. Palin made an even bigger impact by endorsing Hoffman a week and a half ago. In doing so, Palin lived up to her penchant for going against the mainstream and taking on powerbrokers inside her own party.
For those who have not heard about this race, local and national Republican leaders decided to back Dede Scozzafava for the vacant congressional seat. She truly lives up to the term RINO (Republican in Name Only), especially on social issues. Scozzafava is pro-choice, supports gay marriage and the Obama stimulus plan. She believes abortions should always be legal, no matter the circumstances. So the voters in NY District 23 were given the option of liberal Democrat Doug Owens or liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava. Conservatives had no choice, until Doug Hoffman entered the race.
Hoffman's candidacy began picking up steam in recent weeks, and then exploded thanks to the endorsement of Sarah Palin. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty followed suit. Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney refused to endorse anyone.
In doing show, Huckabee showed he is not a leader. He is a panderer. He panders to the Republican Party establishment because he wants their support in 2012. Huckabee even headlined a Conservative Party fundraiser in upstate New York last week, but his failure to endorse Hoffman left conservatives dumbfounded. "When you’re a leader of the conservative movement, as Mike Huckabee is, you should make a bold statement,” said Mike Long, president of the New York State Conservative Party. “If you’re a leader, how do you not get involved?” Huckabee's lack of leadership on this issue is especially appalling given Scozzafava's support of abortion anytime, anywhere, no matter the circumstances. Huckabee is supposedly the Republican beacon of pro-life issues. Not anymore. Not after this act of cowardice.
Mitt Romney was no better. He tried to spin his lack of endorsement for Scozzafava as some sort of strong stance, telling Fox News, "That should speak a certain amount of volume. I can't endorse our candidate in that race." You are right, Mitt. It does speak volumes. But not in a positive way for you.
A funny thing happened on Saturday, though. Polls showed Scozzafava quickly dropping to third place in the polls, well behind Hoffman and Owens. So, she dropped out of the race. Following her withdrawal, Newt Gingrich, the NRCC, Michael Steele and others rushed out their endorsements of Hoffman. Huckabee finally followed suit in mid-afternoon.
Hoffman, a true conservative, now has a terrific chance to win this race. No thanks to the leaders of the Republican Party. No thanks to Romney and Huckabee, two 2008 Presidential candidates who are almost certain to run again in 2012. They want us to uphold them as leaders of the conservative movement. They are not. Leaders take bold steps by standing on their principles. That is what Sarah Palin and Fred Thompson did.
As a matter of full disclosure, I worked on Fred Thompson's 2008 presidential campaign.
For more info: Here comes the Huckster
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