GOP watch: Scozzafava speaks…

Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 9:13 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Republicans

The Washington Post gets an interview with Dede Scozzafava. “At her desk, with a fuzzy elephant face down on a bookshelf behind her, she recalled the exhausting end days of her campaign. Violet semicircles hung below her teary eyes as she recounted how Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and other conservative leaders excoriated her for less-than-orthodox positions on gay rights, abortion and organized labor. Her nose reddened as she recalled her abrupt exit from the special election to replace John M. McHugh, whom President Obama had appointed as secretary of the Army earlier in the year.”

More: “The conservative movement's third-party candidate, Doug Hoffman, expected her support but, she said, the newcomer accountant ‘had no integrity.’ Plus, the Democrats were so nice! They called. They sympathized. They made her feel good about tossing her support to Bill Owens, who -- with her help -- became the area's first Democratic representative in more than a century. ‘Oh, someone left chocolates for me!’ she said, picking up a present from her aunt and uncle. Her GOP family has been less supportive. And she warns that what happened to her will happen to candidates like her.”

Michael Steele says white Republicans are scared of him, The Hill reports. On Roland Martin's TV One there was this exchange:
MARTIN: But your candidates got to talk to them. One of the criticisms I've always had is Republicans -- white Republicans -- have been scared of black folks.
STEELE: You're absolutely right. I mean I've been in the room and they've been scared of me. I'm like, "I'm on your side" and so I can imagine going out there and talking to someone like you, you know, [say] "I'll listen." And they're like "Well." Let me tell you. You saw in Christie and you saw in McDonnell a door open because they went in and engaged. McDonnell was very deliberate about spending...

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Comments

Ms Scozzafava may have found out what I learned years ago. The party of Lincoln has become the party of the intellectually dishonest. I will never vote for a Republican (or a pretend Democrat like Colin Peterson) again. All of you in Peterson's district, call his office and remind him of his duty to us the voters.

newdayDAWNING (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 9:23 AM)

If Scozzafava is a Republican woman, how come the Democrats don't attack her like they do Palin and Bachman?

Mincy (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 9:24 AM)

If you thought Dede Scozzafava got a raw deal from the GOP, wait until you see what they do to Rep. Anh Cao in Louisiana!

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 9:27 AM)

>> On Roland Martin's TV One there was this exchange:

Rolly Polly Martin, just another stooge on the far Leftwing dressed up like a commentator on CNN. It's fun watching Roland spit and stammer when someone disagrees with him when he's either hosting or is on a CNN panel. Rude and crude, and just another left wing hack on CNN - thats Roland.

The Joke Called CNN (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 9:27 AM)

Gee, the Washington Post article on Scozzafava was incredibly nasty. It sounds like a tea-bagging sore loser has infiltrated the Washington Post staff. Not too surprising, I guess, since neocons like Charles Krauthammer took over the editorial staff a long time ago.

Houston (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:00 AM)

It's the same viciousness they show on this boards and everywhere. Every thing is confronted by aggression and hate and sometimes violence and intimidation (as in the town halls). It seems to be the repub spirit. Its not only about disagreeing its about demonizing the opponent and assuming evilness in them. As Rush said on a national network (guess which) Obama fundamentally hates America. (Another presenter on the same network declared him a racist carte-blanche and still has his job with profile even more elevated.) Yes that's why Obama puts his life on the line daily as a father of two lovely children to lead this country. No American president in my opinion hates this country or wants to leave behind a bad legacy or viewed poorly in history regardless of whether I agree with them or not. It takes too much ego to even aspire to that position. Americans tolerating and encouraging these comments and actions and rewarding it with viewership and votes corrupts the country's bloodstream.

To those who can not stay away from Fox and cannot condemn the extremity of the repugs (and yes the kooky end of the dems as well when they sometimes show up), it's human to have a negative side but we shouldnt keep letting that part of us get stoked and massaged consistently and daily by the right wing or we'd soon become unrecognizable in our own views, thoughts, and actions.

J. Richter (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:19 AM)

If Dede Scozzafava thinks she was excoriated by the likes of Palin, Beck and Limbaugh, wait until you see what they do to Charlie Christ in Florida. I can only hope that all of this hate talk will backfire and Democrats will win big in 2010. As for Michael Steele, the man is an idiot.

Dottie Swarthmore PA (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:26 AM)

How to make friends and influence people GOP style. Perhaps she can do a "specter" and join us. We'd love to have her come out of the darkness and into the light. Unlike the Republican party that is open only to a few, the Democratic party is open to everyone.

Mincy, when Scozzafava spews the hatred and goofy ideas of the extreme right she will be attacked by the Democrats just like Palin. It isn't her gender or even so much her party affiliation but how far to the extreme one goes. Mr. Cao you are next, sir. Leave now and come from the dark side into the light. There is always room for more people in the Democratic party.

eagle1776 (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:33 AM)

The GOP and far-right extremist handling of Scozzafava proves that they are no longer a Republican party. Rather, they have become the American Jihadist Taliban Party. And we have no room in America for them, or the KKK.

C.Myles/Oak Hall, VA (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:39 AM)

If Scozzafava is a Republican woman, how come the Democrats don't attack her like they do Palin and Bachman?
Mincy (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 9:24 AM)

Because she is not crazy like Palin and Bachman.

Oregonred, Lyons OR (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 11:11 AM)

@Mincy: because she's not crazy like Palin and Bachmann.

adam, Denver, CO (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 11:11 AM)

I say come on over to the Democratic side Ms. Scozzafava and you will be treated better. What they did to you was reprehensible.

Bob, Lyons OR (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 11:17 AM)

J. Richter,

How very one sided of you? The dems said nothing but agreement when Kanye yelled out Bush hates black people, but someone says something about Obama and they should be fired. You are a joke.

And how quickly all you dems forget how vociferously you attacked Lieberman but since this woman is on your side the exact same behavior is ok. Really this is what you have all deevolved to?

chris, alabama (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 11:43 AM)

Dede was not treated badly be the democrats because she is not a "wacko" like palin, beck, dick army, rush and the entire fox news channel. If these are the representatives of the republican party, your party is is real trouble.

Angela, NJ (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 11:45 AM)

Thats becuase the White republicans that are scared of black people & Micheal Steele are the same people that other white people beat up during the school days. Jsut becuase you have money doesn't make you a tough guy. Most white Repbulicans are frauds & pansies. How many of them served in the military, spoiled brats who think they are entitled to everything. When pushed, they never shove back they just fold up & go away with there tails between there legs. Why would anybody be afraid of a guy that looks like a cartoon character.

Greg, SF, Ca (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 11:53 AM)

The Joke called CNN
If Roland is rolly polly, then what do you call hsuR ? Whale arse ! The repubs will not touch Cao.

buggey, ft. lauderdale, fla (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 12:54 PM)

The Joke called CNN
If Roland is rolly polly, then what do you call hsuR ? Whale arse ! The repubs will not touch Cao.

buggey, ft. lauderdale, fla (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 12:57 PM)

Mincy, you obviously missed the whole point last summer oper Palin, and you are missing the point. We in the Democratic party aren't misogynistic (that's woman hating, because you probably don't know what it means). Palin was attached for her nazi views, her dishonesty, and her hypocracy. Ms. Scozzafava is reasonable, and so no attack was launched.

JD Donkey, Vallejo, CA (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 1:22 PM)

If Scozzafava is a Republican woman, how come the Democrats don't attack her like they do Palin and Bachman? Mincy (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 9:24 AM)

Answer: Cuz Bachman and Palin are dumb

Me Be Young (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 1:29 PM)

To Mr. or Ms. Richter,

Very well said.

K. Marcel (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 1:32 PM)

So much for the Repukes having a "Big Tent" !!! It's the party of MILLIONAIRE AND BILLIONAIRE RIGHT-WING NUTS AND RELIGIOUS WHACKOS !!! Not even close to the edge, THEY'VE GONE OVER IT !!! Those star-shaped symbols on the Elephant aren't stars, they are BULLET-HOLES !!! RIP "PARTY OF LINCOLN" !!!

JimD, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 1:54 PM)

White republicans are scared of everything not like them. That's what being "conservative" kind of means in its fundamental translation. Heck they are scared or wary of white women not their wives, immigrants, blacks, mexicans, gays, non-christians, neighbors, even their own shadows.

J. Richter (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 1:55 PM)

This is deja vu all over again...except the view is from the other side. The Democrats have had their intra-family squabbles for years....witness the Blue Dog Democrats and the Progressives and how they voted on healthcare reform. Party loyalty and obedience to an ideology is not part of the credo for Democrats.
The Republicans have never (well, never is a long time...not recently) had to deal with folks who stray from the line. Witness the solidarity of the House Republicans (one vote) vis a vis health care reform. Some 35 Democrats voted against the bill...one Republican voted for it. Does that tell you anything about how the parties measure up?

Tom, Phoenix AZ (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 1:55 PM)

Recognize Steele, scared or racist you better decipher if what you are sensing is one and the same thing.

Martin Townsend (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 1:57 PM)

palin is totally an idiot, she will never be elected for presidency, not as long as she sees russia from her house. what is wrong with the republican party, they really do not care about anything but their selves. they are racist, no denying in this. it is a shame for steele, he is their pet project, the gop do not know how to handle black folks and that is the reason only that steele is in the position he is in.

louise baynard, eagleville,pa (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 2:38 PM)

SURE WISH PEOPLE WOULD START POSTING SOMETHING LIKE FACTS,SOLUTIONS ANYTHING BUT THE HATE. WE ARE ALL AMERICANS AND YET WE TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE DIRT.I PURPOSE A DAY OF SEASE FIRE. DO IT FOR THE TROOPS WHO ARE NOT REPUKES OR DEMS JUST SOLDIERS FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOMS WE USE ON THIS BOARD.
STOP THE NEGATIVITY,SHOW SOME RESPECT FOR OUR PRESIDENT AND ALL THE SOLDIERS THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR THERE LIVES AND OURS.......

Mishka Anaconda MT (Sent Wednesday, November 11, 2009 9:44 AM)

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