What does a million dollars in RNC campaign funding buy in upstate New York?
Not a lot of love from “Republican” Dede Scozzafava:
After bowing out of the 23rd Congressional race Saturday, Republican Scozzafava released the following statement today at 2 :06 p.m.:
I want to thank you for your support and friendship. Over the past 24 hours, I have had encouraging words sent to my family and me. Many of you have asked me whom you should support on Tuesday.
Since announcing the suspension of my campaign, I have thought long and hard about what is best for the people of this District, and how to answer your questions. This is not a decision that I have made lightly.
You know me, and throughout my career, I have been always been an independent voice for the people I represent. I have stood for our honest principles, and a truthful discussion of the issues, even when it cost me personally and politically. Since beginning my campaign, I have told you that this election is not about me; it’s about the people of this District.
It is in this spirit that I am writing to let you know I am supporting Bill Owens for Congress and urge you to do the same.
Unsurprising, really. What is kind of curious is how the lady got the nod from the party in the first place. She was apparently appointed by a cabal of insiders without having to face the kind of primary battle that would have both avoided the current mess and prepared the eventual candidate for the rough and tumble of the actual election.
Meanwhile, those notorious anti-establishmentarians at the WSJ are willing to concede conservative activists this one head but are waving their Nancy Pelosi fright masks in case the electorate thinks it can get ahead of the elite:
Democrats did themselves no favors by driving Joe Lieberman out of their party, and conservatives will do their cause no good by forcing GOP candidates in Illinois, California and Connecticut to sound like Tom DeLay. If conservatives now revolt against every GOP candidate who disagrees with them on trade, immigration or abortion, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid will keep their majorities for a very long time.
Nothing there about governing principles, then?
Some folks still don’t get it.
The Virginia Governor’s race is a route with GOP having a double digit lead. And heavily Democrat NJ might go to the GOP too. Both will be mighty shots across the Dem’s ship of state’s bow, further stiffening the Blue Dogs’ spines.
Dede is the extreme example of why I write the following across any republican fund raising letters I get and send back…
NO $$ FOR RINOs
The Republican leadership did themselves no favors going all in on Scozzafava. She was flirting with the Dems last summer. So her weak loyalties were known when they decided to try and force the elite decision on the rank and file. And obviously, they didn’t have anything to hold over her head or she wouldn’t have bailed so completely.
I doubt this is going to cause a shift hard right but the leadership is going be dancing hard to prove they aren’t Democrat sleeper agents or incompetent. On the upside maybe some of the beltway Republicans will dig up their conservative values they had buried under the roses in the back yard lest they be found out.
$900 K in RNC cash to help Scozzafava’s campaign–and she turns on the party.
I’m reminded of a statement in another context–a good whore is one who stays bought.
I thought it was ” An honest politician is one who stays bought.”
Is there really a difference?
Dede, Is a long serving go along get along hack in one of the most…if not the most, dysfunctional state legislature in the country…good riddance to her. Best
These days Paul there’s no difference between the two.
A million can’t buy much anymore….not even a Congress person. At least not for long.
Funny how the national media’s obsession with the GOP turns on gay marriage, and abortion. No mention of the fact that Dede has the support of Markos “Daily Kos” Zuniga, is pro-card check, supported the stimulus plan that every House Republican voted against, and is supported by the ACORN-linked Working Families Party. Most Republicans I know can accept social liberal, fiscal conservative. What isn’t acceptable is social liberal, fiscal liberal.
To paraphrase ‘ole Kos hizzownself, most voters, given the choice, would vote for the real Democrat, and never for one running as a Republican.
Dede and the Donkey Party guy she just endorsed are a classic example of George Wallaces’ statement that: “There’s not a dimes worth of difference between ‘em.”
And Wallace, having been a hardcore Dem knew ‘em well.
Which Democrat politician said, “A million here — a million there — pretty soon you’re talking about real money”? It was one of the old timers, when the Dems were still somewhat reality based.
Marianne
Sam Rayburn???
Hi Marianne,
Guess who said that! None other than B.H. Obama himself:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/04/20/100-million-there-100-million-here/
The context is actually a good one, as it was in response to a question about whether or not a million dollars really amounted to that much. BHO responded with the quote you cited. The occasion was his first meeting of his cabinet and the bloom was still intact, upon the rose.
The first politician I knew of that said that was Sen. Everett Dirkson (R-IL), Howard Baker’s father-in-law. I remember him saying in the early 60s.
There may have been a few conservative Dems who said it, but they are an endangered species and probably in hiding these days, if they still exist.
Actually, it was Republican Senator Everitt Dierksen, from Illinois. Senate Minority Leader from ’59 to ’69. Also, order of magnitude change on the $$ — he said “billion here, billion there…”
Another good one from him, to think about as we consider a new program that will cost $1,000,000,000,000 per annum, is this one:
The late Senator Dirksen is also quoted as having said “The mind is no match with the heart in persuasion; constitutionality is no match with compassion.”
Pretty cynical lad he was, and as we all know, our Congress Critters are most compassionate.
Prairie Stater tho I am, and someone who grew up with Dirksen quoted on local tv news outlets practically every night, I’d forgotten that second quote, Scott, thanks…