An Intolerant Republican Party Just Killed a Moderate Candidate

Published October 31, 2009 @ 08:52AM PT

Dede Scozzafava, the actual Republican nominee for the U.S. House seat in New York's 23rd Congressional District, was forced to suspend her campaign three days before Election Day because of a coordinated campaign by consevative activists to brand her a liberal because she supports, among other things, marriage equality.

Major anti-LGBT Republican superstars, from Rick Santorum to Sarah Palin to Steve Forbes, rallied around one of her opponents, third party candidate Doug Hoffman, who they saw as more conservative. For them, the issue was less about Scozzafava's background as a state legislator, and more about the fact that she's a moderate Republican. And moderate Republicans are being purged from the GOP like pariahs.

In her endorsement of Hoffman, Sarah Palin said, "The Republican Party today has decided to choose a candidate [Scozzafava] who more than blurs the lines." But it wasn't so much that Scozzafava blurred the lines, as much as she committed the cardinal sin of supporting LGBT rights as a Republican. As a state legislator in New York, she supported a bill that would have allowed marriage equality to move forward in the Empire State.

Whether or not conservatives win this seat with Hoffman, one thing is clear: there is no longer any room in the Republican Party for moderates. No Arlen Specter. No Dede Scozzafava. Perhaps no Charlie Crist. And just remember the way the rabid right treated former GOP Utah Governor John Huntsman after he said he supported civil unions for gay and lesbian couples.

As much fun as it is to watch conservatives eat their own, it's also sad that there is really no room in the GOP nowadays for someone to support equal rights. Conservatives like Palin, Santorum and others might be celebrating Scozzafava's downfall today, but the larger message it says about their party is that it really is the political party of choice for those who want to support discrimination against LGBT people.

(Image courtesy of Dede Scozzafava for Congress.)

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Im sorry that she suffered that defeat but on the positive side...

Soon only religious whackos will be for the republican party which means that soon the republican party will die out because of normal folks disgust with them.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/31/2009 @ 09:47AM PT
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Orrrrr control of the GOP will be returned to the moderates who ran it for over a century before being taken over by the Southern Conservatives....

Posted by Peter C Frank on 11/04/2009 @ 01:42AM PT
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What is really ironic is that Palin in company aren't conservative at all, if one defines conservatism as opposing government interference in the lives of its citizens. They want to narrowly define marriage for everyone; the don't want women to have control of their own bodies; they want to force their religious beliefs on us by bringing their brand of Christianity to government. Something has to give. I can only hope that these manipulators will lose.

Posted by Ken Harvey on 10/31/2009 @ 10:17AM PT
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Well it looks like we have another libertarian in the making. Good job republicans, soon your party is going to be as thrid world as the countries you unlawfully allow religious groups to enter to spread misinformation, lies and bigotry agianst us LGBT.

Posted by Chris Marshall on 10/31/2009 @ 10:45AM PT
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I can't believe Scozzafava actually backed down, as though Palin, Santorum and other extreme right ignoramuses have any real genuine clout, other than what certain media organizations will spew on their behalf. Their popularity is only backed by superficial biased ideologies. This is very sad, because I really believed Scozzafava had a very good chance to win. Why would she cave to the opposition of her own party? Why are moderates allowing the ultra conservatives to pull their strings? There is something very suspicious here.

Posted by Barbara McNamara on 10/31/2009 @ 10:58AM PT
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Indeed and I too would like to know more.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/31/2009 @ 11:11AM PT
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We knew it would only be a matter of time. They have already tried pushing Mehgan McCain out of the party.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 10/31/2009 @ 01:47PM PT
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Where did her dad stand on that ?

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 11/01/2009 @ 05:37PM PT
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Her dad doesn't even believe in civil unions. But she is one of our BEST allies, and continues to get attacked by the likes of Pitbull Sarah.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 11/03/2009 @ 08:26AM PT
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I think miss pain seriously underestimates miss mccain.

My money's on megan.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 11/03/2009 @ 02:47PM PT
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It will indeed be interesting when the whole story comes out. The Repukes will end up cutting their own throats with this constant pandering to the religious wrong. I think she should have held on and let the voters decide.

The religious wrong has no conscience and no sense of decency. But then I think we have seen this on some of the threads over the past few days, especially the thread dealing with the original decision of Scholastic Books to ban "Love Ya Bunches".

All of this wrong wing nonsense is starting to turn more and more fair-minded Americans off. I am sure that Dede Scozzafava will be able to find a political home elsewhere.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/31/2009 @ 03:51PM PT
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I'm a 'fair-minded' American, but I get insulted by how much I'm called 'intolerant' or 'narrow-minded' just because I oppose the idea that homosexual relationships are moral. I don't agree with the Republican party on everything, but I do feel that they are correct on this point...

I don't think it's about "equality" either. I'm against treating LGBT people as if they are not people. That's wrong. They shouldn't get fired, mistreated, disrespected, and definitely not beat up or killed. However, when we start getting into issues of marriage and promoting what is right and wrong, it becomes a belief system more than an equality issue. religious people refuse to accept homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle, and that is not likely to change anytime soon...

"The religious wrong has no conscience and no sense of decency." That seems very intolerant, maybe even hateful, to me. Religious people deserve respect for their beliefs are well... even if they disagree with your beliefs.

Posted by Ely Loew on 11/03/2009 @ 01:50AM PT
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Sorry, Mr. Loew--actually, no, I'm not--but we are sick and tired of Christians and others sticking their noses in where they aren't wanted. Legislate all you want in your churches against same sex marriage. But marriage IS at bottom a civil matter. Just see how far you get if a clergyperson marries you without a marriage license as far as the 1100+ federal rights attached to marriage. We're supposed to pay taxes but let straights have all the tax breaks, automatic inheritance rights, hospital visitations...? And on top of it all, we're supposed to ask nicely, I suppose.

I firmly reject the right of bigots to vote on my marriage or the right of other GLBTQ people to marry. Yes, I am married whether YOU or your religious wrong friends like it or not. I married in Cananda, a country where the religious wrong does not have a major say in decisions of this type.

ANd how nice you agree that we ought not to be treated as lesser beings. Who died and left you God? Am I supposed to be impressed by your liberal attitude? I don't think so and I'm not.

I am Pagan by belief and I am sick and tired of the Christians and other monotheistic religions thinking that they have a right to tell me if I may marry the woman I love or not. They don't.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 11/03/2009 @ 04:31AM PT
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Mr. Loew,

Please let me be the first to say thank you for allowing us to even exist in the first place.

Next, please explain to why I and others are required to live under YOUR religious beliefs. We are a nation of secular laws, we are NOT a theocracy. Who are YOU to tell the Unitarian Church, the Metropolitan Community Church, the United Church of Christ, the Episcopalian Church, the Reform Catholic Church, various Jewish denominations, among many other faiths as to who they can and cannot "marry."

By trampling on the rights of the LGBTQI community, you are also trampling on the rights of those faiths that recognize our unions as marriage. Why does YOUR religious faith trump ALL OTHERS?

What you don't realize is that by going after us, and these other faiths, you are also jeopardizing your own freedoms. If you cannot see that, then you truly ARE narrow-minded, and are focused by blinders.

There is an old story that truly comes to mind when people like you are around, it goes something like this:

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

Is anybody going to be there to speak out for you? I know as much as I hate and disagree with your opinion, I WILL BE THERE TO SPEAK OUT!

Posted by Dave Hershey on 11/03/2009 @ 12:05PM PT
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I truly hope that Mr. Loew was not a drive by commentor as so many "conservative" (who really aren't conservative at all) are.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 11/03/2009 @ 12:07PM PT
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Fair minded my ass...

Your not even willing to learn that sexual orientation isnt a lifestyle...

Religious people A.K.A. Bible thumpers shouldnt have any say in the secular legal arena, at least not based on their religion.

In any case...It doesnt matter whether they accept someone or not...That person still has certain rights guarenteed by the constitution including equality and the constitution trumps all religions and/or "holy" books.

You bible thumpers want to deny equality to a small group of people who aint even hurting anyone with their sexual orientation and then you wanna whine and bitch about being called homohaters and intollerant ?

Pathetic.

Its time you bible thumpers grew up.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 11/03/2009 @ 02:54PM PT
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Sarah Palin and Rick Santorum are intolerant conservatives with an incorrect view of LGBT rights. It's unfortunate that Dede Scozzafava has been forced to suspend her campaign because of the intolerance which Sarah Palin and others like her. Same-sex marriage is an important right which all LGBT people must have access to. The intolerant conservatives who have forced Scozzafava to suspend her camapaign are shameful people.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 10/31/2009 @ 04:14PM PT
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That's pretty sad.

Really the only thing I can say to this.

Posted by Paul Hockhousen on 10/31/2009 @ 05:10PM PT
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Keep it up Republicans! I can't wait to see this party fail!

Posted by Courtney C............ on 10/31/2009 @ 05:40PM PT
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It is truly weird to me that the party founded to defeat slavery and preserve the Union has built its stronghold in the Confederacy, and pretty much eliminated the its old Union states as sources of its strength.

It hit home for me when they excised anti-trust and conservation from their platform, at which point I registered Pacific Green.

Posted by Edward Craig on 10/31/2009 @ 07:46PM PT
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You can truly thank Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan for the major shift. Nixon started with his "Southern Strategy" and Ronald Reagan consolidated it when he coddled the religious reich wing.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 11/01/2009 @ 09:52AM PT
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Watching the Republican Party self destruct has been like watching a slow motion experiment with crash test dummies.

Posted by Fred Frankenberg on 11/01/2009 @ 05:44AM PT
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Great analogy, however I would say that crash test dummy is Buster on a time warp episode of mythbusters.

Posted by Chris Marshall on 11/01/2009 @ 04:22PM PT
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Update to the story: She has now endorsed the Democratic candidate, Owens.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 11/01/2009 @ 02:13PM PT
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This is what happens when you drive people out of the party by a bunch of bigots!

Posted by Dave Hershey on 11/01/2009 @ 02:14PM PT
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Thanks DAVE. Yes I had read this. NOW we know it is a fact. We'll just have to see how topsy turvy it makes ALL the house races next year!

Posted by Lee Dorsey on 11/01/2009 @ 02:26PM PT
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The GOP is going to lose state houses and Senate seats as well because of this stunt. Lots of voters still support the Union.

Posted by Edward Craig on 11/02/2009 @ 06:33AM PT
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I see things getting worse before they get better. Small churches which support us are too spread out and do have the power of the mega churches. It will only be a matter of time before this country self destructs because of religiosity... and take a stab at who they just might blame.

Posted by Chris Marshall on 11/02/2009 @ 06:16PM PT
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Gee, Chris, could it be...US? You bet your bippy it will be us. Not a doubt at all in my mind about that.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 11/03/2009 @ 05:12AM PT
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Oh Im sure theyll find a way to lump us pagans in there too...

At least I'll be in finer and more worthy company than other wise.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 11/03/2009 @ 03:44PM PT
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Thom they would not due you the respect to call you Pagans. To the fundamentalist you are either Satan worshipers, heathens, or witches. The bible does not even mention the word Pagan, and as you know fundamentalist only define things from the bible. So unfortunately the word Pagan is too large for their vocabulary. But do not worry they only operate on the flammable toxicity of fear so, Satan worshiper and witchcraft... scary stuff to them. Big words big scare. LOL

Posted by Chris Marshall on 11/07/2009 @ 12:40AM PT
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Oh I aint worried mr. marshall because I AM a witch and proud of it plus I can cast a mean curse or two when Im in the mood. :)

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 11/18/2009 @ 04:37AM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.