Scozzafava’s last laugh?

The In Box (and my email box) have been crammed with accusations against Republican Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava. Conservatives were infuriated by her decision back Bill Owens. She also campaigned for the Democrat.

Her pivot might have made a big difference in beating Doug Hoffman, thought that’s not clear yet. Regardless, I think a couple of points are worth making here.

1. The Hoffman campaign attacked Scozzafava relentlessly for being too liberal. They cheerfully knocked her out of the race. But then Hoffman’s team seemed unprepared for the possibility that she might actually have some bite left in her. And indeed, developments proved that most moderate Republicans (George Pataki, Rudy Giuliani) were perfectly happy following the Conservative Party’s lead without a fight. But in politics when you attack someone you can’t be shocked! shocked! when hey attack you back.

2. From what the Assemblywoman told me, she thinks Doug Hoffman’s brand of conservatism is bad for the North Country and bad for the GOP. (She used the words “hateful” and “divisive” in our conversation.) This is a view held by a a percentage of moderate Republicans in the 23rd district. Conservatives were quite comfortable blocking Scozzafva from being the next congresswoman for ideological reasons. It seems only fair enough that she should get to use the same calculus in blocking Hoffman.

3. It’s true that Scozzafava angered many Republicans by endorsing Democrat Bill Owens. But this happened long after most of her party had abandoned her. Even moderate GOP officials completely out of tune with Doug Hoffman’s approach to politics stayed on the sidelines while her so campaign was shredded. Did she still owe the GOP her silence? When you watch the video of Pataki throwing her under the bus at the Conservative Party dinner, it’s hard to see a whole lot of Reagan’s 11th Commandment being modeled there.

4. Even if Scozzafava did turn on her party, the same can be said for Hoffman. For ideological reasons, he went back on his early assurance that he would support Scozzafava, after county officials rejected him for the nomination. Fair enough. But again, if Doug Hoffman gets to pivot and turn against his party for ideological reasons, then surely Scozzafava gets the same wiggle room. Right?

None of this is to say that Hoffman supporters can’t be or shouldn’t be angry. Politics is a bruising, full contact sport — the stakes and emotions are high.

But one faction doesn’t have a corner on the market for those emotions.

Listen for Jonathan Brown’s fascinating interview with Scozzafava tomorrow morning during the 8 O’clock Hour.