WDT Seymour: Revisionist history on NY-23 race

The Watertown Times’ political writer Jude Seymour dissects RNC chairman Michael Steel’s new book and finds “a bit of revisionist history when it comes to discussing the 23rd Congressional District special election.”

Seymour’s biggest beef is with Steele’s claim that Republican Dede Scozzafava was chosen as part of a backroom deal by Republican chairman and wasn’t “suited” to the district.

She received the same level of support from voters in the 2008 election as former Rep. John McHugh did in the 122nd Assembly District.

She was for the Employee Free Choice Act, which Mr. McHugh supported. She was for abortion rights, as was Mr. McHugh. She was against cap-and-trade, which Mr. McHugh was criticized for supporting.

Seymour’s full article is worth reading. Steele’s attempt to wrestle with the NY-23 race in his book shows just how big a deal this continues to be within the Republican movement.

If there’s one big thing that could trip up the GOP in 2010, it will be repeats of NY-23. And Republicans still aren’t sure what went wrong.