Here’s one thing that Tuesday’s election made crystal clear: The rift between Republican conservatives and moderate is deep, substantial and personal. <\/p>\n
Back in May, Conservative Party leader Mike Long made it clear that North Country Republicans Janet Duprey, Teresa Sayward and Dede Scozzafava would no longer enjoy his party’s endorsement.<\/p>\n
Why? It was a single-issue litmus test: They voted in favor of same-sex marriage.<\/p>\n
Long’s party went one better in the summer, running Doug Hoffman against Scozzafava in the 23rd House race.<\/p>\n
Local Republicans across the 23rd district questioned whether Scozzafava has a future in the GOP, following her endorsement of Owens.<\/p>\n
But in the final days of the campaign, we learned something new: Some moderates are quite willing to fight back. <\/p>\n
Most substantial in this equation were the number of centrist Republican voters who crossed over and voted for Democrat Bill Owens, or pulled the protest lever on behalf of Scozzafava. <\/p>\n
Here at NCPR, we’ve heard from many of these GOP voters who say they were simply uncomfortable with Hoffman’s conservative social views.<\/p>\n
But for the first time, Scozzafava and Duprey are also beginning to articulate their own platform, laying out the specifically Republican basis for their “liberal” social views. <\/p>\n
In their opinion, the Hoffman-Conservative positions on social issues represent a big-government intervention into citizens’ lives. <\/p>\n
According to their argument, it’s Hoffman — not themselves — who abandoned the GOP’s devotion to small-government and personal liberty.<\/p>\n
They also express deep disdain for conservative movement leaders such as Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh, describing them as “hateful” and “divisive.” (Hoffman described Beck as a “mentor.”)<\/p>\n
A similar view was visible in the rejection of Hoffman by the Watertown Daily Times, a newspaper whose editorial page has long been seen as conservative.<\/p>\n
The paper accused Hoffman of being ” beholden to right-wing ideologues.”<\/p>\n
So where do we go from here?<\/p>\n
Scozzafava and Duprey have been elected Republicans for decades; but it’s unclear whether their views are still welcome within the modern GOP, even in New York state.<\/p>\n
Republican Assembly minority leader Brian Kolb’s defense of their position has been feeble, at best. Other moderates have scurried for cover, or thrown them overboard.<\/p>\n
After speaking with leaders on both sides of this divide, my sense is that there’s very little stomach for rapprochement. <\/p>\n
Instead, the future tone and shape of the party will likely be tested next September, when both Assemblywomen are likely to face primary challenges.<\/p>\n
The fight goes on and, as is only proper, the final say will go to the voters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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