This is what happens when the weighted votes of 11 GOP members select for the 200,000 Republicans of the 23d District. Her "reaching across the aisle" will either spell the end of the GOP in the North Country or create a new 3rd Party.

"http://www.wptz.com/politics/21491358/detail.html"

or

"http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/11/new-york-republican-dede-scozzafava-backs-democrat-bill-owens-after-suspending-her-bid-for-us-house-.html"

Dede Scozzafava Endorses Bill Owens

ABC News’ Kristina Wong reports: In a surprise twist in the contentious special election race for a U.S. House seat in New York, moderate Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava endorsed the Democratic candidate, Bill Owens, on Sunday afternoon after announcing the day before that she was releasing her supporters.

Scozzafava, who supports abortion rights and same-sex marriage, suspended her campaign after high-profile Republicans, such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, threw their support behind Doug Hoffman, a disaffected Republican running on the Conservative Party line.

Scozzafava’s decision to get out of the race was seen by analysts as exposing an ideological rift within the GOP in upstate New York -- but it nevertheless came as a surprise on Sunday when she decided to endorse the Democratic candidate.

It was uncertain what impact Scozzafava’s endorsement will have on the race, given that most of her supporters are self-identified Republicans.

When she withdrew from the race on Saturday, the House Republican leadership, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich all switched their support from Scozzafava to Hoffman.

Scozzafava suspended her bid after a Siena College poll found she was in third place with 20 percent of the vote in the heavily Republican upstate New York district. Conservative Party nominee Hoffman and Democratic nominee Owens had 35 percent and 36 percent, respectively.

Scozzafava’s antipathy towards Hoffman was apparent when the three candidates held their only debate last week and she suggested that third-party rival lacked the conservative value of honesty.

“You know, when people talk about values, and conservative values, there is one value that has been sorely lacking in the campaign and that’s called honesty and truth and men that, perhaps, keep their word. I think those are very important values that any sort of representative that is going to Washington should live by,” said Scozzafava.

Here is Scozzafava's full statement, issued today at 2:06 p.m.:

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.

It’s not in the cards for me to be your representative, but I strongly believe Bill is the only candidate who can build upon John McHugh's lasting legacy in the U.S. Congress. John and I worked together on the expansion of Fort Drum and I know how important that base is to the economy of this region. I am confident that Bill will be able to provide the leadership and continuity of support to Drum Country just as John did during his tenure in Congress.

In Bill Owens, I see a sense of duty and integrity that will guide him beyond political partisanship. He will be an independent voice devoted to doing what is right for New York. Bill understands this district and its people, and when he represents us in Congress he will put our interests first.

Please join me in voting for Bill Owens on Tuesday. To address the tough challenges ahead, we must rise above partisanship and politics and work together. There's too much at stake in this election to do otherwise.

UPDATE: Bill Owens welcomed the endorsement from Scozzafava, and appeared with her at an event in Canton, New York Sunday afternoon.

After securing the endorsement of Scozzafava, Owens issued the following statement:

I am honored to have Assemblywoman Scozzafava’s endorsement. Over the course of her career, Dede has always committed to serving the people of Upstate New York before serving a partisan agenda. I have a tremendous amount of respect for what she's accomplished. We share a commitment to finding common sense solutions to address the challenges we’re facing here in Upstate New York.

Now more than ever we need bipartisan solutions to help bring jobs to Upstate New York to get our economy back on track and move our country forward. Those are the kinds of priorities I will fight for in Congress because that’s the kind of leadership Upstate New York needs right now.

ABC News' Teddy Davis contributed to this report.

quote:

Originally posted by DaleU:
A politician with integrity! What will they think of next?

Integrity my AZZ. This woman is simply proving what most of have known the whole time is that she is a liberal democrat in Republican clothes.
Why State controlled Media outlet ABC refers to her as a moderate is beyond belief as her voting record and campaign rhetoric indicated something else. She sure as hell doesnt represent my values and Im quite sure we will discover that she doesnt represent the views of voters in her district.

Integrity? She ran as a Republican while holding true to her leftist views...she's a liar.

There are numerous reports that she met with many Democrats before giving her endorsement to Owens.

She is just another bought and paid for politician.

quote:

Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), who is in charge of new candidate recruitment for House Democrats, played a key role in getting Republican Dede Scozzafava to back Democrat Bill Owens -- just hours after she dropped out of the NY-23 race on Saturday, Dem sources tell me.

Former state Democratic chairwoman June O'Neill, a friend of Scozzafava's who brokered the Owens endorsement, arranged for Israel, who was already in western New York, to have coffee with the moderate Republican at 4 p.m. yesterday at Gouverneur, N.Y. eatery near Scozzafava's home.

Even though she had already spoken to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Scozzafava was apparently rattled and needed some face-to-race reassurance that backing a Democrat was a good idea, according to people familiar with the situation.

Plus her cellphone voice mailbox was overloaded with Democratic messages and stopped taking incoming calls. Scozzafava left the meeting more relaxed and clearly leaning towards endorsing Owens over Conservative Party hopeful Doug Hoffman, a person familiar with the exchange told me.

Israel declined to comment, saying he doesn't talk about private conversations.

"http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/1109/Israel_met_secretly_with_Scozzafava_.html"

quote:

A number of prominent Democrats and White House officials reached out to Scozzafava in the past 24 hours, asking her to endorse Owens.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., had several phone conversations with Scozzafava, an aide confirmed Sunday. Schumer also asked White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to help lobby Scozzafava for her support.

"http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/republican_dede_scozzafava_urg.html"

Thank You Assemblywoman! You have finally seen the light. To bad the Republicans have decided to not include a Moderate like the Assemblywoman in their ranks, and choose instead their radical right-wing politics, over reason. With their decision to not include moderates, the Republicans will not stand a chance of taking back the majority for a long-long time.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jack_flats,

Conservatives don't need another party. They just need to take control of the Republican party. Give America a clear choice.

The majority of Americans call themselves conservatives.

quote:

Originally posted by jack_flats:
Thank You Assemblywoman! You have finally seen the light. To bad the Republicans have decided to not include a Moderate like the Assemblywoman in their ranks, and choose instead their radical right-wing politics, over reason. With their decision to not include moderates, the Republicans will not stand a chance of taking back the majority for a long-long time.

She never was a Republican.

quote:

Originally posted by Flashman57:
Conservatives don't need another party. They just need to take control of the Republican party. Give America a clear choice.

The majority of Americans call themselves conservatives.

Yep, she was according to some more Liberal than the Dem running against her...GOOD RIDDANCE, lets get some REAL change going on to help us advance into the future with some fiscal responsibility and an end to the PORK barrel spending going towards special interest groups/projects!

quote:

Originally posted by DaleU:
A politician with integrity! What will they think of next?

If selling out your core values is integrity, then she and YOU can have it, since most could do without that form of integrity!

quote:

Originally posted by scoutsout1:

quote:

Originally posted by DaleU:
A politician with integrity! What will they think of next?

If selling out your core values is integrity, then she and YOU can have it, since most could do without that form of integrity!

Her loyalty was with America and her district, so she supports a candidate who she believes will be better for both!
If your core values revolve around “party first”, you can keep them.

quote:

Originally posted by NSNN:

quote:

Originally posted by scoutsout1:

quote:

Originally posted by DaleU:
A politician with integrity! What will they think of next?

If selling out your core values is integrity, then she and YOU can have it, since most could do without that form of integrity!

Her loyalty was with America and her district, so she supports a candidate who she believes will be better for both!
If your core values revolve around “party first”, you can keep them.

If her loyalty was with her district, why did it take phone calls from prominent Democrats as well as a follow up from the Democratic "recruiter", to reassure her she was doing what was best?

"http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29013.html"

quote:

Fearful that the party had almost no chance of winning the Nov. 3 New York special election after Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava abruptly announced Saturday that she was dropping out, high-ranking national Democrats immediately began working to secure her endorsement of Democrat Bill Owens, POLITICO has learned.

On Sunday afternoon, their vigorous efforts paid off as Scozzafava bucked her own party and issued a statement supporting Owens over Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman, a coup for Democrats who recognized that their best remaining chance of winning the Republican-leaning seat on Tuesday was to swing disaffected Scozzafava supporters their way. By Sunday night, Scozzafava had taped her endorsement and it was being delivered via robo-call into targeted district households.

The story of how it went down began in Washington, where the White House and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee quarterbacked the effort to secure Scozzafava’s endorsement.

According to several senior Democratic officials, Rep. Steve Israel, a Long Island Democrat and DCCC official, was dispatched to meet face-to-face with Scozzafava in her upstate New York district within hours of her departure from the race to make the case on behalf of the national party. He carried the proxy of the White House and congressional Democrats.

Scozzafava, according to one account, was receptive to the entreaties after becoming a target of intense conservative opposition over the past month. A moderate to liberal assemblywoman who was backed by the national GOP establishment, her nomination had become a rallying point for conservative grassroots activists who argued that she was far too liberal for them to support.

“She’s devastated that these outside interests are trying to hijack her moderate wing of the party," said one New York Democrat who had spoken to Scozzafava.

Her support had all but collapsed over the last month; by the end of the week, national Republicans began hedging their bets on her campaign and signaling that they would welcome a Hoffman victory.

When some senior Democrats worried Scozzafava might be wavering about the endorsement, according to another account, the White House got Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful figures in the state, and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to place calls to the assemblywoman on Saturday evening to coax her into delivering it. Sen. Charles Schumer, who had been in touch with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Israel, also weighed in.

Two senior Democrats with ties to the White House praised Cuomo’s role in the operation, saying they were confident Scozzafava was on board after learning that she told Cuomo: "You're going to be the next governor of New York."

Also critical was Silver’s assurance, in a phone conversation with Scozzafava, that the state Assembly Democratic caucus would embrace her if she chose to switch parties, now viewed as a real possibility after her endorsement Sunday of Owens.

quote:

Also critical was Silver’s assurance, in a phone conversation with Scozzafava, that the state Assembly Democratic caucus would embrace her if she chose to switch parties, now viewed as a real possibility after her endorsement Sunday of Owens.

Of course they would embrace her, she is more democrat than many of them.

Her endorsement of Owens will send many of her voters to Owen's side - something the GOP can ill afford in this race. The next few days will be telling in terms of just how much critically needed support the GOP lost in this boneheaded move.

quote:

The next few days will be telling in terms of just how much critically needed support the GOP lost in this boneheaded move.

Her ideology runs counter to what most Americans embrace.

quote:

Originally posted by FlankerFlyer:

quote:

The next few days will be telling in terms of just how much critically needed support the GOP lost in this boneheaded move.

Her ideology runs counter to what most Americans embrace.

We'll be saying Rep. Owens in a couple days

we will see in 48 hours.

quote:

Originally posted by NSNN:

quote:

Originally posted by scoutsout1:

quote:

Originally posted by DaleU:
A politician with integrity! What will they think of next?

If selling out your core values is integrity, then she and YOU can have it, since most could do without that form of integrity!

Her loyalty was with America and her district, so she supports a candidate who she believes will be better for both!
If your core values revolve around “party first”, you can keep them.

She was out of touch with most Americans and those within her own supposed party, rumors were that she was thinking about switching to Democrat after the elections which is also a clear lack of integrity especially for those who where voting for her thinking she was a Repub.

I personally am a not a Party First type person, I am a Conservative and a traditionalists first who believes in preserving our great Republic from those who would just assume rob everyone of their hard earned money and would sell out our sovereignty in a split second if they had the chance. Most Americans would probably fit my bracket since most are Conservative, most are pro-life, and most believe in a free market/Capitalism that brings us our great and further advancing technology...Obama and the Liberal Progressive Dems do not believe in these things and they are quickly losing popularity and are even dividing severely the Dem Party!

Welcome to her Dems. We will take the Conservative and know what we are getting. The most revealing part of this situation is that the RNC Chair and Newt Gingrich supported the liberal Republican until they saw the upcoming loss, then they changed their minds. As an earlier poster stated, the Republican elite may be in disaray, but not the conservatives. We will bring the Republicans back to their roots as conservatives. There are leaders out there, however not the ones selected by the Washington insiders. I hope we learned a lesson from the MCain fiasco. Don't let the news media and Washington select our candidates.