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Conservative Party's Hoffman Unable To Answer Questions On Local Issues In NY-23
Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 11:55AM
NY-23 Candidate Doug Hoffman (Conservative)
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It looks like Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the three-way NY-23 special election, doesn't actually know much about the district's local issues, the Watertown Daily Times reports.
Hoffman is opposing Democratic nominee Bill Owens and moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava on issues like abortion, gay rights, the stimulus bill, and other national hot-button topics. But at a Daily Times editorial board meeting, he couldn't answer questions about local transportation projects and other economic issues.
A flustered and ill-at-ease Mr. Hoffman objected to the heated questioning, saying he should have been provided a list of questions he might be asked. He was, if he had taken the time to read the Thursday morning Times editorial raising the very same questions.
Coming to Mr. Hoffman's defense, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, who accompanied the candidate on a campaign swing, dismissed regional concerns as "parochial" issues that would not determine the outcome of the election. On the contrary, it is just such parochial issues that we expect our representative to understand and be knowledgeable about, if he wants to be our voice in Washington.
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CT Voter
October 26, 2009 12:03 PM
"Parochial issues"?
Way to respond, Dick.
This would appear to be an unexpected gift to both the Republican and Democrat running against him.
When did it become acceptable for Republican candidates for any office to be so ignorant? Last year it was "I read all of them, Katie" Palin. And now this? You don't need to know about those pesky local issues? Isn't that what voters in special elections are going to particularly care about?
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Xantar
October 26, 2009 12:11 PM in reply to CT Voter
It's what moderate and liberal voters are going to care about in a special election. Conservative voters are only going to care about guns, gays and abortion since they believe that the government doesn't otherwise deserve to exist.
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QuiteAlarmed
October 26, 2009 12:20 PM in reply to CT Voter
Agreed. The attack ad using this practically writes itself.
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Overreach THIS!
October 26, 2009 12:35 PM in reply to CT Voter
You know, in a way this is even weirder than Palin. You can argue (I sure wouldn't, but you can), that Palin simply had too much to memorize/learn in a short time ("Who is your favorite S.Ct. Justice and which of his opinions inspired you most, and why?")
This guy has about 10 or 15 Federal issues that strongly affect his district. St. Lawrence Seaway: widen it or don't and if so, who's gonna pay for that since you're a tax hound? Same issues on new highway; you're for or against and how does it get paid for if government is the cause of all problems? Fort Drum's future: No position? And so on.
I'll go on a limb: Sarah could have handled this, seriously. What does he think he is going to Congress for, to rail against taxes, abortion, and Obama? I know that's plenty for some people, but presumably only some.
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ohyeathatsright
October 26, 2009 1:26 PM in reply to Overreach THIS!
I agree, Palin was at least going in the right direction of the learning curve; Local, State, Federal. To much to learn, but she could have probably handled her constituents (they used to like her remember?).
This guy on the other hand is armed with a few national talking points, but to not be up on local current events for the district you aim to represent is taking unpreparedness to another level. Serves him right.
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Overreach THIS!
October 26, 2009 1:55 PM in reply to ohyeathatsright
Seemingly up on NONE of the current issues, at that. Dick Armey of the Teabaggers was there; must have been mortified. Serves him right, too!
This could effectively sink his candidacy if he can't cook up a strong rebound. Teabaggers and other wackadoodles won't abandon him; otherwise he would seems to have trouble.
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Seafarer
October 26, 2009 12:27 PM
Clearly, the far right only wants candidates that are willing to toe the line on the Big Scary Issues that draw campaign contributions, not the nitty gritty that matters to, you know, his local electorate.
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Matt Jones
October 26, 2009 1:28 PM
Where's the news here: clueless conservative douchebag is clueless, conservative, and a douchebag.
And besides, a modern Republican rep doesn't need to know anything about local issues, it seems. Most of them get re-elected knowing only:
- Corporations are good.
- Guns are good.
- Wars are good.
- "Free markets" are good.
- Taxes are bad.
- Government spending is bad (unless on guns, corporations, wars, or their home district).
- Democrats are bad.
- Teh gheys are bad.
- Abortions are bad.
- Did we mention teh gheys were bad?
- Free markets are bad if they involve paying more to pollute the environment.
Seriously, have we seen anything departing from these points in the last year from notable Republicans?
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Winston Smith
October 26, 2009 1:28 PM
I'm an ideologue! Isn't that enough for you people!?!
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jeffgee
October 26, 2009 3:21 PM in reply to Winston Smith
For some, yes.
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Walter Mitty
October 26, 2009 1:54 PM
Hope this makes it into a late campaign ad, though Owens seems to attack so it will have to be up to Scozzafava.
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Ann Arbor
October 26, 2009 2:01 PM
"All politics is local." They've never heard that?
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MNPundit
October 26, 2009 2:32 PM
I kind of feel for this guy. If I were running I know I'd care more about the big ticket issues like Single-Payer, Climate Change, and Foreign Policy/Defense than the local stuff.
But I'm smart enough to NOT RUN because of it.
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BeeClone
October 26, 2009 2:57 PM
I’m not surprised the definition of teabagger is uninformed and proud of it.
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jvwalt
October 26, 2009 3:00 PM
It's not like the newspaper asked Hoffman about property taxes or traffic lights. The newspaper inquired about regional issues that directly involve the federal government -- improvements to the area's major US highway, the St. Lawrence Seaway, etc. Anyone wanting to represent northern New York should be very familiar with these issues. Hoffman should be ashamed of himself.
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jvwalt
October 26, 2009 3:00 PM
It's not like the newspaper asked Hoffman about property taxes or traffic lights. The newspaper inquired about regional issues that directly involve the federal government -- improvements to the area's major US highway, the St. Lawrence Seaway, etc. Anyone wanting to represent northern New York should be very familiar with these issues. Hoffman should be ashamed of himself.
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jeffgee
October 26, 2009 3:20 PM
More proof that Republicans only want to win and have no interest in actual governing.
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Measure for Measure
October 26, 2009 4:19 PM
This reminds me of the sort of Young Republicans who are keen on becoming commentators, but not journalists who have to research and report on actual stories. Too much work I guess.
Representing a district entails more than just mouthing off on hot button issues. It also involves constituent services, positioning on local development issues and of course fundraising.
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wulfmankarl
October 26, 2009 5:12 PM
Karl Marx Endorses Dede Scozzafava!
http://02e56fa.netsolhost.com/blog1/index.php/2009/10/26/song-karl-marx-dede-marx-endorses-dede-s
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Prof Wagstaff
October 27, 2009 8:18 AM
"A flustered and ill-at-ease Mr. Hoffman objected to the heated questioning, saying he should have been provided a list of questions he might be asked."
And he's been endorsed by Sarah Palin. Well sure, they have so much in common. ROTFLMAO!
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Grumpy Demo
October 27, 2009 11:21 AM
Wait a minute, aren't we "burying the lede" on this story?
A GOP candidate's handler (Dick Armey) is a Corporate Lobbyist that specializes in AstroTurf? Right, I know "sun rises in the east" but it's just odd how this blatant corruption has been normalized.
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SBG
October 29, 2009 1:43 PM
No wonder Sarah Palin loves him.
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Dunvegan
November 1, 2009 5:42 PM
Hoffman = The rise of No-Nothing No-Party Conservative Radical Right Wing Carpetbaggers.
Welcome to InversoWorld.
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