Dede Scozzafava, the has been former Republican candidate for NY-23, voted for tax increases in the New York legislature 198 times. But, when Dede wanted to get in good with the Republican and conservative establishment, she signed the Americans For Tax Reform pledge — a piece of paper saying she would not vote for tax increases. She did not need 30 pieces of silver to get in good with the establishment.
All of a sudden the lights from Heaven shined, the Angels sang, and Dede Scozzafava was acceptable. Except she wasn’t.
Last night on Twitter, Ryan Ellis, Tax Policy Director for Americans for Tax Reform, went out of his way to heap scorn on conservative activists and tea party activists for daring to defeat Dede Scozzafava, the woman who signed a piece of paper to absolve her of all her sins.
The twittering must make conservative activists question whether Americans for Tax Reform is on our side any more. I cannot believe Grover Norquist, after all he has done for the movement, could be happy with or approve of staff treating the conservative movement so contemptuously. Yet, with that much contempt — and a pledge by ATR’s Tax Policy Director to support tax hiker Charlie Crist — one must wonder where ATR stands these days. Is it with the establishment that sunk $900,000.00 into the losing bid of Dede Scozzafava, or with the conservative movement that defeated her.
This is, after all, ATR’s Tax Policy Director, writing these things.
Ellis first declared NY-23 was a must win and was “a devastating loss.” To who exactly? Those who absolved a history of tax increases with a printed piece of paper? But we can trust Americans for Tax Reform’s Tax Policy Director because he’s “been doing this s**t since ‘94.”
Later in the evening, ATR’s Tax Director turned his attention to Marco Rubio. Conservatives who want a Rubio win are insane. Nevermind that it is about electing “the most conservative candidates who can win” and the latest polling shows Rubio beating the Democrat in Florida by a greater margin than Crist would. Remember, “the lesson of #ny23 is to have a primary which elects the most reaganite person who can win.”
It is that reason why Ryan Ellis, ATR’s Tax Policy Director, is supporting Charlie Crist. Tax-hiking, stimulus supporting, cap and tax loving Charlie Crist is, to Ellis, “the most reaganite person who can win.”
Americans for Tax Reform posits itself as home to the conservative movement in Washington. With weekly Wednesday meetings of activists and help to a variety of organizations, I think they may want to reconsider having a Tax Policy Director who holds conservative activists and the tea party movement in utter contempt.
They lost me
becolt Wednesday, November 4th at 7:43AM EST (link)the very SECOND they backed Scuzzy. Did they even look at her record?
Do they mean to tell us they wont compromise their principles, but if a candidates principles are compromised from the start, it doesn’t matter?
ATR Never Backed Dede
rellis Wednesday, November 4th at 5:07PM EST (link)Plain fact.
Not surprising
Scope Wednesday, November 4th at 7:48AM EST (link)it appears that the NRCC and NRSC has “quietly” gotten to these people. After all, isn’t the NRCC still denying that it had any say in the 23rd choice for the Republicans, even as the NY GOP members that chose her are saying that they in fact did have alot of influence in her selection? I suspect the anti-conservative, pro-moderates are still in the back smoke filled rooms brokering dirty deals. I guess they haven’t bothered to check the election results.
Heh...they can deny all they want...the HISTORY is something altogether different
AceInTX Wednesday, November 4th at 10:12AM EST (link)Losing It Over Scozzafava
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The Last Time I Checked
rellis Wednesday, November 4th at 5:07PM EST (link)ATR was not the NRCC, and I wasn’t even speaking for ATR last night. So what is your point?
I wasn't talking about ATR...I was replying to a comment about the NRCC...so what's YOUR point? nt
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Not surprising
Scope Wednesday, November 4th at 7:48AM EST (link)it appears that the NRCC and NRSC has “quietly” gotten to these people. After all, isn’t the NRCC still denying that it had any say in the 23rd choice for the Republicans, even as the NY GOP members that chose her are saying that they in fact did have alot of influence in her selection? I suspect the anti-conservative, pro-moderates are still in the back smoke filled rooms brokering dirty deals. I guess they haven’t bothered to check the election results.
Again
rellis Wednesday, November 4th at 5:08PM EST (link)What does the NRCC or NRSC have to do with me? Am I being attacked because you’re mad at these organizations?
Eric: Face it, Grover is a player over at NRSC/NRCC
Section9 Wednesday, November 4th at 8:19AM EST (link)He doesn’t want to rock the boat.
His Wednesday Group meetings are, still, the most important game in town and to keep them that way he needs to do this kind of stuff to let the people on the Hill know that he’s still on board.
So all Dede had to do was to sign the piece of paper and that was that.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE PRIMARIES!!!
Good post, Eric, but you have to understand that this move wouldn’t have been made unless Grover wanted it that way. Please don’t try and peddle the notion that Ryan Ellis is some sort of loose cannon or free agent. He’s the director of freaking tax policy over at ATR, for Christ’s sake!
Get a clue. Grover is part of the problem, not part of the solution.
“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it”-Winston Churchill
I tend to agree about Grover
jackbenimble Wednesday, November 4th at 9:41AM EST (link)He is right on a lot of things and is probably overall helpful to the conservative cause but I perceive him mainly to be a tool of the National Chamber of Commerce and I can’t stand of him because of his pro-amnesty position on illegal immigration.
“I repudiate the idea of voting for a Democrat
Part of the Problem
rellis Wednesday, November 4th at 5:10PM EST (link)So you want a world without a Taxpayer Protection Pledge, a world without a strong anti-tax organization, a world without 54 state center right meetings?
Even if you do, you must think I’m pretty weak to only make an offhand comment by going to Grover first.
If your frustrations are with the national party committees, take it up with them.
Rellis...nobody says they don't want a taxpayer protection pledge...but such a pledge is meaningless if we accept politicians word for it when their record says something different! nt
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RIGHT ON Ace!!! these "pledges" mean NOTHING....
JadedByPolitics Thursday, November 5th at 12:03PM EST (link)Politicians are LIARS by nature so for any of them to sign a “pledge” would be a way to SHUT UP Americans for Tax Reform! If ANYONE in ANY organization gets behind a politician because they “signed” a “pledge” well they need some SERIOUS mental health! The longer I pay attention to politics the more I see that quite a few on the RIGHT could use some psychiatric care!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
A pledge for any member in DC is something to break
Richard Mullins Thursday, November 5th at 12:09PM EST (link)and it considered worthless in my humble opinion.
For more on my views, go my wordpress site:
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For a good dose of satire go here:
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LOL...I was thinking about tattooing a scarlet letter S on their forhead for "SUCKER"
AceInTX Thursday, November 5th at 5:33PM EST (link)but psychiatric help might be in order…LOL
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As a tax policy director,
WarEagle01 Wednesday, November 4th at 9:36AM EST (link)Ryan Ellis sucks more than any other tax policy director has sucked before.
“A wise, doughy leg with rich tingly experiences will always reach better conclusions than will a more tanned, muscular leg that hasn’t felt those thrills.” –Chris Matthews’ Leg
Thank You
rellis Wednesday, November 4th at 5:11PM EST (link)Considering I’m the first person with the title “Tax Policy Director” in the history of ATR.
Let's not foget that that $900,000 was spent attacking the Conservative whom the so called "Moderate" refused to endorse infavor of the Democrat
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Actually
rellis Wednesday, November 4th at 5:14PM EST (link)$625,000 was spent in anti-Owens ads. But I’m not here to defend the NRCC. I’m here to ask why I have been viciously slandered by Erick Erickson.
Fair enough...I thout the whole $900,000 was spent attacking Hoffman....instead...the ratio was 2 dollars attacking hoffman for every 1 attacking Owens?
AceInTX Wednesday, November 4th at 10:11PM EST (link)that makes me feel better
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As much as I hate taxes...
ZeusKingoftheGods Wednesday, November 4th at 11:24AM EST (link)…signing that stupid pledge by Grover Norquist is completely irresponsible for candidates for office.
Who’s to say that one day, we won’t be stuck in a massive war against the evil Chinese communists? There could be any number of emergency reasons - based upon the need to survive as free people that might necessitate a tax increase. Who knows?
What we need is tax reform. I would prefer a simplified flat tax, and I would fight for it constantly if I were in Congress but signing a “No New Taxes” pledge, although it is a great gesture, could make a Congressman as impotent as those who sign term limit pledges.
Taxes Are Already High Enough
rellis Wednesday, November 4th at 5:15PM EST (link)Taxes are a combined 30 percent of our GDP. If there is ever a national emergency, we might think first about cutting spending, which is about 40 percent of our GDP.
So what does promoting the advancement of liberals
rcov092 Wednesday, November 4th at 9:39PM EST (link)who have threatened to switch parties do to advance conservatism or roll back oppressive taxes. I note that you keep pointint to the fact that she voted to vote against “new” taxes. How about finding candidates who will vote to repeal the oppressive tax increases coming out way?
“Not One Red Dime for the NRSC or NRCC till they stop trying to elect liberals”
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My Response to Erick Erickson's Smear
rellis Wednesday, November 4th at 12:34PM EST (link)Can be found here:
http://www.redstate.com/rellis/2009/11/04/erick-ericksons-personal-smear-of-me-was-inaccurate-read-my-tweets-for-yourself/
Open to any and all communication.
Rush has plugged RedState, Erick, and Erick's analyses on-air
Flagstaff Wednesday, November 4th at 1:00PM EST (link)several times in the last few days. Always in a positive way.
He just did it again.
Attaboys for all!
Pluto, the Ninth Planet - Forever!
TRUCE
valerie Wednesday, November 4th at 3:17PM EST (link)Get it off your chests and let’s get it the hell on. We have a country to rescue. For me that begins with Rubio. Chairman Steele and Senator Cornyn, ARE YOU LISTENING?
TRUCE
valerie Wednesday, November 4th at 3:17PM EST (link)Get it off your chests and let’s get it the hell on. We have a country to rescue. For me that begins with Rubio. Chairman Steele and Senator Cornyn, ARE YOU LISTENING?
Fine with Me
rellis Wednesday, November 4th at 5:15PM EST (link)But I’m the victim here. When Erick decides to take my good name out of the mud, I will stop defending myself.
Clearly not fine with you.
acat Wednesday, November 4th at 5:42PM EST (link)Otherwise the first word in your post wouldn’t be “But”.
I read your reply.
The problem is that your organization provided cover (in the form of allowing tax and spend candidates to sign a meaningless pledge) to a candidate who clearly had her fingers crossed behind her back.
What say you?
Mew
Cover and Pledge
rellis Wednesday, November 4th at 6:50PM EST (link)Hoffman was the first to sign the Pledge. We praised him up and down.
Dede at first refused to sign. We started a Twitter petition and harassed her for weeks to sign.
Eventually, and to our surprise, she did. We did not praise her up and down. We contextualized her Pledge signing within Hoffman’s earlier Pledge signing.
We did nothing to tell voters that she signed the Pledge.
If that’s cover, I wouldn’t want to be in your foxhole. It’s about as little as we could possibly do.
No one here wanted Dede over Hoffman. We all wanted Hoffman.
Did ATR endorse Hoffman before the election?
rcov092 Wednesday, November 4th at 9:41PM EST (link)just asking?
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heh...silence to your question of rellis is deafening isn't it? nt
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