Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Hoffman Still the Favorite Son Among NYS Conservatives

Today I am very pleased to be able to bring you a short interview with the Chairman of the New York State Conservative Party, Mike Long. You can see their party website, www.cpnys.org, for additional information on the NYS Conservative Party. Chairman Long's answers to our questions provide a good sense of what his party is about and where they are moving.

I was really excited to do this interview because I had heard some political spectators and insiders say they believed that Mike Long was done supporting Doug Hoffman for whatever reason late last month. Those Republican insiders argued to me on multiple occasions that the Conservatives and Mike Long would likely abandon Hoffman and dangle the Conservative line out for the highest Republican bidder. Not knowing who to trust I went to the find out from the horse's mouth myself and it sounds pretty obvious to me now, based on my interview documented below, that Mike Long is serious about his continued support for Doug Hoffman. He says the Conservative line in NY-23 is Hoffman's for the taking if he wants it, which really forces Will Barclay, Matt Doheny and other potential candidates into a corner to compete for a more narrow demographic of Republican voters and certainly whatever conservative defectors they can pinch off.

Remember Doheny said back in mid-December that, "I'm absolutely going to actively seek the Republican and Independence and Conservative party lines and we'll be working diligently to maximize my chances of getting those lines." There is no doubt that this is big news that might further entice Hoffman to closely consider another run for NY-23. If Hoffman enters the race the Conservative line will be taken. And for now we have to assume that Congressman Bill Owens will maintain the Independence line. So now it looks like Doheny's strategy to aggressively reach out to moderates will have to be very focused and successful in order for him to have a shot at the Republican nomination this year. While I am the first to admit that this news doesn't fall into the same category as the national "Game Change" news, it is still quite relevant and interesting news for local politicos as well as all other fans of NY-23 politics like me. Beyond the explicit statements of support for Hoffman, Chairman Long also talks about Scozzafava, the Republican Party and his own party's goals, specifically mentioning plans to spearhead a campaign to cap state spending and tax cuts. Now onto the juice of the interview!

Buggs Buddy Question: Chairman Long, thank you very much for agreeing to taking the time to participate in our interview. Now Chairman, I don't mean to say you didn't have a great deal of influence over New York politics before 2009, but your influence has expanded greatly in upstate New York after recruiting and supporting Doug Hoffman in NY-23 this past fall. Can you tell us a little bit about your start in politics and why you decided to become a conservative rather than a Republican?

NYS Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long Response: I started in politics in 1964, in the Barry Goldwater Presidential Campaign. I initially was a registered republican when I witnessed the lack of support for then Senator Goldwater by the New York Republican Party. Both my wife and I registered conservative and became active in the NYS Conservative Party.

BB: It seems like the Republican Party in NY-23 has some real problems it needs to work out if it wants to be successful in 2010. What direction do you think the local Republican establishment and the county chairs should take in managing the competing interests between moderates and conservatives? Can the Scozzafava's and the Hoffman's of the GOP coexist? And if you want to answer this -- is the New York State Conservative Party committed to supporting Hoffman in 2010 if he decides to run, or would you be open to supporting a different candidate?

ML: I think the republican establishment has to understand that truly moderates and conservatives can work together and co-exist. The problem that the republican establishment has to understand is that their republican membership, namely the rank-and-file, are moderate to conservative, not liberals. If Doug Hoffman decides to run in 2010 you can rest assure the NYS Conservative Party believes he deserves the opportunity to run again and will support him.

BB: Very interesting to hear that commitment from you. What are the top three issues for your party in 2010? What do you hope to accomplish - your goals - in 2010? Is it to move Republicans towards the Conservative line or winning with conservative candidates outright or something else?

ML: To win four to five congressional districts with conservative republicans including and especially Doug Hoffman in the 23rd CD if he chooses to run. To regain control of the NYS Senate with conservative republicans. Third, to spearhead a campaign to cap state spending and tax cuts.

BB: Has the Conservative Party changed since Hoffman beat Scozzafava and came close to winning in NY-23? If so, in what ways? And how do you respond to critics who say that the Conservative Party often plays a spoiler role in many New York elections?

ML: Doug Hoffman's campaign in the 23rd CD re-energized the conservative party statewide and clearly energized the conservative movement throughout the nation. In regards to the critics who claim that the conservative party often plays a spoiler role in New York elections, this couldn't be further from the truth. In last year's election the republican candidate, Dede Scozzafaza, was totally out of step philosophically with the rank-and-file members of her own party, therefore, playing the role of not only being the spoiler but after the republican congressional committee spent $1 million on her campaign she endorsed the democrat. She was the true spoiler in the race.

BB: What candidates or local leaders are you most excited about and who do you see as rising stars of the Conservative and Republican Parties in Upstate New York?

ML: There are many local leaders and activists in the conservative and republican parties and members of the tea party that will become the next wave of leaders. Too many to name any individuals.

BB: What is the best political advice you have ever been given?

ML: The best political advice I was ever given was by my wife who advised me to run for State Chairman of the New York State Conservative Party.

BB: What do you predict in Dede Scozzafava's future? And do you think the Republican Assembly leadership have done anything different once she endorsed Bill Owens for Congress?

ML: I'm not in the business of predicting any individuals future, nor do I want to involve myself in giving advice to the Republican Assembly leadership.

BB: Thank you for your time. Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you or the Republican Party in NY-23 that might be of interest to our readers?

ML: Thank you for the opportunity for this online interview.

BB: Best of luck to you Chairman Long, and thanks again! It has been a real pleasure and I am proud we had the rare opportunity to interview you. You can learn more about the New York State Conservative Party through their website, www.cpnys.org.

20 comments:

  1. Wow- they quoted you on Liz Benjamin's blog today. Congrats! It looks like this blog is really moving on up.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jim Kelly - NY Conservative CampaignsJanuary 13, 2010 at 10:41 AM

    Conservatives have their horse for this years race in the 23rd CD.

    Clearly Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long has ended speculation on the upcoming 23rd Congressional Race in the North Country.

    Much talk was surrounding this race with a host of other candidates vying for the spot on Conservative Party Line this year.

    It's Doug Hoffman's Conservative Line this year if he so wishes to take another go at it this year.

    (After all, it is the NY-GOP Chairs who screwed up this election race in the first place by choosing a socialist candidate in picking Dede Scazzafava)

    Jim Kelly - NY Conservative Campaigns (Now on Facebook)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have to say that I completely disagree with Jim Kelly above...I do not see Chairman Long saying "We need Doug Hoffman." What I see is the Chairman of the party staying loyal to a guy who carried the water for the movement last time in an extrodinary and unprecedented occurance.

    This next campaign will be a long affair and I don't see Doug Hoffman as the kind of person who can legitimately challege Bill Owens for the seat. If Republicans, Conservatives and true Independents want to lose again, nominate Doug Hoffman.

    We need to look elsewhere.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Somewhere Bill Owens and Rham Emanuel are smiling because if the Republican and Conservative Primary voters are stupid enough to nominate Doug Hoffman then they are assured NY-23 to remain in Democrat hands.

    Hoffman doesn't live in NY-23, he'd have to move aka carpetbag his way in.

    Hoffman, as an accountant, can't file his disclosure forms correctly.

    Hoffman can't say anything beyond being, "a Ronald Reagan Conservative Republican" during debates.

    Hoffman can't bring in the national groups that he did before because they'll be spread out across the country in a mid-term election year.

    Hoffman can't win St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties as there's a lot of people there who are still loyal (for whatever reason) to Scozzafava. Those are two HUGE counties in this district. Toss in Oswego, Barclay's home turf and he's got a real problem.

    This is a major problem created first by the eleven chairs selecting Scozzafava without proper input from the Conservatives. Then compounded by the Conservatives going to the one guy who would be used as a media driven prop to hold up the Conservative mantle and reinvigorate the national conservative climate. While I agree with the national implications, I struggle because NY-23 is my home and if Doug Hoffman is our candidate my home will remain in Democrat hands.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anon 1:06: Good run down - good analysis.

    Not much to add except to take issue with Mr. Long "Hoffman DID NOT re-energize the conservative party statewide and clearly energized the conservative movement throughout the nation." When closely viewed as to the folks involved, we will see mostly party hacks and has-beens taking advantage of the only race in the country to find a mic and camera and make their spiel for their own agenda.

    The way I saw that race.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Funny how the line is Hoffman's for the asking. BS he will lose a primary to Barclay or Doheny. Hoffman is a registered as R. He is not a registered Conservative.

    Bottom line 2 primary's for the Republician and Conservatives lines. The party bosses can endorse but the voters in the primary will pick who is the line. Hoffman will never get the republican line over the other 2.

    This year there will be a primary unlike the special election, Dede would have never got out of a primary with the R line it there had been one the last time.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Another blog creator with an axe to grind. Join the crowd.

    ReplyDelete
  8. 1:06, actually hoffman did narrowly win Jefferson county. Hoffman did, however, lose St. Lawrence county by about 20 points.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The NY political establishment appears to making the same mistake again if they support Hoffman or Barclay. Hoffman, an accountant that can't seem to file an accurate FEC report and Barclay, who is a De De in the making disaster are both exactly the type that should not be the candidate. Matt Doheny is the only candidate with fresh ideas that has any chance of winning.

    ReplyDelete
  10. 5:11 What are Doheny's fresh ideas? I haven't heard any of them? Why does he have the best chance to win? I think Barclay is the guy we need to go with if you are looking for someone who is middle of the road.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Barclay and Hoffman are proven losers to Democrats. Let's try someone new.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Why hasn't Barclay joined 10 other Assembly Republicans including Dede in promising to oppose higher state taxes? Could Barclay more liberal than Dede on the issue of taxes?
    http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2010/01/13/assembly-republicans-sign-tax-free-pledge/

    ReplyDelete
  13. Barclay's claim to fame was taxing people for using the river...of course he doesn't oppose higher taxes!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Barclay's too busy "owning" the Salmon River to run a campaign.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Mike Long says "If Doug Hoffman decides to run in 2010 you can rest assure the NYS Conservative Party believes he deserves the opportunity to run again and will support him." Couldn't this be considered a party boss picking the candidate? Wasn't this a conservative criticism of the choice of the Republican candidate last year? Does the Conservative Party have a primary?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Please, this Barclay owns the Salmon River crap is just so tired and old. Anyone who actually fishes knows this is a load of crap. I've fished the Salmon River for the past 25 years and never have I had to pay for anything other than my equipment and a license.

    Republicans repeating Democrat attacks...nice campaign Hoffman and Doheny - thank God it won't work.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hello, I've been trying to get anyone on the Consev Party to Run someone, anyone for Gov. I told them I would be happy to run. Audit: Lotto/ OTB/NYRA/ThruW & Canal Author/Power Author/ NYTrans Author's/Welfare/Medicare and others. Real hiring freeze, 15-25% pay cuts for top Directors/Commissioners. No more Member items!! No lobbist or special interests allowed. Citizen AgainstGov'tWaist to rewrite the budget. Rip up contracts of outside contractors. Freeze school spending until they graduate more than 65-70% of their student bodies. Go to the people time and again to show them the tax savings WE can find and cut. Hailed as Heroes, Turn state around in a 2yrs! Surplus and massive Spending/Tax cuts!

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is not ricket science. Opportunity has knocked and so far, the consevatives have turned a deaf ear. We have to run someone fast. A Trial Lawyer by the name Warren Retlick may announce any day under the Libratarian/Repub Parties. I heard him today on Albany's 5.90am Steve and Jackie's talk show this morn. He sounded just like a Conserv but who knows? Is a Trial Lawyer. If we allow this time to slip by we will be looking in through the window, shivering on the front yard. I say we steal His Thunder and announce this weekend and get off the blocks 1st! Get out front and let them scramble for support wishing they announced 1st. A good Common Sense approach, allow citizen group audit the variety of agencies and examine the budgets. Force the senate/assemb to work with us or move the Heck over. We need to move and I mean FAST!! Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love how anonymous bloggers assume that anti-Barclay posts are from the Hoffman or Doheny campaigns. To assume that these posts are from anyone other than a random blogger is quite an assumption - these people could be Owens supporters, or not even have an opinion yet, they just simply know they don't want Barclay on the ballot. So to assume that Doheny and Hoffman are spearheading a smear campaign again Barclay is just stupid. I would like to think that I am terribly important in the political arena, but just like most of the people who take the time to post comments on these blogs, I'm just not. Just another "nobody"

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anyone who thinks about dumping Doug Hoffman if he chooses to run again has a short memory. The people who supported him in the 2009 race will not support another Republican if he is dumped. The best tac is to get Mr Hoffman to endorse a candidate who can win both the C & R line and that candidate will be the next Congressman from the 23rd.

    ReplyDelete