Right-wing media types, you know, Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh, etc., tripped all over themselves endorsing and boosting the failed Conservative Party candidacy of Doug Hoffman in the race to fill a vacant seat in New York’s 23rd Congressional District, with several of them hosting Hoffman on their radio or television shows. They were all there to lend their “support”. But, with friends like these can a conservative party, much less the GOP really survive?
The whole gang was there pulling for carpet bagger Hoffman, Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Mike Huckabee, Michelle Malkin, and Andrew Breitbart’s BigGovernment.com. It was a rogue’s gallery. But when all is said and done, it didn’t help. The conservative, ultra ring-wing candidate lost a seat which has not been held by a member from the Democratic Party since Abraham Lincoln was President. Just as ring-wing media didn’t sway the 2006 Congressional elections, nor the 2008 Presidential election, it didn’t prove to have what it takes in the 2009 Congressional elections. Doesn’t bode well for a GOP right-wing take over of Congress next year.
The little leprechaun Sean Hannity told Hoffman on his Fox News Television program, the night before the election, “I think this is a referendum on a lot of what’s been going on in the country, which is moving radically to the left. And I think this election is going to be watched. I hope I’m on the air this time tomorrow night and I’ll be able to declare you the winner.”
Hosting Hoffman on the radio on November 2, Glenn “McCarthy” Beck said: “I like you. You seem like a normal guy. You seem like a nice guy. You seem like the kind of person that we need in Washington, which is just a regular person.”
On November 2, Mr. News himself Lou Dobbs said to Hoffman, “You know what’s the great — what the great thing is about the Dem — the Conservative candidate running for Congress, Doug Hoffman? He’s neither a professional politician; he’s a guy who’s just disgusted with the system, turns out he’s an accountant.” Moments later, Dobbs added: “It’s hard to believe, but it looks like he just might win. Now this is change I can believe in. If we can get some accountants, and teachers, and carpenters, and some plumbers, and some electricians, some truck drivers, some people who know how to work for a living in this country, I think I’m going to be one of the happiest guys in the entire nation.”
Of course, who can forget Rush Limbaugh’s tasteful take on the NY 23rd race, and former GOP candidates Dede Scozzafava’s endorsement of Hoffman’s opponent, Bill Owens, “Scozzafava has screwed every RINO [Republican in Name Only] in the coun — we can say that she’s guilty of widespread bestiality. She has screwed every RINO in the country. Everyone can see just see how phony and dangerous they are. You know, 2010 might be a nightmare for PETA. Two animals may become extinct; RINOs and Blue Dog Democrats. Pelosi’s gonna kill off the Blue Dogs, and the conservatives are gonna finally get rid of RINOs. The American people have had enough.”
Two things are apparent now. First, the right-wing media folks don’t know near as much about politics in today’s America as they collectively think they do. Second, their endorsement appears to be the kiss of death. Whose praises were they all singing just over a year ago? Sarah somebody or other?
The Liberty Tree 