Hoffman fails local issues test
We've been hearing a flood of comments from voters who complain the 23rd Congressional candidates have been silent on bread-and-butter North Country issues, instead sticking to the memes of their national parties.
The Watertown Daily Times wrote a great editorial today to this effect.
Too bad Conservative party candidate Doug Hoffman didn't bother to read it. He showed up at an editorial meeting at the Times unable to speak to key North Country issues: the Seaway, the rooftop highway, all questions printed for anyone to read in this morning's paper.
Reporter Jude Seymour was in the room and has the, at times, tense and uncomfortable details.
Republican Dede Scozzafava can talk backwards and forwards about these and many other local issues - she's represented the region for more than a decade. But she's struggling to get anyone to listen to her, what with an epic GOP civil war eclipsing her campaign, national "this is an Obama referendum" style coverage, and the lack of a single debate at this stage in the race.
Democrat Bill Owens has also been largely silent on many North Country "local" issues.
Two debates are scheduled next week: Wednesday in Plattsburgh (with only Scozzafava and Owens) and Thursday in Syracuse with all three candidates. Can Scozzafava use them to regain her footing and stand strong on her experience with North Country issues? Will Hoffman and Owens brush up on their local knowledge? Is it too late in the game to make much of a difference?
One big question I have: the Syracuse debate is hosted by WSYR, a commercial TV station, and is closed to the public and other reporters. WSYR has no experience reporting on North Country issues. I found no North Country news on its website. To be fair, it's owned by the same company that owns WWTI-50 in Watertown, which does do extensive local coverage.
Will WSYR put all three candidates' feet to the fire and ask questions that are relevant to 23rd district voters, both national and regional scope? Voters sure hope so.
Labels: election09
posted by David Sommerstein @ 10/22/2009 03:02:00 PM
14 Comments
14 Comments:
Typical. The country is collapsing around us and somebody wants to focus on a parochial issue and play "gotcha" journalism. There will be plenty of time for Mr. Hoffman to focus on these and other local issues if he is elected.
The last thing on my mind right now is the rooftop highway. Hoffman can learn about local issues. DeDe won't learn how to be pro-life. DeDe won't learn about the sanctity of marriage. DeDe won't learn how the stimulus will bankrupt this country. Hoffman has already learned 99% of what makes a successful candidate.
Why is Public Radio doing hit pieces?
And why is this blog considered a news-site...it isn't a site, it's a little blog.
It was only a matter of time before Mr. Hoffman was exposed. His job, if elected, was never to serve the people of the District he would represent. His job was to lock step with the New -Cons and right wing of the Republican Party.
Yes local issues matter. "All politics is local." Any man who cannot answer simple questions about their thoughts, even in general, about things like the Rooftop Highway, is not fit to represent the people. He obviously feels that the " bigger" issues like Roe v Wade are more important. Fine. His choice, but he should be honest and just go to Washington and join groups that concentrate on those issues.
We need representation that can decide independently what is best on each issue. The Dick Armey's of the world ( the man who committed a treasonable crime with Cheney in outing a CIA agent) mean more to Mr. Hoffman than that little guy next door trying to get by..
"gotcha" journalism?
You got to be kidding! It would appear Hoffman is not ready for the big City lights if he cannot answer simple questions. I suppose he only wants to answer his own questions. This is like the sad defense for Palin when she could not answer the simple question " what newspapers do you read?"...Sixth grade school children get asked harder questions everyday .
This is so Palin-esque. The candidate's not ready for prime time and then whines about the media asking quesitons about, you know, like issues and stuff.
I saw no "whining" from Hoffman. And I have to agree the candidates overall views are more important to me than the intricate knowledge of issues they can do nothing about at present.I would much prefer a candidate with a clear overall vision than one intimately familiar with every nuance of a ridiculous "rooftop hiway" that lacks the character to guide him in more important decisions.
The only whining I saw was from the reporter who clearly expected something else.
News flash: Sarah Palin endorses Hoffman--http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/10/sarah-palin-republican-conservative.html.
He may have failed the Local test, but he has Passed the National test to be a lapdog for the Conservative Party ,led by men like Dick Armey, owned by Lobbyist for Big Business and the Health Care Industry.
He says he is not a career politician. No, he just represents them. Men like Cheny who helped move Haliburton out of the country so it could profit even more with no bid contracts with the Government.
Big Business and Health Care Industry Lobbyist own the Conservative Party. Doug is just the kind of guy they are looking for..
I just love how folks like Hoffman and his minions howl about government intrusion into our lives...unless that intrusion is into my uterus. That kind of intrusion is just fine with them. It boggles the mind. Thank goodness we have a CHOICE in this election this time around.
Bill Owens gets my vote.
I have to say I'm baffled by the first few posts in this thread. I could be wrong, but I assume they're from Hoffman supporters. Are they really more concerned about the sanctity of marriage and abortion rights than issues that directly effect them here in the North Country?
Haven't they awoken to the fact that the Neo-cons pull this script out in every election. Rile the rank and file up with red herrings and then completely go against your interests when they elect a candidate. I honestly wanted to at least give Hoffman a chance, but the guy is proving every day to be our version of Sarah Palin. Completely clueless about the world around him.
You would think a person would take the time to research some of the local issues if they were going to run for office. If they would not do that, why would anyone think they would take the time to learn about issues if elected?
We need more candidates like Doug Hoffman who can rule based on "gut instinct" rather than familiarity with issues and policies. G.W. Bush proved that. (snarking of course)
I have no real way of knowing but I wouldn't be too surprised if those first couple of "pro-Hoffman" comments were coming from the nationally organized effort outside of the North County. I could be wrong in guessing on this input but there is certainly a lot of national attention being put on this race and a substantial outside effort is being put forth to get Hoffman elected (and Scozzafa and Owens) and they are watching local blogs like this. I don't think we can assume that all comments on this blog are from people with a genuine connection with the North Country.
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