Hoffman's ride from CPA to Conservative rock star
Three months ago, Doug Hoffman was a successful CPA, a respected but unexciting green-eye-shade guy.
This afternoon, he handled an extended national interview with Glenn Beck with aplomb, embracing his new role as a right-wing Jimmy Stewart figure. (That's how Beck described hiim, anyway...)
After the radio interview, I dropped by Hoffman's HQ in Saranac Lake (in an abandoned gas station where Hoffman used to work pumping gas).
I found the candidate hanging out with volunteers.
He admitted that the ride these last few months has been a little shocking, but he sounded relatively unfazed.
Hoffman has become a national symbol for conservatives convinced that the GOP has lost its way, and needs to field far more ideologically conservative politicians.
One thing's clear: Doug Hoffman has absolutely doubled-down on his new identity as rock-rib conservative.
In his conversation with Beck -- a firebreather who makes even many conservatives flinch -- Hoffman aligned himself closely with the talk-show host, describing himself as a member of Beck's 912 Project.
He has increasingly moved beyond fiscal conservatism to adopt a much wider slate of socially conservative ideas.
Will that sell in the North Country, where John McHugh was a self-professed moderate and where the GOP was convinced that Dede Scozzafava was the right candidate?
We'll find out on November 3rd.
What's certain is that Hoffman is on a very wild and dramatic journey. He appears on Beck's TV show and the morning show Fox & Friends later this week.
Hoffman campaigns tomorrow with conservative activist and former congressman Dick Armey...
Labels: election09
posted by Brian Mann @ 10/21/2009 01:31:00 PM
27 Comments
27 Comments:
Good for Hoffman. Sounds like an exciting ride. However, the last thing we need is another ultra right wing wanna be hypocrite who raves about too much government while at the same time telling us how we should live our lives. Perhaps he's using these nuts to get elected, but if he does so, I hope he'll prove to be more moderate than those he's saddling up to at present. Glenn Beck? Fox news? That's a pretty radical crowd.
Fox News? Radical? You have to be kidding. They are the only ones questioning appointees and the administration. Everyone else continues to fawn over the government which is not honest reporting.
I hope Hoffman wins.
Yes Carmen,
Glenn Beck is a child and watching Faux news is akin to believing most of what's printed in the National Enquirer. But to be fair, most Network news is garbage and tabloid fodder as well. Given both of my examples propensities too spew outright lies and take things completely out of context, I consider them radical. But if you enjoy their "reporting" then good for you. Obviously our mileage varies.
I hope Hoffman wins as well. You think conservatives want to run your life? It seems to me you are a bit confused--it is the liberal democrats who push for a nanny state. Have you ever checked out Fox News--not just their opinion shows (all networks have them). They are fair and balanced and the only place where you get full disclosure
Fox news is the only news station that even attempts to ask controversial and tough questions of the current administration - and they don't answer the questions. Who's withholding the truth? The White House, and most all who accompany the President, are radical left wing extremists. Doug Hoffman is a conversative Republican- something the Republican Party used to stand for. Vote for Doug!
This discussion shows just how much the national stuff has eclipsed the candidates themselves.
By affiliating himself with figures such as Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham, and Sean Hannity, Douglas Hoffman links himself to their brands and their cultural resonance.
For some voters, that will be a plus. For others, not.
--Brian, NCPR
Exactly my point, Brian. As an independent voter considering who I wish to cast my vote for, Mr. Hoffman lost mine the minute he climbed into bed with the ultra-right wing part of the Republican party. And the Republican party's biggest problem is that's it's now controlled by the far right branch of the party. The fact that they can't unite behind DeDe (who is far more moderate than liberal)is proof of that.
Hoffman isn't going to win....he most likely will ensure that Owens does. Sour grapes because he didn't get the Repub nomination. Totally agree with the post, these conservative hypocrites want to get government off THEIR backs, and put it in your bedroom, doctor's office, or anywhere else they feel their superior moral views entitle them.
I still don't get Doug H and his type of conservatism. I seem to recall that locally he's long been linked to ORDA and the Olympics hoopla in Lake Placid, and has always supported the idea of government support for the Olympic bid, government buoying the financial losses incurred in hosting the Games, and government keeping the venues going in subsequent years. Wouldn't a true conservative have said government should let such entities self-finance or sink or swim on their own? I'm not sure I've heard a satisfactory explanation of that kind of position.
Scozzafava is just anoter Lindsey "bigots" Graham and I hope Hoffman tears her up. Let Gringrich eat crow.
Fox? Beck? Fair and balanced? The questions that need to be asked? Conservatives conservative?...
Where were all these groups for all those years a Republican controlled Executive and Legislature turned a surplus into record deficits? Created an Economy headed to financial crisis and never did demand we pay for Wars of questionable value to America? Yes, left them for their grandchildren to pay for. A trillion dollars and counting.
Approved tax cuts at the same time they passed underfunded budgets and on and on.
Hoffman is no Conservative, but then again, there is no such thing as a Conservative, only ideologues on matters of personal interest. The Conservative Party is where Republicans go to hang their heads in shame.
Sure. Just what Washington needs right now. One more person to join the party of " just say no." Of course, just let the Banks fail, and the Car Companies go out of business, and people can go to the emergency room for their health care needs. Sure, Hoffman will fit right in.
Or did I miss something. Exactly how would Hoffman balance the budget? Will he eliminate socialist ideas like medi -care and social security? Pork barrell money is not even one percent of the total budget. Will he cut military spending, a huge part of the budget, and if not then how will he pay for it all? Regans trickle down theory has been proven to be wrong.
Dear Doug, do tell, and please be specific.
First off I heard the interview and Beck didn't say Hoffman had his support, jsut that he seemed like a nice guy. 2nd Beck was taking Bush to task at least 3 years ago and so were a lot of the rest of us the Republican party left behind. 3rd- YES! Let the car companies reorganize, the banks too. And instead of bankrupting the country with a health care plan that's nothing but sure disaster maybe we could look towards lowering costs and taxes across the board so jobs would return and people could afford insurance.
But most of all lets remember it was a combination of 2 useless parties ruin this country and it continues today. The answer isn't more career politicians taking your money and then using it to buy your votes. It's time for a real house cleaning and returning Congress to some people whoa aren't there just for the money.
Anon 3:10 said, "Doug Hoffman is a conversative Republican- something the Republican Party used to stand for."
Who are these Conversatives you speak of? Are they good talkers?
Hoffman will only be another right wing nut that votes to make the rich richer turning his back on the middle class. Fox News and the Right Wing AM talk radio circuit are laying out the red carpet for this guy. Most of his ads are sponsored by a right wing PAC!
The problem with the GOP is that they have become hijacked by the far right. If you don't vote their way, they will come after you with lies and misleading ads like they have against Dee Dee!
I'd rather vote for somebody that can represent us (the North Country), not the Right Wing Social Agenda!
"Doug Hoffman is a conversative Republican"....
There is no such thing. I am 60 years old, and NO Republican President has ever balanced a budget in my life. Not one. Under Regan the deficit tripled and the size of Government doubled. That is a fact you can look up. He NEVER used his veto power once to change it. And he is the one Republicans like to hold up as their poster child.It was only under Clinton, when Gore was the deciding vote that every Republican voted against that bills were put in to effect that paid off the deficit left by Bush One and Regan ,and then some ,that the deficit was dealt with.
You cannot solve the problem without increasing taxes in some places. It cannot be done. AND cutting spending.
The conservative party of today is creation of Neo Cons like Armey, and Krystol and Cheney.
There is much blame to go around, but nothing the Republicans or the right wing of their party has done the last 30 years should lead anyone to think they will do better. They have dominated politics for the last 40 years. It is not much of a record to run on. How many times do they have to fool you before you say enough....
Regarding Fox, my only question is: why are their ratings going through the roof?
Anon 10:35- And we've had 80 years of "New Deal" politics that have nearly bankrupted the country. Time for Calvin Coolidge to return in my opinion.
A cross post from the Scozzafava thread:
Thanks, Brian and David, for attempting to bring some balance to the coverage of a race that has been hijacked by national ideologs who are hell bent on making the North Country the latest casualty in their self-serving culture wars. Political power brokers who will never cast a vote in this race are making a mockery of the old saw that “all politics is local.” An editorial in today’s Watertown Times spoke directly to the consequences: the issues that are most important to the North Country and its people are being ignored. We have a 20 year history of Scozzafava’s stand on these issues, but we know next to nothing about where the other candidates stand. She is getting the Max Cleland treatment, pure and simple. Regardless of our political sympathies or who we might vote for, it will be a disgrace if we let it happen here. Please do what you can to challenge these candidates to tell us where they stand on the local issues that they will be called upon to champion on our behalf in Congress.
Mark Scarlett
"80 years of New Deal politics." If I go back 80 years I count 40 year of Democratic presidents and 40 of the GOP.
I think everyone needs to read Mark Levin's "Liberty and Tyranny" to really see a good side by side of conservatives versus the current Progressive Liberals trying to destroy this country. I'm so sick of the conservative-liberal arguement. The liberal statists absolutely want the government to control everyone's lives. The conservative wants a limited national government.
For example, a conservative wants a free market and in a free market there is truly a "trickle down" of money. The people with money own or invest in companies that give paychecks to employees who spend their pay checks at other businesses. Those businesses give pay checks to their employees and so on and so on. In this current economic environment, why haven't taxes been cut on businesses and capital gains? Oh no, those dreaded words, "tax cut." We are geting no tax revenue from the millions who have lost their jobs, yet nothing is being done to try to get these people back on the tax roles and off the taxpayers dime. Obama says he wants to create jobs... then give the people who have the money (the dreaded rich) incentives to invest their hard earned money. Watch what will happen. Raising or even threatening to raise taxes on industry and companies (see "cap and tax" and health care) does nothing for our economy but continue to cripple it.
I think Hoffman comes from those frames of mind. No one else seems to care.
When will common sense return to this country? We have lawyers who have never run a business or been in the work force telling us how to run our economy. I wait for the day that common sense returns to the general population. The dumbing down of America is going to destroy it and there are politicians that want this country dumber and dumber and sadly Fox News gets attacked for giving other pieces to stories to allow people to make an informed decision instead of being a sheep following the "annointed one's" handlers. The Chinese government in the last few years was getting nervous because the rural population was starting to move to cities and become educated and starting to realize that they were being stepped on. Keep the people stupid and they will think life is great. Informed people know there is always something better for them in life. Smarten up people. I'm not saying only watch Fox. Watch all of them and start reading books and online articles from both sides and make decisions with your brains, not who is going to give me the biggest hand out.
"Regarding Fox, my only question is: why are their ratings going through the roof?"
You are confusing their programing of entertainment shows and sports with their new. 4% of America watches their news programs. 9 app. 14.2 million) 96% do not. Good numbers though.
Those who watch are adults and know that it is biased. That is ok. Everyone knows that.
The problem with Hoffman and the conservative Party is that you must be a lemming to belong. Same thoughts for all or you cannot be a part of it. It is like the one party systems of North Korea or
China. Same thing really.
How many pro choice conservatives are there? What do you do to those who do not toe the party line? you throw them out and say they are nor Conservatives. Too busy saying No to everything because it makes for better politics in 2010 and 2012, but not so good for America.
Hoffman and his leaders keep thinking simple solutions to complex issues is the answer. No matter the issue. Co9nservatives do not care about America, only themselves..Like Rush Limbaugh says " He hopes Obama fails." And that is saying he hopes America fails. Why? for selfish reasons...At heart most conservatives feel the same way. If you want Obama to fail (be honest now ), then you do not want America to succeed...and do not parse that out.. there is no yes, but answer to that question......And that is the sad truth of it all.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
"Regarding Fox, my only question is: why are their ratings going through the roof?"
You are confusing their programing of entertainment shows and sports with their new. 4% of America watches their news programs. 9 app. 14.2 million) 96% do not. Good numbers though.
Those who watch are adults and know that it is biased. That is ok. Everyone knows that.
October 22, 2009 12:45 PM
Fox NEWS completely dominates the cable news ratings with more viewers than MSNBC and CNN COMBINED.
Your statement implies ALL other news programs are somehow unbiased. If you believe that I have some oceanfront property in Conifer I'd like to sell you.
Fred Goss said...
"80 years of New Deal politics." If I go back 80 years I count 40 year of Democratic presidents and 40 of the GOP.
October 22, 2009 11:42 AM
Yes Fred, for some reason politicians who attempt to remove and entitlement don't go far. In other words by using the taxpayers own money to buy his votes with an entitlement of some sort your reelection becomes much more likely. Why do you think Obama and his pals are trying to pass healthcare reform despite the fact it will further backrupt us and does nothing to REFORM healthcare? Votes and control, pure and simple.
Anon 1:05- Complex solutions to complex problems (what you apparently think the progressive answer is) hasn't worked too well so far. Maybe some simple solutions- reward the producer instead of the leach, a consumption tax instead of an income tax, putting people to work instead of on the welfare roles would work.
I don't think you understand the conservative mindset at all. You sound just like you got the DNC talking points this morning.
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