United Liberty

How do you know Republicans aren’t serious about pushing a less government, pro-taxpayer and pro-free market agenda? Because the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) has endorsed Dede Scozzafava in the NY-23 special election, which will be decided on November 3rd.

While she holds some views that libertarians find attractive on social issues, she is dangerous on economic issues. This is not meant to cast those views aside, however, the economic and policies that will advocate free markets are much more pressing due to the economy.

Scozzafava supports tax increases (refuses to sign a no tax hike pledge), bailouts, the stimulus bill (she would have been the only Republican to support it), card-check legislation, Cash-for-Clunkers, earmarks, the Davis-Bacon Act and the minimum wage. One of the more ironic twists of this race is the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and Bill Owens, the Democratic Party nominee, are slamming Scozzafava as a tax-hiking liberal. Even Markos Moulitsas called Scozzafava “the most liberal candidate in the race.”

This has lead the Club for Growth to get involved run $275,000 worth of ads (you can watch the ad here) in the race and endorse Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. Fred Thompson, the former GOP presidential hopeful, also endorsed Hoffman.

This reminds me of the 2004 GOP Senate primary in Pennsylvania between Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Pat Toomey. President George W. Bush and the Republican establishment behind Specter, raising money and campaigning for him. While the principled candidate was left behind.

While many conservatives and libertarians are looking for the GOP to get it’s act together, they are showing that they are still the party of big government.