Not a Joke: Scozzafava called the cops on a journalist for -gasp!- asking questions!
ByWhat an embarrassment. How often does a reporter from a national news magazine go to Lowville? My guess is – not very often. So what did Dede Scozzafava do when The Weekly Standard’s John McCormack showed up to ask her some questions? She called the cops on him for doing his job!
Tonight, Dede Scozzafava, the Republican candidate for the November 3 special election in the 23rd congressional district, spoke to about 100 Republicans at the Lewis County GOP dinner at the Elks Lodge 1605. After a dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing, Scozzafava fended off criticism that she wasn’t as conservative as third-party candidate Doug Hoffman and urged her supporters to vote for her in order to keep her Democratic opponent Bill Owens from serving as a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama’s agenda in Washington. It was a fairly typical evening–until the speech ended and someone with Scozzafava’s campaign called the police. On me.Earlier today Lindsay Beyerstein reported that Scozzafava responded to an AFL-CIO questionnaire by saying she would support card-check legislation that eliminates the secret ballot requirement for organizing unions. As Beyerstein notes, this contradict statements made by a Scozzafava spokesman in September.
So after the dinner, I asked Assemblywoman Scozzafava if she supports card check. “Yes, yes I do,” she replied.
At that point someone from her campaign placed himself between Scozzafava and me and told me I should direct all my inquires to the campaign’s spokesman. I nonetheless asked Scozzafava if her signing of the Americans for Tax Reform pledge not to vote to raise taxes means she would oppose any health care bill that raises taxes. “What kind of taxes?” she replied. Then another couple of gentlemen interposed themselves between Scozzafava and me as Scozzafava headed for the door.
I spotted Scozzafava later as she was walking to the parking lot, and asked her: ” Assemblywoman, do you believe that the health-care bill should exclude coverage for abortion?” She didn’t reply. I asked her twice more. Silence.
[...]
Minutes later a police car drove into the parking lot with its lights flashing. Officer Grolman informed me that she was called because “there was a little bit of an uncomfortable situation” and then took down my name, date of birth, and address.
“Maybe we do things a little differently here, but you know, persistence in that area, you scared the candidate a little bit,” Officer Grolman told me.
“[Scozzafava] got startled, that’s all,” Officer Grolman added. “It’s not like you’re in any trouble.”
That was good to hear. …
Nice warm welcome there, Dede. Way to go! Nothing like wasting the resources of the over taxed taxpayers.
She owes it to the voters to answer those questions, and her unwillingness to do so should be a strong signal to the republican establishment that they picked the wrong candidate to throw their weight behind. If Bill Owens wins this election they’ll have nobody to blame but themselves.
H/T NewsBusters via Lew
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It’s not only a journalist’s job, but OUR job to make these politicians answer ALL questions, whether it makes them “uncomfortable” or not. Dede, and her handlers, have shown who they really are: elitists. May they all ROT!
I’d like to say “unbelieveable”! But I can’t. We’ve seen this kind of thing too much these past few months. We’re not allowed to ask questions???? These people do not represent we the people. They have forgotten that they work for us, not the other way around. I’m so disgusted with the current state of politics.
I’ll bet she’ll be the first one to have a town hall if elected! The local GOP voters really need to make a stink about this. If I were them I’d be making calls to the homes of the GOP leaders demanding answers, and if they don’t answer, go to their homes and politely ask questions hoping they won’t call the cops on you as well. The GOP support for Scozzafava needs to end now. Demand it.