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Jarrett: NY-23 Shows Republicans More and More Extreme

November 01, 2009 10:10 AM

Moderate NY Republican Dede Scozzafava’s move Saturday to drop out of the NY-23 Congressional race drew harsh criticism from the President’s top adviser, Valerie Jarrett.  She told me this morning on This Week that it shows the Republican party has become, “more and more extreme and more and more marginalized.”

She did say that the White House would love to have the moderate Republican throw her support behind the Democratic candidate Bill Owens over Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman. “It’s rather telling when the Republican party forces out a moderate Republican and I think it says a great deal about where the Republican party leadership is right now,” Jarrett said.

-George Stephanopoulos

November 1, 2009 in This Week with George Stephanopoulos | Permalink | Share | User Comments (73)

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Funny, I don't remember Democrats being called extreme for "pushing" out Joe Lieberman. Hmmm.

Posted by: mike | Nov 1, 2009 10:16:44 AM

'mike', it's because Lieberman is not a Democrat.

Posted by: @adamsonx | Nov 1, 2009 10:19:03 AM

Methinks it's Obama that has become more extreme, he wants socialism and he wants it now in the form of universal healthcare.

Also Obama is so extreme he doesn't want anyone to check his numbers, that would be "calculator abuse" as with stimulus analysis!

Posted by: Ed Taylor | Nov 1, 2009 10:29:28 AM

They have rush dimbaugh and glenn beck. Need I say more????

Posted by: cons run rampant | Nov 1, 2009 10:31:34 AM

This is a special case where the republican did not fit the district. The White House comments are laughable when talking about extreme. They just want another seat.

Posted by: Ray | Nov 1, 2009 10:39:06 AM

George, Dede Scozzafava is not a moderate, she is a liberal. McCain is a 'get-a-long' moderate.

Posted by: Greg Palmer | Nov 1, 2009 10:56:48 AM

This is a horrible headline just a few days before the election. This gives some credence to the claim the conservatives are the extremists. The conservative's goals are no different than those of the country's founding fathers' goals - more freedoms, less intrusive government, less taxation - hardly extremist. Why is ABC running this headline now? Whose side are you on? "Former" Democrat George Stephanopoulos's bias is showing.

Posted by: JR | Nov 1, 2009 11:00:00 AM

Not sure where Jarrett thinks the Republican party is right now ... I thought it was "rather telling" at the outset when the Sec Army selection was made solely for creating this vacancy - but was anyone surprised?

Posted by: Joe Dollar | Nov 1, 2009 11:01:40 AM

its narrowed minded, ditto head, irrational, uninformed, conservative republican extremists in NY-23 & everywhere else that have ruined our country and are exactly the same mentality as Muslim extremists. Both are totally demented and self serving.....just like Hoffman and all of the conservative self righteous religious republicans. What a shame!

Posted by: I see clearly | Nov 1, 2009 11:05:31 AM

@adamsonx writes: "'mike', it's because Lieberman is not a Democrat."

----
Adam, I refer you the vicious cries for Senator Leiberman's recall, his impeachment, being tried as a traitor, and so forth that were posted on an article just yesterday when Senator Leiberman (Independent) actually had the audacity not to toe the DEMOCRATIC Party line.

Posted by: malcat | Nov 1, 2009 11:09:10 AM

"its narrowed minded, ditto head, irrational, uninformed, conservative republican extremists in NY-23 & everywhere else that have ruined our country and are exactly the same mentality as Muslim extremists. Both are totally demented and self serving.....just like Hoffman and all of the conservative self righteous religious republicans. What a shame! "

Hey "I See Clearly", no you don't.

Posted by: malcat | Nov 1, 2009 11:11:05 AM

Vararie Jarrett is the extremist. She brought Van Jones to the white house. Valarie Jarrett is so far left that it is scary.

Americans are finally waking up look at the virginia governor's race. Americans are scared of this extremist one party democratic dictatorship.

Do you want 9 far left liberals on the supreme court. Do you want all out illegal immigration?

Do you want all out spending for politics? Do you want 60 dem senators and Pelosi as speaker with the white house with a far left agenda.

Do you want affirmative action forever.

Do you want the federal govt to be able to sue you if you don't hire someone like the dems are proposing that if you are gay and not hired they can sue. Dems want to allow transvestites to sue if they aren't hired.

Posted by: jeff | Nov 1, 2009 11:13:22 AM

Earth to Valarie Jarrett look at the Virginia race your own dem candidate says the democratic national party has gone extreme left.

Jarrett thinks just because americans were fed up with bush and thought Palin was a joke that they want to go far left.

She is wrong and dems will lose the house next year in a route.

Posted by: jeff | Nov 1, 2009 11:14:55 AM

Dems kicked out a moderate dingell from the enviornment committee because he wasn't liberal enough. Dems put in tax and spender extremist harry waxman to his place.

Dems tar and feather any sign of moderates in their party and are running non stop ads to have to toe the liberal line.

Posted by: jeff | Nov 1, 2009 11:17:07 AM

I believe the republican party is finding its roots. This is a good thing since those things include limited government, fiscal responsibility, and personal responsibility. They still need to get off there war footing though. Ron Paul has got them scared and they are scrambling. It is pretty funny to watch.

Posted by: Huh | Nov 1, 2009 11:18:26 AM

I do not think it reflects the GOP as a whole since the tradtional leadership supported the GOP candidate. What I think it reflects is the increasing dissatisfaction with the status quo of the politics as usual.

REgardless of what Obama promised in the campaign for a inclusive tone, the liberal and extreme wing of his party has pushed us further and further from the center. Just like the GOP!

As far as I can tell Obama and the Congressional democrats are as bad as the GOP ever was under Bush. It might be time for new political parties.

Posted by: scott jeffries | Nov 1, 2009 11:18:28 AM

Dems are becoming more and more extreme.

Chuck Schumer last week saying he will bring gay marraige to all 50 states.

Dems took away the immigration enforement powers of a local sheriff and won't allow sheriffs around the country to go out and arrest illegals. The Obama administration is not sending ICE to deport illegals to the border if sheriffs go out on raids against illegals.

Janet Napalitano personally ended work site raids against illegals and the Obama administration added more layers of appeals for illegals that will tie it up in the courts.

Bill Clinton governed in a far more moderate way. This administration is all out partisan they have to dictate everything and play to the base.

Posted by: jeff | Nov 1, 2009 11:23:23 AM

Van Jones is the model of moderation and that is why he was recruited to the white house.

Posted by: Valarie Jarrett | Nov 1, 2009 11:26:21 AM

Read "A Changed Race" in the watertowntimes. Dede did encourage her supporters to vote for Owens!!!!! Many of Dede's supporters would not vote for Hoffman if he were the only candidate.

Posted by: Nancy Belodoff | Nov 1, 2009 11:27:32 AM

How and why was she FORCED out? And to the yahoo that compared American Republicans to Muslim extremists. Get a clue.

Posted by: d | Nov 1, 2009 11:29:49 AM

What utter stupidity by the Obama aide. The obama administration is so far left anybosy would be right of them.
He wins the election by lying.
Now the general public is far right of obama except for a few dimwits. Some of which post here.

Posted by: jonny | Nov 1, 2009 11:32:37 AM

Van Jones, why doesn't the White House hire people who are competent in their function.

A green jobs Czar, whould have been someone who ACTUALLY created and ran a GREEN COMPANY, who showed that they could CREATE jobs in the private sector, not just talk about it.

Very sad for this country!

Posted by: michael USA | Nov 1, 2009 11:35:26 AM

Man, this is the pot calling the kettle black.

Posted by: donbl1 | Nov 1, 2009 11:45:23 AM

Well, it's no surprise to the rest of us that his poll numbers have gone under 50% faster than any other President in modern times.

Though, i did not see the interview, i am sure Georgy didn't ask that question of this advisor.

Posted by: michael usa | Nov 1, 2009 11:50:03 AM

"Man, this is the pot calling the kettle black."

No doubt! LOL!

Smell the fear and desperation.

Posted by: Mary | Nov 1, 2009 11:51:03 AM

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