The American Spectator

Quin Hillyer is once again reminding us of Newt Gingrich’s endorsement of Dede Scozzafava in New York’s 23rd Congressional District back in 2009 as he has done previously.

To refresh your memory, Scozzafava was the GOP nominee in the special election for NY-23. The seat was vacated by John McHugh, a nine-term Republican who had been appointed Secretary of the Army by President Obama. Scozzafava, who had been a GOP member of the New York State Assembly, held liberal views on social issues as such as gay marriage and abortion. Because of these positions, New York’s Conservative Party endorsed Doug Hoffman instead. Hoffman had unsuccessfully competed against Scozzafava for the GOP nomination. However, Hoffman would garner national Tea Party support and gain endorsements from the likes of Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty and Fred Thompson.

Now I think it is more than reasonable to criticize Newt for endorsing Scozzafava. Only days before the vote, Scozzafava withdrew from the race and endorsed Democrat Bill Owens who went on to win the election. Earlier this year, Scozzafava was rewarded with a plum appointment from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

But let us put this into perspective. Newt isn’t the only aspirant in the GOP race to make a questionable endorsement. In 2004, then Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum campaigned vigorously on behalf of Arlen Specter. While Specter was Santorum’s senior colleague he was also perhaps the greatest RINO of them all. Specter, of course, faced a tough primary challenge from Pat Toomey, then a Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District and a conservative’s conservative. Specter just narrowly fended off Toomey in the primary and was easily re-elected. Santorum’s support of Specter over Toomey would contribute to his defeat at the hands of Democrat Bob Casey, Jr. two years later.

As for Specter, when Toomey announced he would again challenge him for the GOP nomination in the 2010 race, he crossed the floor and joined the Democratic fold. Of course, Specter couldn’t win the Democratic nomination against Joe Sestak and Pat Toomey now sits in the Senate as a conservative Republican.

All of which brings me back to Quin. He has written many nice things about Santorum over the past few months. If Newt’s endorsement of Dede Scozzafava is an unpardonable sin then why does he give Santorum a pass for campaigning on behalf of Arlen Specter?

UPDATE: I see that Jeff Lord brought up the Mike Castle-Christine O’Donnell nomination battle in Delaware in 2010 and Quin has picked up his sword. I am sure he will soon do the same avec moi.