Dear Dede,

Bloggers and pundits across the nation are rallying together today with one voice, asking you to withdraw your candidacy from the special election in New York’s 23^rd congressional district. It is time for you to resign from the race. This is the only option now left to you and the witless RNC and NRCC who allowed you in to this position. 

Conservatives, life-long Republicans, sometime-Republicans, libertarians, Objectivists, and right-leaning independents and Democrats have spent all summer desperately trying to reign in a punch drunk, out-of-control Congress and President. At first glance the Republican Party gave the impression that they were ready to take the mantel of fiscal conservatism from the tea partiers and town hall protesters. A page seemed poised to turn to a long sought after, and much anticipated chapter of common sense, individual freedom, and restrained budgets. In fact, even just the potential of limited government appeared to be enough to entice crowds of people back to the GOP. The eagerness for responsible, accountable government was palpable.

Then the RNC chose you, a “Republican,” to run in a Republican-safe district in New York’s 23^rd district special election this fall. Mark Steyn states, “This isn't RINO but DIABLO -- Democrat In All But Label Only.” He is talking about you Dede, and he is not alone in his opinion. If you are wondering why a majority of the people (as opposed to the leadership) who call themselves conservative or Republican are asking you to withdraw, please consider the following:

- You support the Big Labor giant power grab of “card-check” legislation

- As a state assemblywoman you supported the stimulus (i.e. porkulus)

- In past elections you supported the ballot line of the Working Families Party (WFP), an organization that touts itself as “New York’s most progressive political party,” and one that has partnered with ACORN since 2000

- You support abortion and federal funding for abortion

- You are endorsed by left-wing luminaries such as Daily Kos founder, Markos Moulitsas Zúñiga, ACORN head Bertha Lewis (who is also the Vice Chairman of WFP), and public-employee unions

- You recently lied about an incident with a Weekly Standard reporter and then retracted your false accusation

- You received the Margaret Sanger Award from Family Planning Advocates of New York  

On top of these, er, “accomplishments,” your trajectory seems suspiciously close to that of Arlen Specter, and thanks, but no thanks, the Republican Party does not need any more defectors.

Please withdraw your candidacy now so that your dignity and grace may be maintained. I just received a $150 check from my parents for my thirtieth birthday, and I would really like to spend it on something nice. Please don’t make me spend it on Doug Hoffman’s campaign. Drop out now and the Republican Party can spend its money attacking the Democrat, and I can spend my money at the spa.

Sincerely,

Keli Carender

*EDITOR'S NOTE: Help out the true conservative in this race, Doug Hoffman, by visiting his website and contributing to his campaign: DougHoffmanforCongress.com. He will need all the resources he can get in these last days before the election!