Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman is embracing an idea long favored by many conservatives, the 'flat tax.'

A press release from the Hoffman camp Thursday afternoon notes "The present tax collection process places an unfair burden on the average taxpayer, who, besides facing high taxes, has to contend with a paperwork nightmare that is barely understandable to the average American.

"It is not necessary, nor is it equitable. The implementation of the flat tax would save taxpayers money in both preparation costs and in their actual tax bill and it would save the government money by doing away with many of the jobs at the Internal Revenue Service."

Businessman Steve Forbes is the most famous proponent of a flat tax, using it as the centerpiece of his 1996 Presidential campaign.

A flat tax is simple - it specifies one constant rate, say, 10 percent.

Supporters argue that because a flat tax is simple, people are more likely to pay and it costs less to enforce the rules.

Opponents argue the tax places an unfair burden on poor and middle class people.

There is a lengthy and well-written Wikipedia article on the subject here.

***

And now for something completely different...

The Hoffman camp is also out with a sendup of Dede Scozzafava's run-in with a reporter earlier this week, in which her husband called the police.

Here's a transcript of the radio ad:

[Audio recording static and telephone ringing sfx, male voice] 911, please state your emergency.


[Female voice, agitated]  Yes, I work for Dede Scozzafava.  A reporter just asked about her voting to increase taxes!


[911] I see the problem.  Which of Scozzafava’s 190 votes to raise taxes did the reporter ask about?


[CALLER] I don't know, I mean, she’s been in Albany 10 years . . .


[911] Got it.  Did the reporter say anything to Scozzafava about all the pork barrel spending she voted for?


[CALLER] No, people don’t know about that . . . 


[911] OK, how about all the times Scozzafava voted for gay marriage?
 
[CALLER]  I don’t know.  She’s a professional politician!  Who has the right to ask her questions?   It was so . . . revealing, you know?


[911] We’ll get a unit out there.  But there really isn’t a law to stop people from asking politicians questions.
 
[CALLER]  Well, there ought be.  Believe me, her campaign’s gonna get killed if taxpayers figure out how liberal Scozzafava is.
 
[CANDIDATE]  I’m Doug Hoffman and I approved this ad.
 
[ANNOUNCER]  Paid for by Hoffman for Congress.  Doug Hoffman For Congress Dot Com
[Paid for by Doug Hoffman for Congress]

Note the 'gay marriage' reference, and see my note further down in this column on the subject of gay marriage.

***

Conservative icon Newt Gingrich has taken some heat for backing Republican Dede Scozzafava. In 2009, 'Tea Party' style conservatives are placing more emphasis on ideological purity, and aren't happy when someone, even a hero of the movement, deviates.

Gingrich fires back on his web site with a lengthy note on why Scozzafava should be elected.

The money quote:

The choice in New York is a practical one: We can split the conservative vote and guarantee the election of a Democrat in a Republican seat in a substantial loss of opportunity. Or we can find a way to elect someone who has committed to vote for the Republican leader, has committed to vote against all tax increases, has committed to vote against cap-and-trade, and is a strong ally of the NRA.

Read the whole thing here: newt.org/FeaturedBloggersDB/tabid/193/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/4604/Default.aspx

***

The bubble that is the race for the 23rd bounces along, with a dizzying wave of tv commercials in which one candidate blames the other two for everything short of the plague.

A vaccine against the insanity? The Watertown Times Thursday with an utterly sensible, low key set of questions the candidates should answer: www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20091022/OPINION01/310229933/-1/OPINION

Is this stuff exciting? Nope. But 'excitement,' trying to get the various bases worked up, is producing a severe distortion in this campaign.

***

Speaking of which, you must read Jude Seymour's account of Hoffman visiting the Watertown Times after Thursday morning's rally.

After Hoffman couldn't muster a position on a couple of north country issues, Jude reports, "Mr. Hoffman said at one point that if we were going to question him, that he needed to know in advance what we were going to ask him about."

Noted conservative Dick Armey, who is touring with Hoffman today, pointed out the race in the 23rd will be won or lost on big, national issues.

Maybe so, but the north country's future will be won or lost on specific things that are important to voters here.

From Jude's account, John Johnson Jr., the paper's publisher, led the questioning. Johnson is not a man to be trifled with, especially if you're a politician who plans on being around for a while.

And yes, the newspaper is still important, especially when it comes to setting the tone.

Read Jude's account here: www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20091022/BLOGS09/910229992/BLOGS09

***

The Democratic National Committee has sent out an email in President Obama's name, formally endorsing Owens.

The takeaway lines:

Last year, our movement won a historic election. But real change never comes easily, so I'm going to need your help again -- this time, to elect Bill Owens.

I know I can count on Bill's support as we work together to help middle-class families by reforming our health insurance system and getting our economy back on track. Can I count on you to help send him to Congress?

***

As the campaigns lob rhetorical grenades at each other, one issue we hear nothing about: Dede Scozzafava's support of gay marriage.

A number of people have told me that gay marriage was the last straw for some conservatives, but they're not running anti-gay marriage ads. One would guess that's out of fear they'll be seen as bigots. Scozzafava isn't talking much about it either, and it looks more and more like gay marriage is the third rail of this election.

Scozzafava's support of abortion rights also isn't getting much attention, (though there's a quick mention of abortion in a new attack ad) but one suspects that is more because abortion is settled law, and because a majority of New Yorkers support the law as it is.

***

Whoever the new Congressman is, there's a war in Afghanistan to deal with. An article in today's New York Times highlights some of the good work the 10th Mountain Division's 3rd BCT is doing: www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/opinion/22boot.html

As one of our reporters put it the other day, when the new Congressman votes on war matters, he or she will be voting on putting constituents in the line of fire. It's more personal, here.

***

Democrat Bill Owens is in our neck of the district today (Thursday) in Lewis County, talking (what else?) jobs. Former House majority leader Dick Armey stumps with Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. Dede Scozafava's RV tour continues.

***

Read the quote Brian Lantier has as the first item on the indespensible 'Grindstone Financial' blog. It's a great indicator of where you fall on the political spectrum: www.grindstonefinancial.com/2009/10/how-do-you-think-this-will-play-in.html