Dierdre's choice

State Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava, R-Gouverneur, is paying a big price for dropping out of the race for Northern New York's congressional seat and endorsing Democrat William L. Owens, who eventually won and now represents the 23rd district in the U.S. House of Representatives.

She has been pressured to resign from her post as GOP minority leader pro tempore, the No. 2 position for her party behind Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb, R-Canandaigua. The assemblywoman said that Mr. Kolb told her "it was in the best interests of the conference that I not remain in the No. 2 position."

Ms. Scozzafava did what voters often say they want their representatives to do — act in constituents' best interests. She followed her conscience in endorsing Mr. Owens rather than Conservative Douglas L. Hoffman because she felt that the Democrat would better represent the people of the 23rd district.

For that honesty she has been severely criticized by some Republicans. But it should be remembered that, while she was running for Congress as the Republican candidate, prominent members of the national and state GOP turned against the Republican choice for the district and sided with Mr. Hoffman.

Former New York Gov. George E. Pataki broke ranks with the GOP to endorse the third-party candidate in the race. Well-known Republicans from outside the district, such as Sarah Palin and Dick Armey, lent their support not to the Republican in the race but the Conservative.

If Mr. Pataki seeks future office, will the Republican Party refuse to support him because he backed the Conservative in this election? What about other Republicans who broke with the party? Will they be able to run for office as Republicans? It seems that they are being honored rather than criticized for their actions.

The opposite is true for Dede Scozzafava. She is having to answer to a different standard.

Whether for reasons of conscience, politics or ideology, many Republicans crossed party lines in the recent election. That is their prerogative. Assemblywoman Scozzafava made a difficult choice, too.

She did it with the district's best interests in mind. She deserves praise, not blame. At the very least, her decision should be respected.

During the election, she was targeted for not being conservative enough. Does this mean the GOP has no room for moderate or liberal Republicans?

This is not just about Assemblywoman Scozzafava, but the future of the Republican Party.