Was Hackett Swift-boated? [View All]

Shortly after Paul Hackett announced the end of his Senate Democratic primary fight against Rep. Sherrod Brown, The Plain Dealer asked the Iraq war veteran if one factor in his decision was a rumor that circulated in Democratic circles during the campaign that photos existed showing he committed war crimes in Iraq.

Hackett acknowledged hearing rumors that he had committed war crimes dating back to the day he first announced his candidacy in October. He called the rumors an "absolute falsehood and lie" and said that in the fall, he had contacted New York Sen. Charles Schumer about them. Schumer, who heads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, "assured me he would put a stop to it,'' he said.

Hackett said he also got a call from Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid about the rumors, and met with Reid in Washington to put the matter to rest, he said. Hackett said the rumors disgusted him and smacked of a particular brand of "dirty pool" that is "a common method to attack veterans.''

Hackett declined to speculate publicly on the source of the rumors but said he knows the source. "As much as I'd like to grab that son of a bitch and wring his neck, it hurts bad enough I'd just as soon let it go.''

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