Salon: "Dogfight in Ohio" Dem Iraq War veteran running for Congress

Impressive--the man does not mince words.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/07/26/hackett_schmidt/print.html

July 26, 2005  |  Paul Hackett remembers being in Kuwait, waiting to be shipped home after a seven-month tour of duty in Ramadi and Fallujah, watching CNN America with his fellow Marines. What he saw enraged him. "All I saw on TV was Terri Schiavo," he says. "The federal government and the Florida state government came screeching to a halt to intervene into the private lives of this family during this tragic time ... Like that scene out of 'Network,' I felt like the guy who stood in the spotlight and said, 'I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.'" Not long after he returned to Ohio, he decided to run for Congress.

<>On the issues, the candidates both describe themselves as fiscal conservatives, but on the Iraq war and the so-called moral values questions, they stand in stark relief. Hackett is a critic of Bush's Iraq war policy and believes America was led to war unnecessarily. Schmidt is a strong backer of Bush's handling of the war. Hackett is pro-choice. Schmidt is president of Cincinnati Right to Life. Schmidt voted against gay marriage in the Ohio House of Representatives, while Hackett's take is: "Gay marriage -- who the hell cares?"

Hackett, who is married, says he doesn't feel the need to defend his marriage through the national Defense of Marriage Act, or any other anti-gay marriage legislation. "If you're gay you're gay -- more power to you," he said. "What you want is to be treated fairly by the law and any American who doesn't think that should be the case is, frankly, un-American."

Hackett's left-of-center views on social issues may not go over well with conservative Ohioans, and Schmidt is so far beating him financially, but last week Hackett got a profile boost when former Democratic Sen. Max Cleland campaigned with him. By bringing in Cleland and highlighting his military service, Hackett hopes to neutralize any criticism Schmidt could levy concerning his stance on the war.

more...

.

when issues like an ammendment to the constitution to prevent gay unions becomes the most important issue in the hum drum life of middle America, it is no wonder that the country is in the position it is in

I hope Hacket wins, but after seeing some of the townhall meetings from 2004, I don't have much confidence

For the most the people deserve exactly what they are getting. Bush reflects a mediocrity that permeates our society

And blending his experience as a soldier in Iraq and what he saw that he was actually defending with his life -- Repukes assualt on citizens' civil rights -- is a great frame that he should keep repeating.

I pray that Hackett wins, but I know that the odds are against him. Of course, if he loses this election, he could run again and spend the time building more financial support, a volunteer base and keep working to expose Schmidt's fascist agenda with well-orchestrated PR campaign of LTTE's and Media appearences. Hackett is definitely a person who the DNC should cultivate regardless of how the election next week turns out.