Is Democratic Party Crapping on Paul Hacket?

SAY IT ISN'T SO.

Is the Democratic party crapping on Paul Hackett?
www.AMERICAblog.com

I hope not. He's the first Democrat in a long time to show a backbone. We need more candidates like him, not fewer. It would be funny if the Netroots ended up raising him all the money he needs without the party's backing :-)

An advisor to Democratic candidate Paul Hackett says the Iraq war veteran is being pressured to drop out of Ohio’s US Senate Race. Mike Brautigam says after Congressman Sherrod Brown announced last week he would run for Mike Dewine’s seat, Hackett started getting phone calls pressuring him to get out. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Charles Schumer of New York to drop out of the race. Brautigam says Brown had told Hackett earlier he would not be a candidate and Hackett now feels betrayed by the Democratic party. Brautigam says the Democratic leaders say it’s Brown’s turn to run. He says Hackett is still making up his mind about what to do and expects to make a decision by October 24th, the day he had planned to officially enter the race. Hackett narrowly lost to Jean Schmidt in a special election to fill the seat left vacant when Rob Portman took a position in the Bush Administration.

leaving this one to Brown....I guess all bets are off now...

...I saw the language (veiled threat) with which he was asked to. Obviously no lessons have been learned by the Dem establishment in treating outsiders with even a modicum of respect.

throats.

just look at the last six years. They are pathetic

And don't ever forget it!!! :grr:

but where is the opposition party

And THAT is the bottom line in Realityville.

He's one of the most liberal members of Congress. More to the left than Hackett. Member of the Progressive Caucus. Strong on labor. Against free trade agreements. AGAINST the war.

More establishment types like Dennis Kucinich will probably endorse him.

He has the political skills, and the organization in place to be in a position to win. I think he's the best prospect to win that seat for the Dems.

I've ever heard Dennis Kucinich referred to as am "establishment type" LOL!

supporting Brown for Senate (kos, mydd.com, Sirota).

Sirota had an interesting proposition today with Brown for Senate and Hackett for Representative.

It is possible that the establishment would prefer Brown, but apparently, they are not the only one.

not in this state

Won't....happen

Here is how the Dems in Ohio stack up, IMO

Mike Coleman - has too many unpublished liabilities that are going to come out to run for governor...needs to reconsider and go for SOS (if it exists after November) or auditor, or something else

Ted Strickland - viable candidate for governor. Does have statewide name recognition - should be the choice for the run for Governor

Tim Ryan - needs to run for treasurer or state attorney.

Paul Hackett - is about the only candidate that can generate enough grassroots money to make the run at DeWine and the RNC money machine.

Sherrod Brown - too many people have a perception of him as weak, does not have the name recognition that even Paul Hackett has, particularly here in Central Ohio

The one candidate that could take ANY of these spots, and he would have to be convinced to come out of retirement, is John Glenn. He would walk into whatever position he ran for. IMO, he should run for governor, have Strickland as his Lt. Governor, serve for two years and a day, then retire and let Ted have it. I think the state Dems ought to be meeting with him.

These are just my opinions, of course. Some things I know for sure, some I do not.

Sherrod Brown will run a standard campaign, say all the right things and lose a close race to an incumbent in a red state. It's really not even worth following if Brown is the nominee. I'll bet on DeWine and win, just like all those senate races we pretended we were going to steal last year in unfriendly states. If our handicapping sucks, at least I'm going to take advantage for my own pocket.

This is why I've emphasized so many times we desperately need a powerful and insightful party chief who isolates the best candidate for the general election and virtually mandates who the state nominates. Open primaries are ignorant and self-destructive. It's the only thing I admire about Rove; handicapping the individual state and backing the proper nominee. The GOP used his influence to throw out a senatorial incumbent in New Hampshire in 2002. They properly kept Katherine Harris out of the Florida senate race in 2004, and now are trying again for next year. There are many other examples. Rove tried to make Riordan the California gov nominee in 2002 instead of Simon, but the state party was too stupid to listen and ended up with one of the worst nominees of all time.

Meanwhile, we'll probably either sit back and allow a self-destructive fight, or kick the wrong guy out of the race. Ignorance beyond comprehension. Newsflash: ousting an incumbent requires either a special charismatic challenger or an implosion by the incumbent. Obviously, you can never predict or depend on the latter. A boring bozo will lose and earn it. Especially in an unfriendly state. Ohio is basically 3 to 4 points GOP leaning at base instinct. We ignore that at our own peril. To overcome incumbency and the state's partisan tilt, a unique challenger is the only chance. Hackett qualifies, Brown blows.

Brown would be a lackluster candidate...Hackett would not, thus he would get more press, more exposure, more name recognition...

Sometimes I just want to storm in to Ohio Dem HQ and shake 'em.

....before you believe it.

It sounds bogus to me. It's only on some two bit blog right now.

Not enough proof for me.

:kick:

is not a two-bit blog.

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it has never been different either. Yes, people have to pay their dues to get party backing....and unless you have the funds to bankroll yourself you have to wait for your chance. I'm sure as far as the "party" is concerned, Hackett lost to a loserish candidate in a red district for a congressional seat.
I'm not promoting this as the way to go or saying it works, it's just a fact that this is how things work.

First, the Dem party is like any other organization. The members are going to favor the members who have been there longest and worked hardest for others. They just feel it's Brown's turn, and Hacket is trying to jump in line. This isn't necessarily the way voters will see it, of course.

Second, they are worried Hacket will win the nomination and not have the experience for a statewide campaign. Now that the Repubs have seen him work one campaign, they will have answers for his tough talk and personality. The "experts" are worried he can't handle it. And that's a valid point. Phil Gramm was running very weak in the polls back in 94, or whichever year it was. He was vulnerable. The Democratic party ran two candidates who had a good shot at beating him. Out of the blue came Victor Morales. He was a civics teacher who wanted to show his students how easy it was to run in America. He ran a grassroots, fascinating campaign and won the nomination. He then got whupped every way to Sunday by Gramm, made the stupidest mistakes, and blew our best chance. That's the seat that went to Cornyn next term. Victor was a great person, but a lousy candidate.

Third, there is always the fear Hacket will win and be more conservative than we expect. With no record, people are worried about him.

Fourth, he hasn't won anything yet. Yeah, I know what he accomplished. But it was still a loss.

Fifth, he's got a better chance of winning a House seat. If he loses a senate run, he's a two time loser with no wins. That almost kills his career. If h wins the house, he's set up to win more.

I'm not saying I agree with any of those, I'm just saying that's what they're thinking, pretty much in that order of importance.

Except I would say the winning part is ahead of the "it's not his turn" part. If Hackett was polling to beat the pants off DeWine, he'd be backed in a flash. That's just common sense.

When is it OUR turn to have someone who truly represents liberal/progressive views and isn't afraid to actually OPPOSE the party in power -- you know, like an opposition party?

you mean after he decides not to run, and tells hackett that he is not going to run....

then along come the so-called party leaders, who decide that the do NOT want hackett running, so they arrange a "change of heart".

yeah. right.

typical tactics that have put us in the very position that we are in.

Also, do not believe you have to go by seniority to run for the office.

I hope Hackett runs and believe he will have the grassroots support to do it.

By the way, she is right AmericaBlog is not a 2 bit blog, it is probably one of the most watched and quoted blogs out there.

and I live in California. He inspires that sort of response.

not still be supporting him. I listened to him on satellite radio, Bill Press's program one morning going to work. The guy comes off really great and can understand how he did so well in Ohio.

n/t

soon-to-be-indicted Repukes?

I mean, Blackwell is not running unopposed for Governor . . . (I know, not that seat, but they're having primaries for the races, too).

I would like to see this run without internal backstabbing (a la what Chip Bok really loves:

)

I honestly don't see why these guys can't run a good primary race and LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE!

You know, these so called 'experts' also advised Kerry to take the high ground, and voted to give up their Congressional power to declare war to a bumbling incompetent...

"I honestly don't see why these guys can't run a good primary race and LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE!"

It's the way it should be instead of the good 'ol boy politics.

The DSCC doesn’t want a tough primary fight between 2 dems that’ll weaken the eventual winner and give the Repugnants ammunition in the general election. A tough primary fight is never ever good for the winner. That's all it is. The DSCC wants to win the seat.

The DSCC is in the business of supporting candidates who they feel will have the best chance to win the general election, Someone who has a track record that they feel will further the Democratic party agenda. They just think Brown has a better chance to win is all. It’s just a logical political/business decision and nothing personal towards Hackett..

be Hackett's early on so not much of a bloody battle will occur.

But anyway, Hackett deserves this race. The comments about him not winning the race are not relevant in a district that is the most hardcore,wealthy and one that no Democrat has ever won and this guy almost did it.

Hackett is a winner.

...where's that gotten us so far?

Nowhere...

Hackett all the way...

.... it's my turn to be the Dallas Cowboys' quarterback. Oh wait, it don't work like that.

Brown should have made up his mind in the proper timeframe. I don't give a shit if he's the best liberal since Ted Kennedy, he made a mistake and Hackett should not have to pay for it.

If there has to be a rough primary, so be it. It will be good experience for Hackett.

Now, how exactly, if you are respectful, and intelligent in your discourse, can you 'weaken' someone? You can surely make someone look the fool if they don't have a strong, intelligently planned platform. Yet, I've never seen a real candidate 'weakened' by debate. I've seen them destroyed by slander, and slime machines, but that's a different matter...

If the Democrats have a brain in their heads, they are going to wage a primary ENTIRELY different from the way they would a general election.

I've watched primaries at local levels. Most of the time, they only solidify my decision on candidates. But every once in a great while, I see someone and go "Whoa! Now THAT'S a candidate!" and I rethink my support.

Why aren't we, the people of the Democratic party, being given the right to do that?

This is about money and the Democratic Party "machine."

primary to deliver once again, a candidate that the Republicans to beat. Wow,what a winning formula for the Democrats.

I hope Hackett stays in, raises all kind of money from people who are fed up with the party establishment and its wealth contributors calling all the shots. Oh the irony.

What a bunch of crap.

and its historic record more positively than most of Congress PUT TOGETHER.

You may scoff at the man who investigated and exposed more government corruption than any other lawmaker in modern history, but, he has earned the respect of real historians and investigative journos all over the world.

What is sad is that so many Democrats are so ignorant of the integral contributions of the 2004 nominee.

Oh well, with the lying media in this nation working overtime to protect BushInc, what else can be expected.

Why does there seem to be some sort of order. Like you have to pay your dues or something. "First you do this, then this, then this, then this. THEN and only THEN can you run for Senator."

And the big question is, could Brown win, and would Hackett have a better chance. I'd like to see some sorta poll on that.

Democratic Establishment.

With the CIA leak opening up that cuts to the heart of the BS that took this country to war, Hackett is one of the few that doesn't mince words about the lies. His message resonates, particularly now.

It's not important that he didn't win but that he almost did in a hugely Republican district. That's the story.

over there in the Ohio Dem Party. Happens to the best of groups.

are not the best of groups, as much as I hate to say it. They are notorious for not properly backing their own candidates and many of the mmbers of the party are very plasy with the Republicans. They have been on the losing end for so long that they don't seem to think outside of that mindset.

Trust me, Blackwell had plenty of Dems to choose from to stuff his "recount" full of Bush-friendly operatives of both stripes.

The Ohio Dem Party is desperately in need of a major gassroots injection, but so far they have been resistant. I'm fairly cerain they do not mind this change of candidate. Hackett might be a little too feisty for the Dems of Ohio, regardless of position.

Noe and Taft may have opened the window for a Democrat. Which do we choose, the fighter or the liberal? Tough choice...let there be a primary!

the war in Irag.....I suspect Senator Hackett would be a strong and vocal opponent of this war and would be listened to....if we could ever get him elected.

Except at some point the Dems who voted for the war are going to have to acknowledge the elephant in the room and that is that they made a big *^$## mistake voting for the war. It ain't going away nor will it be swept under the carpet. A Paul Hackett candidacy particularly in a major race will go a long way towards getting on with reality.

At last time I checked. Personally I'd rather see Hackett in there, but those trying to lump Sherrod Brown in as a DLC'er don't know anything about Brown. He's very liberal, one of the most liberal Ohio congressman with strongly fair-trade and anti-Iraq War positions.

briefly looking it up on Brown's website, it seems he was definitely against going to war when most weren't but is he actively trying to end the war now? I don't see that but I hope so....then if either one is elected, we can't lose. I just hope he isn't one of those "now that we are here we can't leave" people.

The problem is with the way Brown went about his decision. He hinted at Gov, said he would run for Gov, hinted at the Senate seat, said he would run for the Senate seat, even seemed to encourage Paul Hackett to run. then after the Hackett camp let it be know that Paul would run and officially announce on Oct. 24 - surprise, Brown is not going to run..... Sherrod Brown is a very good congressman. he is very progressive and has the voting record to back it up. He would have been my first choice before he announced that he would not run. After I heard that Paul Hackett would, i was very excited and elated because i knew he would be a great candidate and play very well to the rural ohio voters. I really saw a chance to defeat DeWine. Now, with Brown's change of mind and announcement, the wind has completely been taken out of the sails. I'm totally disappointed in the Dem establishment and disappointed in Brown's announcement. If Paul stays in the race, i will vote for him in the primary because I think a fresh candidate and someone not in the establishment would be the better choice, also because I am not happy with Brown. I would also be more inclined to volunteer for his campaign and donate money. If Brown is the Dem's candidate tho, i will still vote for him in the general and put a sign in my yard over DeWine. I wouldn't do it with the passion I would for Hackett or even Brown himself had he been straightforward with his decision.

.... hinted at the Senate seat and then announce that he WOULD NOT run, and even encouranged Paul Hackett to run.....

We're having one here in Va-2 ! I think these are healthy too, you learn alot about the candidates (extra press attention!)

it would distract from the bloodbath the Repub primary for Governor will be

Moments after noting that we had yet to receive comment on the late breaking story that DSCC Chair Chuck Schumer was trying to push Paul Hackett out of the Ohio Senate race, we received a call from DSCC Communications Director Phil Singer (no relation). Simply put, he said the previous report that Schumer had called Hackett to ask him to bow out "false" and "not true."

We've now put in a call to the Hackett campaign for comment and will let you know when we hear a reply...

: Still haven't heard from the Hackett folks, but I've laid down some preliminary thoughts on today's developments here.

http://basie.blogspot.com/2005/10/update-dscc-denies-asking-hackett-to.html

did we know who this advisor was in the first place?

Beware those who might be seeking to divide.

who, aside from his advances on behalf of gays (in mind, ONLY done to keep the gay vote, as Ammiano is an actual, as opposed to closeted gay)is for all intents and purposes a Republican.

They supported Willie Brown over Ammiano in the last mayor's race. Clinton even said "I didn't know there was air over there (to the left of Brown).

The establishment Democrats prefer known, mainstream blaahhh candidates that they can predict their responses. I think they are also afraid of the power of the internet to confer favored status on relative unknowns - they can't control us, so try to get rid of our favorites.

he is the best canidate in the '06 races. the press loves him, he's charasmatic and he has real world experience.

for a couple of days now.

I'm for Hackett.