Reply #276: The problem is that people who say what they mean

[abbiehoff]

expect the same courtesy from others.

Hackett was recruited by the party to run against Schmidt. He did, and if the votes had been counted correctly (which is not common in Ohio), he would probably now be in Congress.

Sherrod Brown said that he wasn't going to run for Senate, so Hackett said that he would. Then Sherrod Brown decided that he was going to run, and Hackett stayed in the race. Meanwhile the DCCC powers decided that Hackett should try again against Schmidt, and put the kibosh on Hackett's Senate run. Hackett had already promised other Democrats that he would not run in a Democratic primary in the 2nd district, and he is not willing to break his word to them.

Hackett wasn't a politician from the start, and isn't really interested in politics. I think he is interested in change and in leadership. I think the machinations of the party have disillusioned him in a big way.