House Democrats urge Hackett to leave Senate race

[Algorem]

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/13856810.htm

DAVID HAMMER

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - National Democrats are turning up the pressure on Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett, openly asking him to leave his campaign for U.S. Senate and take a second shot at a Cincinnati-area House seat that he nearly won last summer.

Democrats have privately suggested for some time that Hackett, who has a national Internet following but faces the more experienced Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, in a Senate primary, would be better off running again for the House seat held by GOP Rep. Jean Schmidt. Democrats acknowledge their chances of winning a district that voted 64 percent for President Bush in 2004 are slim without Hackett.

"This isn't talking behind the scenes; I'm saying it publicly. ... I'm petitioning Paul Hackett to run for Congress," Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Sunday.

Hackett declined comment Sunday, but has frequently said he's in the Senate race to stay...

[SoCalDem]

1. I hope he tells them to go pound sand

:)

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

45. Trust me...

When I tell you this, that I know what I am talking about:

Rahm Emanuel should be told to pound sand, with a 16lb buttonset, every day and every way. He and the DCCC are a sham and a bunch of absolutely Beltway-fogged idiots.

I say again: I know what I am talking about here.

[sadiesworld]

90. Sherrod Brown is a Wellstone progressive.

He voted against the Iraq War Resolution, the Bankruptcy Bill, NAFTA, CAFTA, etc. If D.C. was full of politicians like Sherrod Brown, we would live in a far different country.

Am I missing something here?

[mtnester]

104. What you are missing is the meeting Hackett had with top Dems in DC

who BEGGED him to run after Sherrod Brown said absolutely he would not be running.

Then Mr. Brown changed his mind after the Tope Dems threw their weight to Hackett and convinced him he was THE MAN for the job.

It is touchier than just Sherrod Brown being a progressive. It is about trying to screw a guy who is so far not towing the DLC line to the DELIGHT of many of us in Ohio.

[sadiesworld]

123. Brown has been bucking corporate interests for decades.

Wasn't he trying to lead the charge against CAFTA when all this came about?

Brown is not a DLCer by any stretch of the imagination and has the record to prove it.

[sendero]

105. WHO CARES?

He told Hackett that he wasn't running, Hackett made his plans. Then he "changed his mind".

SCREW HIM. I hope Hackett wins the primary because I'm sure he'll do better in the election than a classic "liberal" like Brown.

And Rahm Emmanuel can go to hell. He couldn't buy a clue if he won the Powerball tomorrow.

[sadiesworld]

122. WHO CARES whether Brown is a Wellstone progressive?!?!

Maybe all those folks in Ohio who are pissed off about job offshoring, unaffordable healthcare and unneccessary wars?

While I don't agree with your use of "classic liberal" as a slur in order to smear Brown, I would point out that Brown is a PROGRESSIVE,i.e., opposed to militarism and (so-called) free trade.

[sendero]

138. It is not a slur..

... with respect to his beliefs. It is a nod to his "electability". And I claim Hackett will do better, from what I have read, in the general.

This whole debacle is BROWN's fault. Don't go telling people who are thinking of running that you have decided not to run, unless you really mean it.

That little mess ALONE is enough to make me suspicious of Brown, whatever his positions and credentials might be.

[sadiesworld]

146. Somehow I think Brown's 15 year fight against

"free" trade may be just the kind of "liberal" that voters will warm to--particularly in the current economic climate. If you really want to get down to brass tacks about electability in the general, my guess is that some comments made by Hackett about gay marriage may be the kind of "liberal" that Ohio voters could have a problem with.

One misstep does not wipe out decades of progressive votes for me.

[sendero]

147. There are missteps..

... and there are missteps. It was a deal killer for me. Of course, I don't live in OH so it is somewhat moot. But I believe in the new genre of Dems that Hackett represents, they are not responsible for the intractible mess we find ourselves in today.

[sadiesworld]

148. If we had a House and Senate full of Sherrod Browns...

we wouldn't be in the "intractable mess we find ourselves in today".

I think you're throwing the baby out with the bathwater here.

Have a nice night. :)

[sendero]

151. We don't..

.... because folks like him don't get elected. What is it about this that you don't get?

[SoCalDem]

121. I don;t know either one of them, but I resent the DLC

"telling" anyone to "back off"..

[sadiesworld]

124. Think about it...

Brown is the kind of non-corporate politician that the DLC hates. The DLC very vocally gives their support to Brown in anticipation of a contentious primary fight. Dems who pay attention to primary fights HATE the DLC. Now Brown is being smeared with the DLC and Hackett is being portrayed as the victim. The "netroots" come running to Hackett's defense and jump all over Brown.

WHO is being played here?

[mtnester]

142. Two good candidates - hope they both run and may the person

with the most votes get all our support. That is how this should be going right now...and I am PERSONALLY offended that ANYONE FROM OUR OWN DAMN PARTY would demand that a candidate remove himself from the Democratic process, and effectively tell ANYONE to step away from the particular duty to their country they have chosen - in this case running for office. It shows a lack of class and respect for a citizen's right to run for office, and is beneath the Dems and ought to stop right now.

This, again, should be about "may the best candidate win"

[Leopolds Ghost]

150. Are you Suggesting the DLC May be Trying to Throw the Election?

Setting Brown up to fail and destroy Hackett's career by cutting him off at the knees?

Wow. If that's so then the Democratic Party has bigger problems than Deibold. That's Hayes-Tilden level corruption and deliberate concession of the Dems to minority party status to please their investors. Whether Rahm Emanuel, Harold Ford, Jesse Jackson Jr. or the other pro-business Congressional Dems is aware about it or not.

[sadiesworld]

153. I think the whole purpose of the DLC has been to kill the only party with

any interest in keeping corporations in check. So my antennae immediately go up when I see them supporting a decidedly non-DLC candidate.

Why has the DLC been so open about all of this? They must know how they are perceived by the base. The response (bloggers smearing Brown with the DLC and donating to Hackett) was utterly predictable.

Obviously this is all speculation, but I sure as heck wouldn't factor in "DLC support" in making any decisions about Brown or this race.

[bluestateguy]

2. "The Establishment Strikes Back" (Episode II)

Episode I was brushing aside Cegilis in the race for Henry Hyde's seat.

[tularetom]

3. Tularetom urges Hackett to tell House Democrats

to shove it up their ass.

[InsultComicDog]

74. Heh!

I'm with you there.

[saltpoint]

4. I don't think Hackett should dance to the pistols here, but he is

owed praise no matter what, and if he winds up running against the horrifying Jean Schmidt, I certainly hope he whips her sanctimonius butt.

It would be damned refreshing to have Paul Hackett in the U.S. Congress in any capacity.

[Rose Siding]

47. It sure would be good to see him beat Mean Jean

The decision is his, of course, and I admire him either way.

[saltpoint]

56. I'm with you all the way, Rose Siding. / nt

[leftchick]

5. Rahm Emanuel DLC/Repuke enabler has no fucking right to speak for Dems

NONE! :puke:

DLC | New Dem Of The Week | December 2, 2002
New Dem of the Week: Rahm Emanuel
U.S. Rep.-elect, Illinois

Newly elected U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) is not your average House freshman. Having served as a senior advisor to President Clinton on issues ranging from crime to trade, he comes into Congress with extensive high-level experience shaping and implementing innovative public policies.

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=103&subid=110&contentid=251073

[dogman]

28. He's been elected to.

You, on the other hand, are self appointed.

[KittyWampus]

70. Rahm Emanuel Is A Good, Progressive Democrat Who Kicks Ass On TV

why do you dislike an effective Democrat?

[leftchick]

89. I have not seen where he has ever been effective on TV

that is why they let him on to represent the Democrats. And it is a shame.

[long_green]

97. Emanuel's word with the DCCC for '06

has put him on my permanent shit list. He is out there looking for millionaires and stay the course vets rather than looking to put the Republicans on the defensive. He's another DC careerist long on education and ambition but short on principle and guts.

[sendero]

106. I've never seen him on TV..

.... but I've read enough of his rhetoric to know he is useless.

[NoodleyAppendage]

109. What are you talking about? He stammers and is not quick on his feet.

I've seen Emanuel go up against Timmy Russert on MTP, and I was not "blown away". Granted, he's better than Lieberpussy or Jane "Repuke-lite" Harmon on MTP...but that's not saying much.

JB

[dysfunctional press]

84. rahm emanuel is my rep in congress-

and he IS a dlc asshat fuckwad.

[FightinNewDem]

117. Please get your facts straight

This contention that the DLC is somehow out to undermine Hackett is absurd.

Frankly, Hackett is ideologically much closer to the DLC than Sherrod Brown.

The DCCC is the problem here, and the DCCC has little, if any, contact with the DLC.

[merwin]

6. They don't want a loose cannon in the Senate. Problem is, we all do :-)

[dogman]

8. You think Sherrod Brown is a follower?

Doesn't seem like one to me.

[still_one]

63. I think brown wasn't going to run until he saw that hackett could make it

I am sick and tired of the stay the course demopukes in congress who love the status quoa

they screwed up big time in the last six years, IT IS ABOUT TIME TO GIVE NEW BLOOD A CHANCE

[DaveinMD]

11. the dccc is only concerned with the house

they think he's a good candidate, so they want him running for the house. ITs not some terrible conspiracy.

[wndycty]

17. Yes it is!!!

That evil Rahm Emanuel :sarcasm:

[DaveinMD]

23. I like you

keep it up.

[wndycty]

26. I've watched Rahm getting bashed on the DU for the last 3 months. . .

. . .he has one concern and that is taking back the house.

[still_one]

64. Perhaps, but him and the DLC sure have failed miserably

the last six years

[sendero]

108. Let him ask...

.... Sherrod Brown to stick to his original word. Let him run against Schmidt.

[wndycty]

115. Let Brown run against Schmidt? Is he in or near Schmidt's district. . .

. . .think about it.

[Pirate Smile]

20. Right. They WANT Hackett to run for the HOUSE seat, not go away.

[still_one]

65. bull, Hackett DESERVES IT

HE STOOD UP WHEN THE COWARD WERE AFRAID TO OPEN THEIR MOUTHS

[deadparrot]

137. Thank you.

I'm no DLC fan, but the hysteria here is a little much.

It's a way of gaining two congressional seats instead of one. Most people would say that's a good thing.

[ChiciB1]

18. Better A Loose Cannon Than A "Dead Horse!"

I'm so mad right now I can't think of enough to say!!

For Criminees Sake... Let's Get Real!! We are being EFFed every which way and the cows STILL don't come Home!!

Time to load the "buck-shot!" I'm so sick of the CYA syndrome and SICK that so many Democrats in D.C. are nothing more than cowering peons!!!

[cali]

44. Cowards?

As has been stated relpeatedly on this thread, they want him to run for the House. And do any of you reactionaries have the vaguest idea who Sherrod Brown is? He's a solid liberal with a 95% liberal voting record according to the ADA. He's been doing yeoman's work for years in the House. So even if they do prefer him to be the dem candidate for the Senate, they're not exactly shoving some moderate down anyone's throat. And maybe, just maybe, they prefer Brown because they know him and think he deserves it. Having said that, I'm sure Hackett will do what he wants, and that's fine, but the congressional dems have the right to make their preferences known.

[wndycty]

48. Unfortunately pragmatism is not appreciated on DU. . .

. . .it should be but it is.

[alarimer]

59. It would be the best solution for Paul rto run for the House seat

That way voters do not have to choose between him and Brown for someone and he gets to kick Jean Schmidt's ass!

[Adelante]

71. But that could bring two blue seats

Instead of one.

We can't have that, now could we? :crazy:

[still_one]

67. brown wasn't going to run until hackett showed that the race

could be won. Hackett spoke out before anyone else did condemning this administration

even today they are shy to call bush on the iraq war, spying on people, the patriot act, and a dozen other misdeads

[dogman]

75. Check your facts.

Brown called out Bushco on the House floor several times and is not at all shy about it. Polls that I have seen show Brown doing better than Hackett. That being said, it is certainly Hackett's choice to make but you can't fault Dem leadership for trying to capture seats in the House and Senate.

[0rganism]

127. I'd like to see the polling data, if public & you have any links to it

It was my impression that Hackett would be more competitive against DeWine, statewide, but I didn't really have much to base it on other than Ohio's (or Blackwell's?) recent inclinations toward under-representting urban voters.

[dogman]

136. Here's a mention.

http://senorswanky.blogspot.com/2005_12_01_senorswanky_archive.html
Scroll down to- OH Sen. Primary Poll
Snip>Brown Leads Hackett in Senate Primary

According to an internal Feldman Group (D) poll, Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) "currently wins a majority of the vote in the Ohio Democratic primary for United States Senate, besting Paul Hackett by a better than two-to-one margin. Including those who lean towards a candidate, 51% of Democratic primary voters support Brown, 22% prefer Hackett, and 26% are undecided. Excluding leaning voters, 47% of voters support Brown and 20% prefer Hackett, while one-third (33%) are undecided."<snip
I've read accounts while searching for this that say it isn't the most meaningful because of 33% undecided. Statewide Brown has better name recognition from what I can gather from various accounts.

On edit, my post about "facts" was about Brown calling Bushco to task on the House floor.

[0rganism]

140. Interesting, thanks

So I think we might be looking at a worst-case scenario now, where Brown wins the primary but can't beat DeWine, and Hackett drops out of Ohio politics altogether. The DCCC recommendation makes sense in this context.

[Tesha]

93. I think I'm for *ANY* kind of cannon, as long as it's willing...

I think I'm for *ANY* kind of cannon, as long as it's willing
to *FIRE* once in a while, unlike so many Democrats who seem
to specialize in always ensuring that the powder is "kept dry".

Tesha

[DancingBear]

7. Gee, the DCCC wants Hackett to leave

Shocking. Just shocking.

I DO like how they wrapped it up in "good for the PARTY" paper, however.

Wonder if Rahm will tell Hillary to stay out of the Presidential race, since it would be better if she stayed a NY Senator.

I'm thinking "no."

[DaveinMD]

9. the DCCC

wants him to run for Congress because they think he's a good congressional candidate. Its their job to win HOuse seats, not senate seats. Therefore, they want him running for a house seat. Its not some dlc conspiracy.

[DancingBear]

19. Oh please

You're actually BUYING that line?

They (both DCCC and DSCC) want establishment non-threatening candidates in high profile spots, and they are perfectly content to have Hackett not in the sedate Senate, but in the bomb throwing House.

Why if Hackett were in the Senate and <gasp> actually told the truth about Iraq there would be a stampede of Senators going to the microphone and saying "not me, not me."

See "Alito, Judge, cloture"

[DaveinMD]

25. its not a line

he's the only candidate that could win the house seat, so they want him to run for that seat. That's how it works. They are into winning. Nothing else matters to the committees.

[DancingBear]

29. Now, I would buy that line of argument, save for one thing

Their track record. It stinks.

If they were "into" winning, as you say, that Rahm and the rest of the group would be doing something like, perhaps, SPEAKING OUT on where this nation is headed.

The DLC wing of this party will not speak out. None of them will, unless, like Kerry, they become so disgusted with what they have become that they decide to damn the torpedoes and all that.

I can not, for the life of me, think of ONE time the Emanuel has taken a strong and VERBAL position on Iraq, wiretapping, Katrina, etc. If I am wrong, please correct me.

Winning means standing up for what you believe in, in addition to being able to count the number of seats needed to change the Congress. Relying on Emanuel and the rest of the DLC to bring victory is like relying on Medusa to go bald.

[wndycty]

31. Your hatred of Emanuel, the DCCC and the DLC blinds you to good strategy

If Hackett runs against Schmidt again its a definate pick-up. If Hackett loses to Brown in the primary and ends up being uneligible to run against Schmidt then we definately don't pick-up that district.

[DancingBear]

36. I do not hate the DCCC/DLC in the pure sense - but they do disgust me

Big difference.

And with the election "reform" in Ohio that seat is NOT a guaranteed pick-up. No way, no how.

If you would, however, could you provide me with examples of previous DLC "good strategy", so if necessary I can re-evaluate my positions.

My argument, as you know, is that using any strategy that has DLC alongside it is a recipe for disaster. I think the House/Senate can be re-taken if the Democratic party acts like it has a backbone, rather than try and mealy-mouth its way to a majority. Hackett has a backbone to be sure, and that backbone would do the most good sitting in the Senate.

[wndycty]

39. My point is not to defend the DLC or the DCCC but to point out. . .

. . .that there appears to be a number of DUers who will reject anything that they do, not on merit, but because they are doing it and that is a losing strategy.

[DancingBear]

42. But that rejection is valid, based on past history

If we (me) feel that the DLC is NOT the entity that can bring us to victory in '06, then how can we feel their ideas have any merit?

I have not seen anything from them that leads me to believe they a) have any clue as to how to win elections in this present climate and b) have any ability at all to make a strong stand and stay with it. I look at people like Biden and like Bayh and I ask myself "what the hell do these people stand for?' It's like if it's Wednesday then Biden will say "x".

That is why we (I) reject them - it really is a merit argument. If I thought they were the "shape" that this party needs to morph into I would grab their plan and run with it. But I don't.

[sendero]

110. When you spot a team with a loser's mindset..

... you eventually give up on that team. I have given up on the DLC's strategy, is has not borne fruit and it is not going to.

I don't disagree with every position they take, hell, their positions are so insipid who could argue with them. I'm just done with their entire political world-view, it is a loser.

[Occulus]

125. Including the DLC is not good strategy.

In fact, it's the milquetoast moderates who are part of the larger problem.

[ronnykmarshall]

149. Beat the Sea Hag!!!

[DaveinMD]

34. Rahm's job

is to recruit good candidates to run for the house and to make sure they have the resources to compete. Its not his job to speak out. And past losses don't have much to do with him. He wasn't head of the DCCC then.

[dogman]

10. Read again, the DCCC wants Hackett to run.

House, Senate, two different bodies.

[wndycty]

13. Well you are wrong. . .the DCCC wants Hackett LOL

I understand the hatred of the DCCC on the DU and I don't agree with their urging him to drop out of the senate race. But if you pay close attention the DCCC (not the DSCC) wants Hacket to run for Congress because they feel he has the BEST chance to beat Jean Schmidt because they believe he can win in his Congressional district.

[mzmolly]

12. Misleading, because they want him to run for congress again.

WASHINGTON - National Democrats are turning up the pressure on Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett, openly asking him to leave his campaign for U.S. Senate and take a second shot at a Cincinnati-area House seat that he nearly won last summer.

... I'm petitioning Paul Hackett to run for Congress," Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Sunday.

Hackett declined comment Sunday, but has frequently said he's in the Senate race to stay.

[wndycty]

16. You know DUers are not going to pass up an opportunity to bash. . .

. . .Rahm Emanuel. . .you know I'm right.

[pinto]

14. Ohio DU'ers, what do you think?

[Zhade]

21. Now that's an excellent question.

NT!

[MercutioATC]

52. Ohio here (Cleveland). Hackett should continue the Senate bid.

He's exactly the kind of Senator we need, IMO.

[KittyWampus]

73. Why not have him run for the House & let Brown run for the Senate?

Let Hackett match up against Schmidt who is even more vulnerable to him and let Brown beat DeWine?

[MercutioATC]

76. For a couple of reasons:

1) The Senate holds more power than the House and I think Hackett is the right person to put there.

2) I'm extremely disappointed with Brown's behavior in this race. I realize that "character" is intangible, but I've lost a lot of respect for Brown. http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051112/EDIT/511120301/1003 I think that the political games that are played are one source of the problems we have with our government and Brown seems to be the one playing them (and his reaction to Ryan's decision was contemptible).

[sasquatch]

57. Ohio here(South of Dayton) I think the Hackett should continue his Senate-

run.

[maseman]

72. I live in Akron, OH.

and I wish Hackett would run against Mean Jean. She deserves to be beaten for nothing else then what she said about Rep. Jack Murtha. She is a bloviating coward bitch who deserves to be beaten. I believe the only person, as of now, that could trounce her in a very conservative district is Hackett.

This isn't about not wanting him to run for Senate. This IS about wanting him to beat Mean Jean. I have always been very fond of Sherrod Brown and think he has a great shot at winning the Senate.

I know I am in the minority, but I am for winning elections for Dems. I will donate money and time to both campaigns.

[Kukesa]

141. Hackett and Brown? We Buckeyes are fighting like

cats and dogs over Hackett and Brown in the Ohio forum.

We can't play nice and we fight all the time. We've chosen sides and come out swingin'-- and from of tone of some of our posts,it's difficult to realize we're all in this together.

To prove my point, here's the link to the same post in the Ohio forum:

http://tinyurl.com/7o49b

[Pirate Smile]

15. They want Hackett to beat Schmidt and Brown to beat DeWine.

I can understand that.

If there is a Democratic wave, Hackett could pick off a strong Republican seat and help return the House to Democratic control.

I don't take this as an insult to Hackett.

I like Paul and wanted him to run for the Senate.

How does Brown poll in the Senate race? Could he beat Dewine?

[mzmolly]

24. It's not an insult to Hackett at all.

:hi:

[Pirate Smile]

27. I know. Depending on who wins the Dem Primary, I wonder if he

could then run for the House seat or if someone else is already running and would have been selected in the primary that same day?

edit to clarify - If Brown won the Senate primary, could Hackett still run for the House seat or would it be too late?

[DancingBear]

35. Agreed, and Hackett is a VERY smart man

Remember, he was (literally) the point man for showing the Democratic party how to tell the truth and not be afraid. Even though he literally gave them the roadmap for reclaiming themselves, some still do not take his (astounding) near-victory at face value.

For this, he and he alone should be able to decide where he feels he can best serve his country. At this time, it looks as if he feels he can do more in the Senate. I, for one, would like to see an Iraq war vet stand before Sam Brownback or Jeff Sessions and call them on their bullshit. THAT visibility would do wonders for this party, and I think THAT is what the DLC folks do not grasp.

Yet. :)

[wndycty]

37. He is free to do whatever he wants, but it would be wrong. . .

. . .if Rahm and the DCCC did not attempt to recruit him.

[DancingBear]

40. I would agree with that

based on a) their stated objectives and b) their ideology.

I don't think, however, that a public "calling out" does any good whatsoever. A private back-door meeting would have been the way to go here -instead we have the dreaded in-the-papers "pressure" being applied, and that is not helpful for party unity in any way shape or form.

Agree?

[wndycty]

41. Talk about transperacy. . .

. . .if this was a behind closed doors meeting then Rahm would have been accused operating in smoke filled rooms.

[DancingBear]

43. Straw man

If you think telling the press that you want one of your Senate candidates to leave the race is the way to go, then say so.

Telling Hackett to his face would have required taking a stand, however, and perhaps the DLC boys have forgotten how to do that.

It's been so long for most of them... :)

[redqueen]

113. Putting this in the papers is absolutely the wrong way to go.

And Brown's reaction to Ryan doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

x(

[mzmolly]

51. I agree, the decision is his to make.

:hi:

I am certain he'll make the choice that's best for him. Heck, I'd love to see him call for Bush' impeachment in the congress as well, but I'll take him in any position *he chooses to pursue.

[DrRang]

114. Any polls re whether Brown or Hackett would do better against DeWine? n/t

[Botany]

22. Fuck them and the horse they road in on too.

Hackett will make a great senator. I met him in person last week.
Very impressive:
Gay Rights if you have a problem w/ gay rights then you have a problem w/ the
constitution .... I support the constitution
Rove i do not need to be told by the likes of Karl Rove what it means to fight for
my country or what patriotism means.

The Ohio Dem party has been the limp lover who still doesn't get why the girls
keep leaving him.

[wiley]

30. Maybe we should amend a little bit of our DU righteousness

for a moment and think about this. We really do need to think about spreading out all these good candidates a little.

But it is really up to Hackett. He's a great candidate for any race.

[MercutioATC]

54. This wouldn't be an issue had Brown not changed his mind.

I'm not Brown-bashing but the only reason we have two Dems running is that Brown, after stating that he wasn't going to run against DeWine, changed his mind and entered the race three days after Hackett announced.

Both Hackett and Brown poll well against DeWine. If there's spreading around to be done, I think it should be Brown who finds a new race.

[sasquatch]

58. Brown needs to worry about Avon Lake and allow Hackett to beat Dewine

EOM

[MercutioATC]

60. Agreed.

Actually, I don't have a problem with both running...I just think it's a waste of resources. If Brown's the candidate, I'll certainly support him, but I'd have preferred that he stay in his current position.

[KittyWampus]

79. I just read Brown has more money than Hackett for a primary race

So you'd rather have Hackett win the Senate and leave Schmidt in the House?

Where articles of impeachment need to come from?

[MercutioATC]

81. He does, right now.

That doesn't make Brown a better choice (especially when you consider that Hackett doesn't yet have great name recognition in Ohio and he's currently raising nearly as much money as Brown, a lifetime politician).

[gristy]

32. I don't fault the request - this is a chess match

and there are many, many moves in the game. Any move means you have decided to not make any number of other moves. I'm happy that a man like Paul Hackett is running for congress. As to which house he should run for, I don't have an informed opinion.

[Toucano]

33. If Hackett can raise the money, he should stay.

That's the big factor, isn't it?

I wonder what they're so afraid of. Actually, that's rhetorical.

[DaveinMD]

38. the DCCC wants him to run for the house

because they care about house seats. They don't care about the Senate. That's not their job.

[sasquatch]

46. Someone should send Dean to smack around Rahm Emanuel

Fuck you Rahm, We need him in the Senate, not the house.

[wndycty]

49. What if Dean agrees with the strategy? Do you know where Dean stands. . .

. . .on this particular issue?

[KittyWampus]

80. How do you know Dean didn't help come up with this plan?

[sasquatch]

83. Because Dean is actually interested in winning elections

[Guaranteed]

94. LOL Dean does seem more like a Hackett type of guy

Personally, I'll take a Paul Hackett over a "Wellstone Democrat" any day. Especially if that clown Rahm Emanuel is supporting the Wellstone Democrat.

[WhiteTara]

50. no, I thought he was running for the same seat AS Brown

he should finish Mean Jean right on off. He needs to learn some things too. I personally know that the learning curve is always straight up. If both he AND Brown are in, it could be very synergistic, but to compete over the same seat is stupid (Just MHO only).

[MercutioATC]

55. Agreed, this might work better with only one Dem in the race.

I'm not crazy about seeing Hackett and Brown spending money that they'll need in the general on a primary race. However, I think it's Brown who should find another race, not Hackett.

[Punkingal]

53. This is why dems are losing....

Because they don't let people choose their own candidates.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

61. No.

And they actively work to derail and defund the campaigns of those candidates they have not annointed, too.

It's a merry old time, in truth.

Someday I will regale you with details on how some are also working to purge local and county parties of more progressive and activist participants as well. But not now. Not now.

[Punkingal]

66. You don't have to tell me....

I was married to a candidate who was not annointed. And as long as the Democrats continue to do this, we are screwed.

[still_one]

68. you are right, that is WHAT THE DLC WAS ALL ABOUT

and look what they have done to our party

[sadiesworld]

91. Sherrod Brown is most definitely NOT a DLCer.

He has one of the most progressive records in Washington.

He voted AGAINST:

The Iraq War
NAFTA
MFN status for China
CAFTA
The Bankruptcy Bill

He's one of the best we have.

[still_one]

96. after looking into it further you do have a point

He also voted against the patriot act

I do NOT necessarily agree with his position on Tiawain, because that is between China and Tiawain, and I do NOT think it is in our interest to get involved with that, but you are quite correct he is very progressive, and does NOT even come close to the DLC mandate

My only question would be who declared their candidacy first? The impression I got was that Brown was NOT going to run until Hackett declared, and showed it could be won. Do you know if that is accurate? thanks in advance

[sadiesworld]

126. My understanding is that Brown was simultaneously

trying to mount an opposition to CAFTA in the House and dealing with some marital difficulties when all this originally came up.

I certainly wish Brown had declared his candidacy earlier but I don't think he did so because Hackett "showed it could be won".

Based on his record I am willing to give him the benefit of a doubt. He thinks he should run...I trust that he is making the correct decision.

[still_one]

143. Thanks for setting the record straight for me

I will NOT repeat the distortions again

[Le Taz Hot]

95. Oooh, one of these days you and I are going

to have some regailing to do. We could seriously upset some people around here.

And btw, always good to see you. :hi: :toast:

[still_one]

62. I donated last week to Paul Hackett, and I will give him more

the DNC can go screw themselves

I will only support democrats that stand for something, NOT the group as a whole

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

69. This is where I am tilting as well.

It is at a point where I may no longer identify as a Democrat and will cease party involvement.

I am being badly treated at the local level, for no clear reason, and I have had quite enough.

[MercutioATC]

78. Hear, Hear!

I made that decision last November when the Ohio Democratic Party endorsed one of the WORST candidates I've ever seen for Mayor of Westlake (OH). All of my contributions go directly to candidates now...I don't trust the Party to behave responsibly.

[usregimechange]

77. I would love to have either of them in washington even both

[brentspeak]

82. So because Sherrod Brown screwed up, big time,

by reversing himself, the Ohio Democratic party is urging Hackett to publically make himself look like an indecisive fool by announcing "Uh, I'm changing my mind about running for the Senate seat (even though I already made a very public announcement to win the Senate seat). Instead, I'm, uh, going to run against Jean Schmidt again."

Sherrod Brown didn't exactly demonstrate that he a whole of lot of intelligence -- or guts -- by first announcing that he wouldn't run for the Senate seat, and then later reversing himself after he saw the positive reception Hackett got when he announced a run for the Senate. So why should we want Brown instead of Hackett?

[sadiesworld]

92. Why should we want Brown instead of Hackett?

Because he led the fight against CAFTA.
Because he voted against the Iraq War Resolution.
Because he voted to pull out of the WTO.
Because he voted against the Bankruptcy Bill.

Because he represents the opportunity to have a progressive in the mold of Paul Wellstone in the Senate.

[still_one]

98. that is a very good argument

look at what happened to kerry

True brown is a progressive, but it was hackett who led the way and showed it could be won

[NoodleyAppendage]

111. You assume that Ohio voters have a choice...

That's the whole idea behind this "Hackett go away" scheme. They don't want Brown to look even more weak than he is by going up against an Iraqi War vet.

If Brown is so good and experienced, why doesn't he take on Schmidt instead? What's he afraid of? Or, (more likely) this is all about the anointed DLC and bragging rights of being a Senator over a House member...

JB

[mod mom]

119. There have been rumors that the ODP will endorse a candidate BEFORE

the primary-and it won't be Hackett. They see this as a kiss of death for his campaign. Wonder why they won't let the voters decide? I guess the voters can't be trusted in selecting a candidate with freewill.

[Justitia]

116. I agree. This would make Hackett look like an idiot. Can Brown run

against Schmidt? I would love to have both of them - Paul should stay in the race he has already DECLARED himself for.
Brown did a bad thing jumping in right behind him. He should endorse Hackett in the Senate race and take on Schmidt himself.

Paul would look like a fool (and a weak one at that) if he defers to Brown at this point.

It is up to Brown to correct this, and I would love to have them both.

We're having a bit of this type of thing in the TX Governor's race and it is making me nuts :crazy:

[goodboy]

85. EAT SHIT! Hackett will win in a walk against that psychopathic bitch.,

[goodboy]

86. Once again I have the distinct honor of saying, "FUCK THE DLC"

that is all.

[TacticalPeek]

87. Dear Kingmakers, Put it where Paddy put the coin!

If they want to play Boss, they can tell Brown to stay out like he said he would before Hackett went for it.

Can't the national Dem leadership get ANY damn thing right? Assuming there is national Dem leadership.

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:


Put it where Paddy put the coin, you whiney ass titty babies!

[NuttyFluffers]

88. house slaves telling the field slaves how things work on the plantation

:eyes:

i call it like i see it. and lord almighty that analogy should be nowhere near the truth that it is now. we need a real opposition party now and some of these high horse folks don't cut it.

and them house bastards with "the good hair" can go wash young master's ass another time for all i care, i support hackett. i'm just sad i can't vote for him myself, but i got work in my own backyard to do.

[gasperc]

99. Hackett should stay in the Senate race but switch to the house race later

I don't know what the filing rules are in Ohio but Hackett should stay in the Senate race because it helps Sherrod Brown become a better candidate AND keeps the democratic primary race in the news. But, I'm not so sure he's got the experience to beat Dewine in the general. Even though Dewine is in pretty bad shape he'll hammer Hackett over the lack of experience issue.
Now the congressional seat, he'd crush Schmidt and it would definately help with a house take over.

So I think Hacket should stick it out in the Senate race to the last possible minute and then switch to the house race.

That's my 2 cents

[geiger]

100. Okay, I responded to this on the Ohio Forum, and now I do here as well

This whole hollering back and forth at each other is ridiculous.

Hackett has a right to run.

Brown may have never been an R, but I think his dad was one.

My mom is an R, and I was an R in undergrad, and sometimes I help R's locally, when the D's that are running are idiots and have a misplaced proclivity to promote social agendas where it is entirely inappropriate and beyond the scope of duties and, indeed, legal limits.

I am almost as liberal as Sherrod Brown, probably, but there is a job to be done, and that job does indeed involve pressing national security/homeland security issues. In making a very raw assessment, I would say Hackett lives, fires and breathes protecting our country. On the same front, I remember Brown making an impassioned plea on WMJI, years ago, to get proper protective equipment for the troops, based on constituent families stories he was hearing. But Brown also has a rare intellectual grasp of domestic issues that Hackett yet has to demonstrate.

It's time to get real(istic). Brown is still going to have to work very hard to win the Senate seat. It is NOT going to be a cake walk. Mike DeWine, although not the sharpest pencil in the box, has grown in his job, and has remained largely insulated from the R scandals. Hackett, if he wants to continue to work on behalf of his country, should run for Congress, and start there. He probably would win, locally. It's going to take everything Sherrod has, even with his experience and money and grasp of the issues, to win statewide.

[wndycty]

101. No one is saying Hackett doesn't have a right to run. . .

. . .its just that we have a chance to pick up a seat.

[geiger]

102. we have a chance to pick up two fucking seats

if Hackett runs for Congress and Brown runs for Senate

[mtnester]

103. Same folks who invited him into it

Before Sherrod Brown changed his mind.

[NoodleyAppendage]

107. If Sherrod Brown is SO STRONG why doesn't he run against Schmidt???

I hope Hackett tells the DLC to "FUCK OFF." I'm so friggin' sick of DINOs controlling the agenda of this party. It's time for REAL LEADERSHIP...the kind that Hackett, Dean, and others have consistently shown in the face of DINO/corporate bullshit agendas.

GO HACKETT!!!

JB

[wndycty]

112. Does Brown live in or near Schmidt's district?

Your question suggests an ignorance to how things work.

[NoodleyAppendage]

120. Hmm...I seem to remember something about multiple residences

If one REALLY wants to run for an office seat that requires residency, that person could set up an alternative home or address.

To "assume" stupidity, makes an "ass" out of "u" and "me."

JB

[Garbo 2004]

132. Brown is already a Congressman. What's the point of running for

another House seat in another district in another part of the state when he's already in the House?

You're suggesting Brown set up residency in a district across the state to run in that district while he's serving in Congress representing the district in which he currently resides? Okay....like that, if possible, would be welcome in Mean Jean's district which skews Republican anyway and Hackett's particular distinction is that he aleady had a strong showing there in the last election.

Clearly the party and Brown screwed up. First they encouraged Hackett to run for Senate IIRC and Brown wasn't going to run. Now that's Hackett's been running for the Senate, they want him to drop out to run instead for the seat that he almost won last time. That may be a strategy to pick up both a House and Senate seat, but it doesn't do much for the party to have this apparent bungling and arm twisting conducted in public IMO.

[Garbo 2004]

133. Duplicate post deleted. n/t

[warrens]

118. Personally, I think he should kick Schmidt's fascist ass

No judgment on the Senate thing, but that would be sweet revenge. Brown is from a solid dem seat, so it's a winner all around. And I want to see Schmidt obliterated.

[bucklebone]

129. jeanne schmidt

I'm am from the conservative 2nd congressional district in Ohio and I would bet that if Hackett ran against Schmidt in the 2006 election, Hackett would clean her clock.

However, I think the RNC knows this too and would likely replace Schmidt on the ticket in favor of another conservative Repub. It's just my opinion, but it seems logical to me.

Jeanne Schmidt had one opportunity and she stepped in it up to her neck.

[DoBotherMe]

128. Doesn't impeachment begin in the House?

It may be a tactical decision.:shrug: Dana ; )

[RelativelyJones]

130. Sirota's got Emmanuel's number

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/talking-about-testicles-a_b_9230.html

With his half-ass strategizing, Rahm is a damn Schrum in the making.

[ronnykmarshall]

131. I think he could beat the Sea Hag.

He almost did last year.

[izzybeans]

134. Sherrod Brown is a good man. Deserves his seat.

I'd like Hackett in with the next guy, but running a progressive against a progressive just seems like eating our own. Threads like these always provide self-exemplary proof of that.

[Algorem]

135. "Hackett cancels Hardball. A sign?"

http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/openers/index.ssf?/mtlogs/cleve_openers/archives/2006_02.html#112553

It could mean something. Or it could mean nothing.

With Ohio's election-filing deadline approaching this week, and rumors buzzing that Paul Hackett might drop out of the U.S. Senate race to run for the congressional seat he nearly won last summer, MSNBC confirms that the Iraq war veteran has canceled an appearance later today on Chris Matthews' "Hardball" program.

Emily Marx, who works in MSNBC's media relations department, says the cable network got an apology for the cancellation from Hackett, but not an explanation. Rumors about Hackett's future have been swirling since Democratic Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, the recruiter-in-chief of Democratic House candidates, said publicly this weekend that he is hoping to coax Hackett out of the race...

Hackett, however, has consistently rebuffed the suggestion that he should bow out, and some of his intimates continue to say they're skeptical that he would change his mind.

- Elizabeth Auster

[mvd]

139. We need lots of help in the House AND Senate

I think the reasoning from the party here is pretty weak. I might not agree with Hackett on everything, but we have fresh blood with him.

[hayu_lol]

145. Seems to me, after reading all the posts...

that Brown made the original tactical mistake by originally not planning on running again.

Hackett stepped in to go for Brown's 'to be vacated' seat. That is his right.

Therefore, it is up to Brown to gracefully withdraw his run for a seat he was to vacate. It is up to Hackett to win that seat. Brown is the one who should move into Smidt's area. His fault that the problem came up in the first place.

Sometimes stupid decisions are made by candidates. This was Brown's.

[merkins]

144. Senator Brown / Rep. Hackett sounds like Win/Win to me

As much as I loathe Rahm Emanuel I think its the better overall path for a progressive landscape. Not that I would have any malice if Paul continues to run for Senator. I like both candidates..just think its better to have both on board then just the one.

[Leopolds Ghost]

152. What makes you think EITHER will win, with the voting problems in OH?

Hackett did so well the first time because he came out of left field.

The gears of election manipulation, media character assassination and outright fraud move slowly.

I predict a "surprisingly narrow" 49% defeat for both of them, just like in every other election, demonstrating once again for the media just how "incredibly closely divided" the American people are -- "but as always, the Republicans have that little extra something to get over the top." "A 1% victory in a single race may not be a mandate, Tim", Ken Mehlman will say, "but a 1% victory in every race shows a clear trend and I think President Bush should take that as a mandate!"

There are races like VA governor where the infrastructure is not in place for vote fraud, or a popular Dem incumbent makes it impractical, or they expect the guy to lose anyway. This is not one of them.