NYT-reporting Hackett is dropping out of Ohio Sen race & perhaps politics

[kpete]

Popular Ohio Democrat Drops Out of Race, and Perhaps Politics

By IAN URBINA
Published: February 14, 2006
Paul Hackett, an Iraq war veteran and popular Democratic candidate in Ohio's closely watched Senate contest, said yesterday that he was dropping out of the race and leaving politics altogether as a result of pressure from party leaders.

Mr. Hackett said Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York and Harry Reid of Nevada, the same party leaders who he said persuaded him last August to enter the Senate race, had pushed him to step aside so that Representative Sherrod Brown, a longtime member of Congress, could take on Senator Mike DeWine, the Republican incumbent.

Mr. Hackett staged a surprisingly strong Congressional run last year in an overwhelmingly Republican district and gained national prominence for his scathing criticism of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq War. It was his performance in the Congressional race that led party leaders to recruit him for the Senate race.

But for the last two weeks, he said, state and national Democratic Party leaders have urged him to drop his Senate campaign and again run for Congress.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/14/politics/14ohio.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Beelzebud]

1. WTF are they thinking? Reid needs to go. He's a piss-poor leader...

[karlrschneider]

2. Shit. I just sent him $250 the other day

:eyes:

[proud patriot]

3. boy that pisses me off

Hackett was one of a kind :-(

[rockymountaindem]

4. Why won't he run for Congress?

If he can't have the Senate race, why not get some kicks beating Schimidt?

[FreedomAngel82]

10. Really

Congress is just as important. From what I've read here on DU is that they're seeming to be wanting to get more seats in the House than anything else. This is where you can do hearings and have subpena powers etc.

[ISUGRADIA]

13. His reason was he had given his word to the Dems who are

running against Schmidt that he would not enter the race.

[rockymountaindem]

15. Well, ok then.

That's an explanation that makes sense.

[catabryna]

22. Hmmmm....

if this is the case, then I applaud his honor; you make a promise, you keep it... however, bowing to the upper "powers that be" does cause me concern. I think there's more to this story.

[ISUGRADIA]

23. I think ther is too but when the DC Democrats decide to clear

the field they can make a lot of fundraising sources dry up.

The same thing happened here in MN. Patty Wetterling dropped out a few weeks ago at the same time a poll showed her doing the best against Repub Mark Kennedy. The DSCC touts Amy Klobuchar as our candidate ignoring (and pissing off) another viable candidate in the race, Ford Bell.

[Guaranteed]

30. Maybe he doesn't want to work with dipshits like Rahm Emanuel.

He'd rather work with dipshits like Reid and Schumer, I guess.

In the Senate, there's at least a whole lot fewer dipshits.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

33. so the party can stab him in the back again?

he should run as an independent

[derby378]

5. If true, this proves that the Dem leadership doesn't have a clue

I'm sure Schumer wasn't at all pleased with the idea of another pro-gun Democratic Senator, either.

[FreedomAngel82]

12. So Hackett himself isn't to blame?

He can stand up and say no but he's rolling over.

[derby378]

21. "Sure, Paul, you can run, but we won't support you"

That has a way of chilling out potential candidates real quick.

[Garbo 2004]

27. Hard to make a decent run if the funding dries up & party leaders make

clear there won't be any support from them and they'll actively work against him in the primary:

"This is an extremely disappointing decision that I feel has been forced on me," said Mr. Hackett, whose announcement comes two days before the state's filing deadline for candidates. He said he was outraged to learn that party leaders were calling his donors and asking them to stop giving...

[Nikki Stone 1]

6. This decision will backfire. Damn!

Hackett had real momentum.

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. Bastards. Do they ever ask themselves

WHY they are the minority party? Now he's dropping out of politics altogether? WTG, Chuck and Harry. WTG.:(

How was Hackett doing in the Ohio polls?

[FreedomAngel82]

16. Hackett has the blame too

He's the one dropping out. He's the only one that can change things with his own political ambitions. So why doesn't he run for Congress? I do get tired of people trying to control elections like that. The people should vote. I'm fine with endorsements and all that but the voters should decide. But as I said before maybe Hackett wasn't serious about politics after all if he's rolling over for people.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

18. umm unlike some people ++cough sherrod++ Hackett keeps his word

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x410238#410316

[FreedomAngel82]

8. If he

drops out of politics because of what other people say than maybe it isn't for him. Maybe he wasn't that fighting democrat we all thought he was.

[Erika]

25. True Maybe he's fought the battles he was up to

and did it beautifully.

The republicans have never been more vicious or uglier. Perhaps he was sick at the thought of the contest. He could replace Schmitt with no problem.

[converted_democrat]

9. This really upsets me.. n/t

[derby378]

11. ATTICA!! ATTICA!!

Storm Democratic Party HQ in DC and remove the dead weight so they cannot contaminate the rest of the campaign!!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

14. Well, if he drops out of the Senate race I hope he at least stays on to

run for Congress.

If he drops out entirely I think it's a terrible loss.

[Pithy Cherub]

17. Those old-fashioned Dem leaders wrongly believe Hackett's

support is transferable. I really like truth telling Paul Hackett very much! What a collossal fuck up on the democratic "leadership" DCCC side. They still believe they are kingmakers.:eyes:

[eggman67]

19. On a side note...

"But for the last two weeks, he said, state and national Democratic Party leaders have urged him to drop his Senate campaign and again run for Congress."

I'll take this opportunity to lament the poor quality of the MSM.

The Senate IS Congress. Sorry, pet peeve.

[FreedomAngel82]

24. Exactly

Even Tim Ryan (Congressman from Ohio who kicks ass) is encouraging him to run for the House instead. From what I understand they're trying to pack Congress more than anything. Remember this is where they start hearings on impeachment and things like that. I do hope he doesn't drop out of politics in general. I do like him and agree with all of the issues on him (yes even on guns) and think he would be a great assiate to the party. But I don't think the DCCC is telling Hackett to drop out period. Just to try Congress. They probably think they can get a two for one deal with both of them and that Brown is more well known and will have a greater chance at winning the senate seat.

[Brain In Vat]

20. Say it ain't so

I am so dissapointed to hear that. I did not think that he would listen to people telling him to drop out of the race.

[glitch]

26. Why not take both Senate seats, one this time, the other next? Surely

there is room for two excellent Senators in Ohio. The bigger man can run for Congress this season and then Senate when the other seat is up.
This makes me sick if true (I accept nothing second hand, even, or especially, from the NYT).

[EFerrari]

28. Does Paul have a website? Who knows how much of this is

"divide and conquer"?

[Guaranteed]

29. He oughta run as an independant.

Fuck Sherrod Brown, and the seat.

Yes. I WOULD cut off that nose.

[tgnyc]

31. Spitting mad! If this is true, what fucking bullshit! Why even bother with

a primary then? Just give the nomination to the one who raises the most money.

More thoughts: http://intelligencesquad.blogspot.com/2006/02/fratricide.html

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

32. it's official-i'm now third party

wow. i guess we can look forward to alackluster campaign from sherrod 'me, too' brown.

so, who's running against dewine in 2012?

[liberalpragmatist]

35. Sherrod Brown is hardly a "me-too" Dem

I think this situation with Hackett has been extremely poorly handled and he should not have been forced from the Senate race (also, Brown should not have declared after taking himself out).

But at least criticize fairly - Brown is one of the most liberal members of the House and one of the best friends of labor in the House.

[liberalpragmatist]

36. Delete - nt

[earthside]

34. So disgusting ...

Well, I hate to be a wet noodle, but until the establishment Democrats get the holy living tar knocked out of them (and I mean guys like Schumer and Clinton and Biden get defeated) --- this kind of thing is going to keep happening.

The only other thing that can save the Democratic Party is to campaign on and enact public finance of federal elections. Because, unfortunately, just like the radical Republicans they are letting $$$$$ money $$$$$ be all that matters.

[Ksec]

37. And then they wonder why weve been losing

This is a perfect example of gutless leaders. Reid and Schumer should be ashamed to call themselves Democrats.

[Nothing Without Hope]

38. ***Other threads on this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2107019
thread title (2-13-06 LBN): Popular Ohio Democrat(Paul Hackett) pulls out of race....-NYT
Comment/excerpt: “Paul Hackett, an Iraq war veteran and popular Democratic candidate in Ohio's closely watched Senate contest, said yesterday that he was dropping out of the race and leaving politics altogether as a result of pressure from party leaders. … Mr. Hackett said Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York and Harry Reid of Nevada, the same party leaders who he said persuaded him last August to enter the Senate race, had pushed him to step aside so that Representative Sherrod Brown, a longtime member of Congress, could take on Senator Mike DeWine, the Republican incumbent.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x410500
thread title (2-13-06 GD): Democratic Party? Fuck you bastards. You went too far. (Paul Hackett)
Comment/excerpt: Based on same NYT article. “’This is an extremely disappointing decision that I feel has been forced on me,’ said Mr. Hackett, whose announcement comes two days before the state's filing deadline for candidates. He said he was outraged to learn that party leaders were calling his donors and asking them to stop giving and said he would not enter the Second District Congressional race.”
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x410579

thread title (2-13-06 GD): Before everyone loses their mind about Paul Hackett's withdrawal...
Comment/excerpt: Will Pitt post. “Now, I like Paul Hackett. But before DU goes spiralling off into a bender about DCCC/DLC centrist bastard fuckasses, take a look at Sherrod Brown. If the DCCC is backing good progressives like Brown, then all the yelling doesn't seem to jibe.”

[OneBlueSky]

39. odd strategy, if you ask me . . .

here's a popular candidate garnering all kinds of support from across the country, and the Democratic Party pressures him to drop out? . . . certainly says a lot about the chances of progressives in the coming elections, i.e. the party doesn't want us . . .

it just gets worser and worser and worser . . .

[Pachamama]

40. Really bad strategy if you ask me! Repubs would have voted for Hackett...

....and not for Sherrod Brown...

It's that simple....the Dem party leadership can come up with all their strategic reasoning, but all the Republicans I know in my life who are disatisfied with the current GOP leadership would find a Vet and straightshooter like Hackett likeable and be willing to vote for and support (which is why he almost won the congressional seat he ultimately lost in a narrow loss to Mean Jean in a heavy Republican area). But Sherrod Brown is not a Paul Hackett. I don't care if he had raised 1000 times the money of Paul at this point...Sherrod Brown comes across and will be easily painted as a "Librul" and that will not attract the moderate Ohio Republicans who have been economically and otherwise devastated by the GOP representation by Mike Dewine. Those moderate Republicans in Ohio would have voted for Hackett and Hackett would have won over Dewine. Not with Sherrod Brown. I'll put big money on it....

Big, big mistake....bad, bad strategic move....

[NuttyFluffers]

41. How to nurture new talent? Apparently with ultimatums and scheming...

ahh, what a rousing welcome for fresh blood. well, sign me aboard the 'i told you so' bus when brown loses and all this scheming and backstabbing ends for naught. gladly willing to eat crow if i'm wrong, but i don't think i will be. my sympathies to ohio; it was a splendid dream, wasn't it?

[mcscajun]

42. Message to potential Democratic candidates: Don't be too outspoken.

Don't set your sights too high. Don't go independently raising your national profile...unless and until we tell you it's okay.

Bas-TARDS!!! Hackett tells truth to power, and this is what happens. Ugh.

I hope he doesn't drop out of politics altogether. If he runs again for Congress, he's got my support, and I'm from NJ!

If this "strategy" of the Democratic leadership fails, and Brown doesn't win against DeWine... :grr: