With Hackett departure, old politics win

[ECH1969]

With a shove from party leaders, Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett abruptly quit a key Senate race in Ohio and further exposed a disconnect between the Democratic establishment and Internet-fueled challengers. The political novice withdrew under intense pressure from party leaders in Washington, clearing the field for Rep. Sherrod Brown - a 30-year veteran of Democratic politics with more than $2.5 million in the bank.

Phil Singer, spokesman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said Hackett's decision to quit gives the party a better chance of beating two-term GOP Sen. Mike DeWine in November. Hackett drew his strongest support from Democratic activists outside Washington and Ohio who donated money and time via the Internet, including many who considered his military record an asset against DeWine.

"Hackett would have probably won this seat," David Nir, one of three founders of the liberal Web site SwingStateProject.com, contended in a blog posting Tuesday. "It's much harder for me to envision the 'northeastern Ohio liberal' Sherrod Brown breaking the 49-percent barrier, particularly with DeWine moving to the center."

"Establishment Democrats are still more powerful than we are, by orders of magnitude," Stoller wrote. "While we can put tens of thousands into a race, they can dwarf that with millions."

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/politics/13872193.htm

[journalist3072]

1. It just confirms to me

That I did the right thing last year, when I switched my registration from Democrat to Independent.

I'm absolutely disgusted by the treatment of Hackett. Here is a man who has served his country honorably in overseas combat.

Thank the Lord, he makes it back home safe, and in once piece. And to his credit, he wants to serve his country some more, this time in the Congress.

And the Democratic Party thinks it has the right to tell him to withdraw, simply because they think Brown might have a better chance in the general election?

I'm just thoroughly disgusted by it all.

[bluestateguy]

2. Brown will disappoint

He's an old time backroom, blow dried politician. Not a DLCer, mind you, but still an establishmentarian.

I imagine he will run a very blow dried, Bob Shrum like campaign that takes no risks, uses very cautious staff-written rhetoric (lest anybody be offended ) and does little to stir up the grass roots.

I predict he will lose 52%-46%.

[AX10]

16. It appears that the Dems may be swiftboating their own.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x27959#27960

[MercutioATC]

3. Brown will get my usual nose-holding vote in November.

Not because of his positions (many of which I respect) but because of his part in this. It's sad that this is acceptable, both for me and for him.

Oh, and the party gets NO money and NO time from me. I'll work for and support candidates that I choose.

[Coastie for Truth]

4. Where is his District.

I see a kind of Youngstown - Akron flavor

I did not mean anything ethnic by "flavor" - I'm sitting here reading the Vindicator on line, then I'll read the Beacon-Journal on line, with my pepperoni and olive pizza and my red wine - it don't get no better. Is Little Joes still in Akron?

[roody]

5. I hope he runs and wins as a Green!

[Coastie for Truth]

6. I was hinting at "Did Brown Inherit Trafficante's Seat" NT

[MercutioATC]

7. The state of Ohio...this is a senatorial race.

Here's a map of his old congressional district:

[Coastie for Truth]

10. I wanted to see what Congressional District is his base

My roots are in North eastern Ohio (Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown)-- and my Mom still has family there

[MercutioATC]

12. Well, that's the map...sorta a diagonal between Lorain and Akron.

[understandinglife]

8. The DLC is without doubt the strongest ally the RNC has. Corporatists ...

.... absolutely must stick together and that's the message.

I do wish Hackett would file and run and tell anyone who says "flip-flopper" to f-off.


Peace.

[creeksneakers2]

9. I'd like to see net candidates emerge in races

that are possible to win but the establishment has written off. It would only take a few longshot victories to prove that more combative campaigns work better.

[LittleClarkie]

11. Why is being a 30 year veteran of politics in and of itself a bad thing?

Maybe I'm getting the wrong vibe but the way it's being stated there, the experience and the money, it seems to me that the author was inferring that this was a negative somehow. Am I misreading? Having money in the bank when you're trying to win is a good thing. Having tons of experience is a good thing.

I just don't think it's all that easy for a brand newbie to head straight for the Senate with no experience. I wish he'd tried for another House run. I think Cindy would do well in the House too. Get your feet wet there, then bop on over to the Senate.

[MercutioATC]

13. It's not a bad thing. It's just surprising that Hackett was so close

in fundraising and polls with a comparitavely unrecognized name. That might have been something they should have considered before doing this.

[Jacobin]

14. Why is being an IraqNam war veteran, who is plain spoken

and who aroses the base of the party,and who damn near beat a republican in a republican district in his last race, 'such a bad thing?"

Because it threatens the status quo and the unholy alliance and pretend opposition of the DLC, that's why

[LittleClarkie]

15. Didn't say it was a bad thing. But some people are assuming Brown

is "politics as usual" or DLC for simply not being Hackett. He's not. He's a progressive.

[Bacchus39]

17. yes, we need more candidates like these

I do not understand this move at all. Wesley Clark and now Hackett are discounted yet they have the military/security credentials the Democrats need.