Democrats deny asking donors to take sides in Hackett race.

[mzmolly]

* The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee issued a release this afternoon disputing Hackett's contention that Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) made calls to donors urging them not to donate to his campaign. "Neither the DSCC nor Senator Schumer reached out to donors to ask them to take sides in this race," said DSCC Communications Director Phil Singer. Singer extended an olive branch to Hackett in the next breath, praising his "statesman-like decision" to drop out of the Senate race.

...

While so-called "informed ballot" ballot tests are of questionable value, Blumenthal concluded that if Hackett could raise the money to simply introduce himself to voters, he would win the primary. Money, however, proved to be Hackett's undoing as he was unable to raise anywhere near the $2.1 million Brown had on hand as of the end of 2005.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/02/hackett_fallout.html#more

Sounds to me like it came down to money - perhaps assumptions were made about why?

Just reporting "the other side" here folks - I am still digesting all the info.

[Catch22Dem]

1. So, someone's lying.

And it won't look good when the truth comes out.

[mzmolly]

4. This may sound nutty, but is it possible that Republicans played tricks?

I dunno, this is all very strange.

[Adelante]

13. Dunno

I just saw a mention in another thread about "war crimes"??? If that doesn't sound Repug, I don't know what does. No specifics were given, though.

[mzmolly]

21. Hackett and war crimes?

:wow:

[Adelante]

22. Somebody mentioned it and I asked

But no answer yet. I would like to know where it's coming from.

[Adelante]

23. Here is the post - I'm waiting for an answer

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2459175&mesg_id=2459648

[madfloridian]

27. Wesdem, I just heard the tape from Ed Schultz today.

Hubby taped it, just found out. I have not transcribed Hackett's interview, but Ed did ask him about their "swiftboating" him in Ohio.

He was not very open about it, but said he had heard it. It had to do with Fallujah, according to Ed. Part of his duty there was moving dead bodies, and Ed asked him if that is what is was about. Hackett did not give a specific answer.

Ed asked him about Waxman and others contacting donors...in regard to Waxman he (hackett) said he saw the email.

Dean was in Miami today and apparently referred to Washington "skullduggery", and was pretty upset. Something must have gone on for the Dean brothers to both be upset.

[Adelante]

29. Huh

Something dirty going on. We'll just have to see. But I would dearly love to know who is putting it out there. Thanks, MF, very much.

[madfloridian]

30. Dean just used the word "skullduggery"..in Miami today.

I just posted this in GDP.

[glitch]

17. Just what I was thinking! It wouldn't be the first time, and fits Rove to

a tee.

Edit: recommended because this kind of dirty op is not impossible, or even improbable, considering who we're dealing with.

[KittyWampus]

24. Mzmolly, that's what I was wondering. You KNOW the GOP fucks with

Democratic primaries.

[Adelante]

2. I keep feeling there's another shoe to drop

Thanks for another piece, mzmolly.

[mzmolly]

5. My thanks to Madfloridian who posted the original article in response

to another thread.

Happy V day WD!

[Adelante]

11. You, too

:pals:

[MercutioATC]

3. Brown's financial advantage was nearly all "war chest" money.

Hackett, the rookie, was raising nearly as much as Brown, the career politician.


Amazing how you can have more money on hand 3 months into a race against a rookie when you've been in politics for 30 years...

[FreedomAngel82]

8. It is interesting

:shrug: If Brown has been in politics for thirty something years wouldn't he have more money than Hackett? :shrug:

[MercutioATC]

10. Apparently, it's something to crow about.

...for a couple of Brown supporters, anyway.

Frankly, I think it's logical to assume that he'd have more money in the bank. I'd also assume that, with better name recognition, he'd be kicking a rookie's ass in current fundraising.

...I guess that's just me, though...

[madfloridian]

6. They have denied it in several races.

They have denied it in too many for all the candidates to be so untruthful.

[mzmolly]

7. Is it possible that R's posed as dems to take out PH?

Something doesn't smell quite right.

[FreedomAngel82]

9. I remember during the beginning of

investigating the election fraud in Ohio there were democrats who weren't very democratic. There are people who used to be republican but changed to democratic because they didn't like the Bush and neocon policies but still very republican. So nothing would surprise me in this case.

[mzmolly]

15. And one has to wonder just HOW Democratic a former R is anyhow?

I dunno, the bottom line I guess is that Hackett didn't have the money, and wasn't polling well. I understand both as he was an unknown, but I sure enjoyed hearing him tell the truth about Iraq.

I'm sure we'll be hearing more in the coming weeks.

[madfloridian]

12. Well, here is an example or two.

In Florida Rahm and our state chair said they didn't ask a Republican millionaire to run. But they did. They met with him several times where there were Democrats in the race.

There are others. Cegelis comes to mind. I don't think they have admitted to meddling there, either.

We know for sure (audio and transcript of it) that Schumer and Reid got Casey in the race, knowing he was anti-choice. I don't know if they have denied it, because they can't.

I don't know what to think. I hear the rumors of war crimes was talked about on Schultz today. I would like to know more about that.

I know Rahm had asked for Hackett to drop out and run for House...so I think what Hackett is saying is most likely true.

Just remember, no one believes they did it in the primaries either. But it was done.

[mzmolly]

16. I remain open minded for a few reasons.

But, I thank you for the food for thought MF. Off to enjoy the "holiday."


:hi:

[glitch]

18. The candidates aren't the suspects. The callers to the donors is where

it would be all too easy for Rove to manipulate.

[madfloridian]

14. A poll just came out with Hackett doing really really well.

So this is the talk at Kos right now. He was really holding his own, but the Brown campaign, I think, said they were 20 points ahead. Not true, apparently.

[ReadTomPaine]

19. The proof will be in the pudding.

Either Sherrod Brown will win, or he won't. The die is pretty much cast, and if he doesn't win there should be hell to pay for those responsible for this decision. No excuses, no dissembling. Just a good old fashioned political caning so severe they won't ever consider this sort of maneuver again.

On the other hand, if he wins... we've got a solid progressive Dem to happy about, and I'll be very happy indeed. This escapade and the plagiarized statement from late last year have tempered my enthusiasm for Mr Brown considerably, however. Two diminished candidates for the price of one primary. Doesn't seem like such a good bargain to me, but as I mentioned above.. a clean, decisive win will go far in absolving these sins.

We will just have to wait and see.

[lastknowngood]

26. Yea sure like they canned Shrum and the other losers. They pick

losers because they want to lose. They, the "party leadership" are undermining anyone who could rock the boat for the corps and fascists.

[ReadTomPaine]

28. Political retribution won't come from top.

It will come from the rank and file when the time is right, and it will be ugly.

[DancingBear]

20. Thank you for all this info, MF

And a tip of the hat for staying on message despite all the shit that is swirling around you.

Do not think for one minute that the "outing" of Paul Hackett was anything less than a coordinated effort by those in control at both DSCC and DCCC.

Floating this "oh, but we wanted him to run in OH-02, KNOWING that he had given his word that he would not, is more contemptuous bullshit from these bastards.

They were petrified that a Dean "bomb thrower" candidate would get in, and if he did then this would show us all their greatest fear: they are no longer relevant, ad they can no longer hide without being called out.

Notice, if you will, how many Dems line up next to Dean when he speaks out.

Behind him, yes, for shooting in the back is the preferred method.

Next to him - no chance.

[dansolo]

25. Exactly - take a look at IL-06

Rahm Emmanual's fingerprints are all over this. He has done the same thing to Christine Cegelis, who was able to get 44% against Henry Hyde, even though she was a newcomer to politics, very little name recognition, in a moderate to conservative district. This was also with almost no support from the Democratic Party (she did get support from DFA, and was a Dean Dozen member). When she lost in 2004, she announced her intention to run again. Instead of building on her success, doners were told to stay away, while stories were spread about her inability to raise money. Now, Rahm Emmanual has brought someone else in to challenge her in the primary, and has seeded her challenger's campaign with a lot of cash. The similarities to Paul Hackett are undeniable. Don't forget that Rahm Emmanual had publicly called for Hackett to withdraw from the race.

I can understand why people would like to attribute this to Republican dirty tricks, but I'm sorry to say, but the stench here is all our own.