“This officer (and candidate) ain’t no gentleman when it comes to Bush,” writes Evan Derkacz at Alternet’s PEEK:
If Paul Hackett is the new breed of Democrat, they may just have to get used to winning.
Despite the fact that his Chris Matthews segment was prefaced with a comically slanted intro, Iraq vet and candidate Paul Hackett used his time on Hardball to articulate exactly what’s offensive and dangerous about Bush without the quivering apologies so common in the “genteel” world of DC politics.
Or: he ripped him a new one. Bob Geiger has the transcript. Money quote:
MATTHEWS: What is a chicken hawk?
HACKETT: Chicken hawk is somebody who is not willing to fight the fight of their age, their generation, and speaks brashly and with unnecessary bravado when they’re sending other kids and other sons and daughters, other folks’ sons and daughters, off to war.
It is — encompasses language like, bring it on. It encompasses language like, you’re with us or you’re against us and we’re going to take it to you. And I think that’s dangerous. And I’ve got to tell you, you know, when we’re over there fighting in Iraq, Marines and soldiers, and we hear language like, bring it on coming from the Oval Office, that’s a danger. We don’t need that. That’s encouraging an…
MATTHEWS: Paul, why did you call the president — why did you call the president of the United States, whose office you respect, a chicken hawk?
HACKETT: I respect the office of the president of the United States. I said those words. I meant them. I stand by them. I would say them again.
Atrios adds: “Paul Hackett may not win the race on Tuesday. Let’s face it, this is an incredibly uphill battle. But, in the past week we’ve managed to alter the dynamics of the race, get national media attention for the candidate and if he wishes turned him into a rising political star, gotten the NRCC to spend a lot of money to “bury him,” and perhaps altered the momentum in the Ohio political landscape. …” But Atrios wonders why more people haven’t contributed to Hackett’s Act Blue fund. (Add .03 to a donation to show it comes from BoomanTribune.com.)
Atrios also recommends Ohioans “[t]urn on your answering machines. Record any attack robocalls you get about Hackett. These under the radar smear campaigns are almost impossible to document unless someone manages to record them.”
I haven’t been this excited about a race for a candidate that wasn’t going to represent me….ever.
But that isn’t really true…Paul does represent me. He represents my thoughts and feelings on an awful lot of issues. Let’s use that as our rallying call, hey? Progressive issues are not state dependent; they apply to all of us, they are human issues. Let’s make sure that we support these candidates in every way that we possibly can.
it the most repulsive excuse for a human I have ever seen. Did anyone else see her on Hardball today. What an angry, bitter, lying Repug human talking point. She is the antichrist. If this is the best they have to put up(either win or lose for Hackett)..the republican party is in big trouble.
Hot damn! I like what I hear.
Take courage, everyone. I hope he can pull it off. I don’t know his chances since I’m not familiar w/ him and don’t know his numbers. I don’t even know what member he’s replacing! Anybody know?
Even if he doesn’t make it now, encourage this man to keep running and take this seat next year.
Anybody know?
I can’t believed I typed that. All it takes is a Google search, I know.
I forgot Portman resigned. From what I remember, this was a solidly rethug seat, so it would be AWESOME if he took that seat. Just fantastic.
But like I said, even if he falls short–and I hope he doesn’t, b/c a win would be just the shot in the arm we need–there’s an election in 14 months.
Ohio is amazingly split,
In the race between Hackett and Schmidt
The choice is quite clear,
A Corps leader; austere,
Or a far-right-wing-freeper-ish twit…
The guys over at Mydd have been covering this race with updates throughout the day. The blog that ‘done started it all’ Ohio 2nd.
Contributions can be made at ActBlue. ActBlue has raised $367,860.56 from 6,988 donors with over half of that coming in this week. It it this money, raised by the grassroots (ie, us) that kept Paul in the race.
Believe it or not, the Hackett campaign is the best funded campaign ever in the Ohio 2nd. (Maybe that’s why Democrats have done poorly in the district?) The NRCC is buying TV time to run the standard GOP attack and smear ads. The DCCC is also pony-ing up some cash to counter — I would say ABOUT FUCKING TIME YOU MORONS! but I don’t post comments like that.
Winning the Ohio 2nd ‘twould be a famous victory, no doubt. The reality is Paul is the underdog but he is polling within the margins and that, friends, is a victory all by itself.
Just $10 from everybody on BooTrib would be $19,000. (Add the $.03 to let ’em know where it came from.)
I’m going off tonight to pound the streets and raise money. Do the same! Ask around, call friends, every dime raised is a help. ActBlue is shipping the money to the campaign as quickly as it is raised.
There is no guarantee with this money Paul will win but if we don’t raise the money he will loose. The last 72 hours before an election is the most critical time as that is when the voters who cast the winning margin (finally) make-up their minds. We need to help the Hackett campaign reach out to these voters and the only way is through media buys.
HACKETT FOR CONGRESS!