(click thumbnails for enlarged photos)
Last night, I saw Paul Hackett speak at the VFW in Kent, Ohio. The room was full, with about 160-170 in attendance. He first spoke, then took questions from the audience. He was blunt, outspoken, opinionated, and refreshing. In his presentation and his answering of questions afterwards, Hackett clearly staked out his positions on issues, as well as the direction he thinks the Democratic party needs to take. He began his speech by stating that he was a liberal Democrat, and proud of it: "What's wrong with `liberal'?, he asked, to loud applause. He emphasized the need for Democrats to fight for all seats, regardless of the chances of winning or losing.
He did not shy away from taking the fight to Republicans: he frankly stated that "the Republican Party has been overrun by religious fanatics." While taking the Republicans to task for their many failures and transgressions, he emphasized the need to reach out to those Republicans and independents willing to listen: "Do we have any Republicans in the audience? I always like to ask."
Contrary to the hand-wringing over `lack of message' coming from the media and sometimes from Democrats themselves, Hackett delivered a coherent and concise presentation of what being a Democrat means to him. He recalled FDR's four freedoms, and called them the pillars of Democratic values: freedom of speech, freedom of (and from) religion, freedom from fear, and freedom from want. He emphasized that our freedoms are under organized attack, and that protecting them is important, not just for the safety of the United States, but for the safety of the world. Hackett also sees the Democratic Party as the party of fiscal responsibility, respect for personal privacy, and thoughtful use of governmental resources and power, all principles which have been abandoned by the Republicans currently in power.
He did not shy away from discussing controversial issues. He was very clear: government has no business interfering in the medical decisions made by a woman and her doctor, nor should it be concerned about anyone's sexual orientation. Hackett saw both of these issues as privacy-based: matters for individuals to decide for themselves without government interference. He also spoke frankly about gay marriage, a divisive issue used by Republicans to inflame the emotions of Ohio voters. Hackett saw the issue as having been made much more complex than it should be: he considered it a matter of equality under the law. He found the idea that straight marriages were threatened by gays wanting equal rights to be absurd: "Nobody gets divorced because the neighbors are gay."
Hackett stated categorically that "I have never been a supporter of the Iraq war", and called any purported connection between the September 2001 terrorist attacks and Iraq "nonsense." He served because, as a longtime Marine, he felt a strong obligation to his fellow Marines, whom he called "my family." He was of the opinion that "we should either fight the war or get out," but clearly thought that the Bush administration had no idea how to do either. Hackett then said that fighting terrorism required the use of economic and social tactics as well as the military, and that the simplistic view of "send in the troops and kill all the bad guys" was unrealistic. "It's not Hollywood over there in Iraq," he said. He also emphasized that use of the military was a last resort, not a first choice. He strongly condemned the use of torture, and emphasized that, as a Marine, he had been trained that torture was unacceptable. He blasted Bush, Cheney, and Wolfowitz for having no idea of the realities of war.
Sometimes I think that Democrats are neglecting their historical positions in favor of finding a magic-bullet message that will wither Republicans in their tracks while paradoxically causing offense to no one. Hackett cut straight through that Gordian knot. He's right: it IS simple. Democrats are the party of basic American freedoms, of fiscal responsibility, of personal privacy, of the sensible use of governmental power and resources. We are the `quality of life' party. I admit that he impressed me.
After speaking and taking questions for two hours, he talked with people one-on-one.
This man is outspoken and straightforward. He has clear positions on issues, and a definite idea of what the Democratic Party should stand for and work towards. I am sick of smooth, packaged, slicked-up show horses of candidates; I want a racehorse. This guy might just be one.
Paul Hackett's site
For more information about the sponsor of this event, the Portage Democratic Coalition:
PDC