Californians for Hackett, 10-19-05 No. 2
Excuse the title, I'm not trying to mislead. I didn't put up this diary to discuss the merits or differences of either candidate. This is the Californians for Hackett Diary but I wanted to put to rest the most overblown and hyperbolic juice from the start of the campaign. The Sherrod Brown In or Out Story
Paul Hackett on the Radio Interviewed by Angie Coiro, Mother Jones Radio, October 16th, 2005. His bit starts about halfway through this half-hour show.
On Sherrod Brown, In or Out of the Race
AC: You had been contacted by the Democratic Party to run for the seat and you were assured by Brown himself that he was not going to run. He was the most likely competitor (to DeWine). And then he turned around and said he was going to run. How was that explained to you...that discrepancy?
PH: Aaaaah. (Laughs). Well it wasn't...and I am not sure anyone really owes me an explanation. I did speak to Congressman Brown when he called me last Thursday (Oct. 13) to tell me of his change of heart and we had a pretty candid conversation about it.
So no massive heart-clutching hyperbolic, "I've been stabbed in the back." No Brown flop or flip. Brown called him. OK. He manned up or whatever you need to call it, did the right thing and spoke to him directly when he decided to get back into the race. This is according to Paul Hackett--straight from his mouth--so get over it and move on.
From earlier in the same interview.
On Not Getting the Democratic Love at the Start
AC:...was there any air of apology for the cold shoulder that you had gotten in the beginning? (Meaning his run for OH-02)
PH: No. But I sort of take that as kind'a politics. I wasn't looking for an apology. I didn't feel like I had been treated poorly....It would be as if somebody walked into my business and said I want a job. You know, just cold calling for a job. I'm not sure that I would look at them and talk to them for 15 minutes and set them down and say you're hired. So I understand that, you know, it made sense at the time. And it still makes sense today given the facts at the time.
All in all, life is good. Or as Paul would say, Rock On.
I want to add my two cents. At every opportunity try to focus your efforts on the positive aspects of the campaign. Keep an eye out for Hackett Diaries and Posts. Write your own Hackett Diary if the feeling strikes you. Please, never waste comment-time on complaining or whining. The dKos straw polls run about 90-10 in favor of Hackett and you are not going to change the mind of that 10%. And watch for the not too subtle "pretend" disinterested third-party comments. They are just fishing for trouble. I think we have all thought ourselves a bit too clever at one time or another and they are no different.
Positive Action Report
Californians for Hackett Web Site
AnthonySF has graciously offered to host our virtual HQ. This web site will be up by Monday the 24.
Please contact us at CAforHackett (at) aol (dot) com right NOW so we can get you on board.
The main function for this will be so you can get your one stop fix on the campaign. Since we are on Pacific Time we should be able to get the site updated from whatever breaks in Ohio, as it will be three hours before us. The date of the official announcement is supposed to be Oct. 24. That is Monday so we hope they have their official web site up for kick-off. This will be our first resource. We are not an official part of the campaign so we don't need to generate talking points. Remember to read, read, read. Knowing the Candidate and the issues is the most important thing you can do to help make 2006 the year of the Democrat.
We will need to work out the various responsibilities and roles. So if you want to be on the Scout Team and find all the press releases, blog musings, media highlights, etc. let us know. Aside from riding the range you will need to make a quick sketch of each piece so at a glance users can determine whether or not they want to read it. Our goal is to make the information as immediate and available and as easy to use as possible. Eventually we'll put together a press archive, as well as a Classic Hackett page with his best and most stupefying quotes.
Hackett to Visit California
maxschell has offered to help handle video when needed. Eventually when Paul does come out to California (no set date) we will video as much as we can and edit it down to tasty little chunks. Most other media will be provided via link to its original source. I am sure this trip will be run very tightly as Hackett will likely be meeting and greeting bigger wigs than I wear. If the event ends up being in a private home we don't expect access. Cross your fingers and hopefully he will have some time for an open session. No promises. This is not official.
As always post your ideas...and then give yourself a 4.
I also wanted to toss out a few articles and snips to keep the energy up till the real news comes.
Hackett to challenge Ohio's Sen. DeWine from Oct. 4, 2005 CNN.com
Veterans for Hackett Getting Out the Vote From the Democratic Party Web Site.
A special election Cincinnati Post endorses Hackett on July 26, 2005
Hackett, in our view, is a gust of fresh air. If we had to put a label on him, it would be Libertarian Democrat. He says what he thinks and doesn't seem to have much use for the orthodoxy, or the partisanship, of either party. He doesn't want the government telling him what kinds of guns he can own, nor does he want it interfering in family or medical decisions or taking away civil liberties in the name of fighting terror. He regards Social Security more as an insurance program than a retirement savings plan, but wants to put it on a sound footing and would raise the earnings ceiling if necessary to do so.
Wes Clark calls for support for Hackett for Congress from the WesPAC website before the OH-02 Special Election.
Paul Hackett is exactly the kind of strong leader we need in these challenging times. --Wes Clark
Paul Hackett shames Rush Limbaugh Posted by BobcatJH on myDD on July 8, 2005. Just a little funny comment about Rush you won't get tired of reading.