Quick intro here for anybody new to dKos....
I'm Jeff Seemann, 2006 Democratic candidate for US House in Ohio's 16th District. I ran in 2004 and got over 100,000 votes (more than any Dem candidate in the history of OH-16). None of it could have been done without the blogosphere and specifically Markos.
240 miles from my district lies an INCREDIBLY important campaign, and I want to be there to help out.
Two weeks ago, I get an e-mail that details how all of the 2006 Dem challengers for US House are going to be rallying in support of Paul Hackett on the Sunday before the election. Without hesitation, I accept and begin planning for the journey.
As for the rest of the story, I will be as calm and as fair as possible, and then I need your advice and possible research help. The denizens of dKos have always been there when I needed them, and here's one more humble request.
I'm told by Paul Ackerman of Linwood Campaign Solutions that 4 candidates have agreed to go to a rally on Sunday from Noon to 3pm. I help him get a fifth candidate there, Robin Weirauch of OH-5. As of last Friday, the only detail we have is the time of the event...no location, no nothing.
I let the details slide because I've campaigned and I know how fast things can change.
I send an e-mail to Paul Ackerman and ask for details on Saturday. Two days later, his partner answers....Paul's on vacation and can't help out, so he's going to pick up the slack. I had also asked for suggestions on a nearby hotel. That Monday morning e-mail was the last time I had heard from Linwood Campaign Services.
Yesterday I called Hackett's HQ and ask about the event. The wonderful and enthusiastic volunteer knew nothing about the event, but apologizes and tries to get details. Of course, the place is swamped and I don't press him for anything. He's got Paul Hackett to worry about, not Jeff Seemann.
This morning, 48 hours before I am to leave for Cincinnati, I'm sent an e-mail....the event is cancelled.
We don't want to put any more burden on
the Hackett campaign, and right now, they don't have the information
or the time to get it to us.
We honestly feel the best thing to do would be to cancel the whole
thing.
Ryan
Linwood Campaign Servies
Let me make this clear...I am not trying to be difficult at an important time like this. I desperately want to help Hackett, and those were the plans I made. Hell, I owe it to the guy and I'm gonna pull through for him.
But to find at least five people who have changed their lives to run for Congress and intentionally re-direct their schedules, then cancel it 2 days prior (while going on vacation for yourself)...what kind of a Democratic Consulting firm is this?
So I checked. Linwood Campaign Services website has one page...the cover page. No links, no references, no testimonials. Two people work there.
If anybody has the time to research who these people might be, please give it a few minutes. Because I think we were just yanked around by a possible mole within the party.
Now, back to the important stuff........
Does anybody have any details on any specific events for Saturday night and all day Sunday....how can I give as much help as possible to Hackett For Congress?
Oh, and by the way...any suggestions on where to stay? Linwood also never got back to me with a list of nearby lodging.
Because, dammit, I'm going. This is too big to let one incompetent consulting firm dampen my idealism.
See you Saturday night, OH-2.
Jeff Seemann
P.S. By the way, if I sound angry...I am. This was supposed to be a weekend spent with my beautiful 6-year-old daughter, Charlotte. I gave it up based on Paul Ackerman's planned event.
