PERSPECTIVE: Paul Hackett still draws national attention

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-19/1125030246204603.xml&storylist=cleveland

8/26/2005, 12:01 a.m. ET

CINCINNATI (AP) — Like Rocky in the movies, Paul Hackett has gotten a big boost from almost beating a heavily favored opponent.

Within minutes of Hackett's election night defeat, supporters were speculating on his next run for office. And in the three-plus weeks since the upstart Democratic congressional candidate lost to a Republican in a GOP stronghold, he's done numerous radio talk show interviews and been on such national cable TV shows as MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews" and HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher."

Hackett, an Iraq war veteran, says he's also getting speaking invitations from veterans and Democratic groups in states as far away as California.

"Every day I walk into my law office and say 'Today, I will clear my desk.' And then there are 50 more messages," Hackett said. "I'm amazed. I'm humbled."...

[Dr Fate]

1. We would be fools to let this one slip away. n/t

n/t

[Lerkfish]

2. more importantly we would be fools to fail to learn from it...

in a world where many like the DLC keep telling us to become republican lite in order to win elections, we had a relatively unknown candidate who decidedly did NOT become republican lite, did NOT feign submission to Bush NOR pretend to go along with an unjust war.

and he did it in an historically republican district.

and he nearly won. (actually, he probably did win, absent Diebold)


We should learn from this that the DLC is wrong. Dead wrong.

[Dr Fate]

3. Lets take it issue by issue, candidate by candidate...

...rather than use the DLC" or "Anti-War Left" broad brushes...

Hackett was in line with the DLC on an issue or two, mind you- he just was not afraid to take on his opponents. He challenged the notion that you have to be soft on criticizing Bush...

We agree- DEMS should learn from that.

[bunkerbuster1]

9. You nailed it. Fight tough, call an SOB an SOB.

It's mostly about being unafraid of what the other guy might call you in response.

Best defense is a good offense.

[Al-CIAda]

4. This guy has the raw stuff to be a big one. nt

[goforit]

11. Yep!!!..He's outstanding! And not bad lookin either.

He really knows how to spell it out.

[TacticalPeek]

5. Kick.

:kick:

[MADem]

6. He did a great job on Bill Maher

Reiterated the Chimp = Chickenhawk statements. Said it, stand by it, will say it again!!!!

His gift is that he does not speak Politicalese...he speaks like a HUMAN BEING--plain, direct, to the point. A bit like Truman in his delivery.

[WhiteTara]

7. kick

:kick:

[pepperbear]

8. maybe when rove

gets the axe, he can go and work for hackett. a charismatic handsome war vet has simply got to trump a failed businessman/C-student draft dodger.

Ya think?

[napi21]

10. I don't want that dirty pig anywhere near the Dem Party!

I don't even want to joke about Rove sticking his dirty nose under our tent!