Veteran of Iraq, Running in Ohio, Is Harsh on Bush

[cal04]

In the Second Congressional District of Ohio, which Republicans have controlled for the last two decades, the quickest route to political oblivion could be the one chosen by Paul L. Hackett: calling President Bush a "chicken hawk" for not serving in Vietnam and harshly criticizing the decision to invade Iraq.

The candidates are even more different on most issues. Ms. Schmidt supports making Mr. Bush's tax cuts permanent, but offers no plans for closing the federal deficit other than trimming "unnecessary pork" and bureaucratic inefficiency. Mr. Hackett opposes making those cuts permanent, asserting that troops in Iraq are not receiving adequate supplies or benefits. Ms. Schmidt, a leader of Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati, wants abortion outlawed. Mr. Hackett says he opposes abortion but believes government should not dictate a woman's health care decisions.

The two, however, support broad gun rights. His opposition to banning assault weapons has gotten Mr. Hackett, who says he owns military-style rifles and has a permit to carry concealed weapons, into arguments with many Democrats. "The Democratic Party is wrong on this," he said. "We don't want government dictating a woman's right to choose. How do I tell people it's O.K. to dictate their gun ownership?" Mr. Bush has also emerged as an issue. Ms. Schmidt contends people in the district, which voted 64 percent for Mr. Bush last year, adore the president. Her only difference with the administration, she said, is on Mr. Bush's proposal to create private accounts in Social Security, which she says could be risky.

Mr. Hackett has been bluntly dismissive of Mr. Bush, saying the United States should have focused on capturing Osama bin Laden instead of invading Iraq so quickly. In a public forum, he called Mr. Bush the biggest threat facing the United States, a remark that has infuriated voters, Republicans say.Yet Mr. Hackett has also tried to exploit Mr. Bush's popularity here, opening his lone television commercial with Mr. Bush saying, "There is no higher calling than service in our armed forces." Republicans have derided the spot as hypocritical. "I want to win," Mr. Hackett replied.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/27/national/27ohio.html?ei=5094&en=a371529c4f5f4711&hp=&ex=1122523200&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1122444707-TfBUf3XWE2mtNxNMmSdKZw

[FreedomAngel82]

1. He's kicking some ass

I read on DailyKos that a paper in the area endorsed him who endorsed Bush last year. So that's a good sign. If he doesn't win I will be surprised. My favorite line: In a public forum, he called Mr. Bush the biggest threat facing the United States, a remark that has infuriated voters, Republicans say.

[sasquatch]

2. Paul Hackett is awesome and I wished I lived in his district

[bluestateguy]

3. He'll do better than most Democrats usually do

but he will likley still lose, so I hope people don't get their hopes up too high.

[necso]

4. "Mr. Hackett says he opposes abortion

but believes government should not dictate a woman's health care decisions."

An important distinction.

It's nice to elect "true believers", but what we need is completely dependable votes on the issues... and candidates who can win (implying nothing here).

[Webster Green]

5. I heard him interviewed on Ed Shultz's show...He sounded confused

He sounded like he knows the chimp administration is full of shit, but he lost me when he started with the crappola about finishing the job in Iraq, and spreading democracy around the world.