OH-2: Hackett help needed due mixup

[iconoclastic cat]

Here's the story, from dKos (which may or may not be a load of BS):

OH-2 : I need help.....and fast

by Jeff Seemann For Congress
Thu Jul 28th, 2005 at 14:13:36 EDT

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.

* Jeff Seemann For Congress's diary :: ::
*

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 canceled.

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 Services

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.

Here's some more activism stuff: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/28/12538/9789

[frictionlessO]

1. Shit! I wish I had time to get on this one!! Maybe a few of our more

intrepid investigators could be notified and prodded into helping dKos? I mean Hacketts a helluva cause...

[snowbear]

2. Don't know anything about the event... but if it were me...

...the guy should be calling "Paul Ackerman of Linwood Campaign Solutions" and not the Hackett campaign.

Doesn't Ackerman have a phone? Looks like he's in charge of the thing- not Hackett's people.

:shrug:

[emcguffie]

3. did you read all of it?

Finish the whole thing.

It does sound like he was deliberately yanked around, along with four other Democratic candidates.

[snowbear]

4. But if Hackett's office doesn't even know about the event..

Then hopefully those wanting to know why it was cancelled have been able to contact the organizer by now? :shrug:

[BQueen]

5. I'm with you

I read about GOPers hanging out in front of Hackett's offices and taking down tag numbers, etc. The Swing State Project had lots of information http://www.swingstateproject.com

Larissa, the post says that Jeff did call the organizer and was fobbed off with "he's on vacation, but I'll let you know..." and then, "oh, it's not worth the trouble..." The fact that Hackett's volunteer didn't know about it tends to support the conclusion that these candidates got scammed. My instincts tell me there are probably College Repugs/Yellow Elephants involved. Maybe he could have done more checking on the verity of the "firm" before finalizing plans, but hindsight...

Since Jeff is going anyway (good for you, Jeff!) I would make sure to mention the circumstances in any appearances (use it as a hook to get some TV time -- they already did a segment on the CBS affiliate in Cinci about the attempt to "swiftboat" Hackett) and talk about how the Pugs want to divide and conquer us, but we know better than to carp at each other while they plunder Ohio.

[BQueen]

6. Another neophyte webpage associated with Schmidt

I ran the campaign managers name out of curiousity re: the threads on his piss-poor judgment in using his aol account for both the campaign and a BDSM profile (heh-heh) Anyway, apparently there was an interesting connection about the time of the primary with a former Toledo Blade reporter's brand new political consulting bidness getting contracts from Schmidt (ie, did he start working for her *before* he left the Blade? The description of his (Wenzel's) website sounded quite a bit like the one posted here (Just a main page, "future home of" kind of thing)

Link to blog http://www.gregsopinion.com/archives/006256.html#006256

Link to article blog excerpted. http://www.citybeat.com/current/porkopolis.shtml

Maybe a comparison of the two by someone who's computer literate could yield some results.

Edited to add that Wenzel's personal blog, www.heartlandpolitics.com, was also "temporarily" hosting his Wenzel Strategies page. Wonder what those archives could yield. Says campaign manager was a "longtime friend"

[BQueen]

7. a bit more

http://red-state.com/0705/070805.html

sounds like the firm could be legit but hastily set up. There's a post at this blog about setting up someone to help with Sherrod Brown that mentions Paul Ackerman in association with Act Blue and Bring Ohio Home. (another empty site, and the article linked in the above blog was gone...) Google search also showed many other blue associations. Powell is north of Columbus, south of Delaware, so not local to Cinci at all, which could be part of the problem.

Listed on a byline at actblue.com re: Mark Losey for Congress.
No other info I could find about who's who in that org./

There's a transcript of a conference call involving him at http://www.ourfuture.org/docUploads/ney_teleconference_20050615.pdf
re: cleaning up congress.

that's all I found one a quick look.

[snowbear]

10. BQueen,

Wow.. You're a great detective! :o

Is Linwood Campaign Services for real? There's a website with nothing on it other than they support Democrats, but was it "just" created? Is there a way to find out? http://www.linwoodservices.com/

Geez.. I hope a Rethug group isn't trying to pull a fast one on the Hackett campaign with a bogus rally. :scared:

Thankfully Major Hackett is an accomplished attorney!

Maybe the original poster will come back and let us know if the mix-up was a mix-up and not a set-up!

[preciousdove]

8. Recommending and kicking and wishing I knew how to help.

:kick:

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Sent some money through ActBlue.

[OzarkDem]

11. Sounds like someone doing "freelance" work

Amazing how a lot of "campaign consultants" crop up when there's a large influx of cash to a campaign. It doesn't sound nefarious, though, just a little unprofessional and probably not coordinated by Hackett's campaign (just a guess).

Hackett's campaign should focus on using all campaign donations for tv and radio buys, and little else (or targeted mailings if its not too late). A small amount should be spent on GOTV - particularly the day of the election to boost turnout. Those are dollars well spent. He shouldn't need additional campaign consultants at this point.

I'm not sure how a rally would help right now, those are usually just to rally those already supporting him, which I'm sure they already are.