Leader Pelosi's Statement on Ohio Second District Race

[paineinthearse]

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=51266

House Democratic Leader Pelosi's Statement on Ohio Second District Race

8/3/2005 12:09:00 AM


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: National Desk

Contact: Jennifer Crider of the Office of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, 202-225-3302

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi's statement on the special election in Ohio's second congressional district:

"Paul Hackett is a war hero who campaigned with the same dignity and honor that he served our country. Paul ran an excellent campaign and made what should have been an easy Republican win a tough contested race.

"The issues, political, and ethics environment are good for Democrats and Paul Hackett's campaign in a Republican district proves it. "Republicans are on notice -- Americans are demanding a change. Americans will no longer tolerate the Republicans' continued abuses of power and catering to corporate special interests at the expense of the public interest.

"Democrats are committed to expanding opportunity, growing prosperity, and increasing security for every American."

http://www.usnewswire.com/

-0-

/© 2005 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/

[MarianJack]

1. Nice Words, Nancy,...

...now lets see if the Demshave the guts to put them into practice!

[snowbear]

2. Kudos to Nancy Pelosi ~~

Nice statement :toast:

[Pirate Smile]

3. With all respect to Nancy, I'm more interested in what Rahm Emanuel

is planning on doing with what they've seen and learned from this Special Election.

[paineinthearse]

5. The DLC can roll over and die

We don't need them, they are like an anchor around the neck.

[Pirate Smile]

8. He is running the DCCC for 2006. How he will use what we've learned

from Hackett's run is what I'm talking about here.

Tonight was great news for Dem's re 2006. House Republican's are going to be very shook up from tonight's race - as they should be.

[Mass]

20. Well, we happen to need him - he is in charge of 06 in the House

But of course, we can also be knee-jerk. Surprising from you though.

[Cocoa]

6. here's the DCCC's statement

http://www.dccc.org/news/hackett+statement.htm

Democrat Upsets GOP Establishment; Comes Within Striking Distance For Seat In ‘Solidly Republican’ District



“Democrats nominated Iraq War veteran Paul Hackett. But the August 2nd general election in this heavily Republican district was expected to be a mere formality.”

-- The Almanac of American Politics, 2006.

Important Facts about the District.

"The most Republican major metropolitan area in the nation over the longest time span has been Cincinnati" --The Almanac of American Politics, 2006.


President Bush beat Senator Kerry here, 64% to 36%. --The Almanac of American Politics, 2006.


In the 1998-2004 elections, former Congressman Rob Portman received over 70% of the vote. --The Almanac of American Politics, 2006.


Out of the 18 districts Ohio districts, OH-02 is one of the three most Republican districts in Ohio, where Bush won overwhelmingly. -- The Almanac of American Politics, 2006.


In the 2005 primaries, 45,000 Republicans voted compared to just 13,800 Democrats. -- CNN Morning Grind, August 2, 2005.


Yet … the NRCC spent over half a million dollars to hold this rock-solid Republican -- FEC Reports.
In nearly the biggest political upset in recent history, Democrat Paul Hackett came within just a few thousand votes of defeating Republican Jean Schmidt in Ohio’s Second Congressional District. This is considered by many to be an early sign of wide spread discontent with the Republican Congress around the country. Just this week, the Almanac of American Politics said that today’s election “in this heavily Republican district was expected to be a mere formality.”

“This election is a shockwave of voter discontent that will be felt all across the country. Tonight we have seen rock solid Republicans say that they have had enough of a Congress that is in the grips of the special interests, roiled by ethics investigations and doing nothing to help solve the pressing challenges facing the middle class,” said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel. “Every Republican in Congress should consider himself put on notice.”

[WCGreen]

7. This puts thing in perspective

[Pirate Smile]

9. True. I wish everyone would realize this.

I was worried I'd be upset and depressed if he lost, even though I knew most likely he would but I'm not - I'm exited and optimistic now for 2006. I wish everyone could be tonight.

But, as the saying goes, some of us see the glass half-full, some half-empty.

I feel hope. Something I've missed since November 2nd. It feels good.

[rexcat]

10. I am upset and depressed...

I live in the district (Warren County) and now we have a total asshole for a congresswoman. Being a Democrat in this area has not been pleasant. In the past 17 years living here I have had only several candidates win.

[snowbear]

12. Ahhh Rexcat...

:hug:

If Major Hackett decides to run for the upcoming '06 U.S. Senate seat, look at the support he already has!! :o

When =ALL= of Ohio is able to cast their votes.. imagine the outcome!

Let's just hope the momentum he's gained will make him hungry for that seat! :)

[WCGreen]

14. Hackett could win the Senate...

He whas proven that he can gather votes in a republican district....

AndI know he would play well up here in the northeast area of the state

[Tigress DEM]

16. How about GOVENOR against BLACKWELL??

GAWD! Wouldn't it be so cool to have a straight talking man in THAT race?

"Listen, Ken, cut the crap. You fixed 2004 and everyone is watching your every move now... and the general consensus I get when I talk to Ohio voters is that they are SICK of you."

[WCGreen]

21. I think we won't have a problem with gov....

But we need someone that the Democratic Senate Committee will back. Adn Hackett is that type of man...

He can beat DeWine.....

[Pirate Smile]

13. Well, 2006 is not far off and considering all the scandals, the Ohio

GOP is primed for an enormous smack down.

Feel sad, give yourself time, and get up and fight again.

:hug:

I'm going to take my perky attitude to bed for the night before I start pissing people off (even more).

edit to add - you might like the comment I posted from Swing State Project at this link. It gives some perspective.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4248174&mesg_id=4248231

[FreedomAngel82]

11. I love this line

<“Every Republican in Congress should consider himself put on notice.> The Hackett campaign has so much to be proud of. I hope he doesn't go back to Iraq but tries again next year. Can he do that? I would love to see his voice in the Congress or Senate. I think he should go to Congress and then Senate of course. But this was a great night. The republicans spent lots of money in a district they've held for so many years so this showed a lot. They knew this would be a good race.

[FreedomAngel82]

4. Yay Nancy!

She's always so classy. Thank you for supporting Mr. Hackett Nancy! She knows the truth. People are tired of this nonsense!

[AuntPatsy]

15. We have a lot of good people fighting for this country, but they

cannot fight this fight alone. More and more I see and hear more leadership qualities coming from many Dems, lets begin to focus on them more intently instead of squauking aimlessly over those that are obviously not of the same calibur.....

We have to remember that their are many trying desperately to right the many wrongs we have been subjected to these past several years, many, not a small few, but they still need a strong base behind them if they ever hope to regain fairness and justice...

We must remember that in many cases, not all is what it seems with the leaders of this party, some are fighting in different ways, such is needed, infiltrators if you must, they are just as needed to win this war to get our country back on more solid footing.

[Tigress DEM]

17. Yes, Yes ... even if it's just an ember of DEM strength - fan that puppy!

There are so many good things the DEMS are doing if you look for them and it's much better to encourage them when they do the right thing.

In fact, I think THOSE letters get passed along to the DEMs because think about it.. if you are an admin with a DEM having a bad day and in all the complaint mail is one that says, "Thank You" wouldn't it be one you'd hand the DEM personally?

I even write to encourage Republicans who don't fall in with the party line and actually seem to vote for their constituent's interests on occassion.

[Tigress DEM]

18. Yes, Yes ... even if it's just an ember of DEM strength - fan that puppy!

There are so many good things the DEMS are doing if you look for them and it's much better to encourage them when they do the right thing.

In fact, I think THOSE letters get passed along to the DEMs because think about it.. if you are an admin with a DEM having a bad day and in all the complaint mail is one that says, "Thank You" wouldn't it be one you'd hand the DEM personally?

I even write to encourage Republicans who don't fall in with the party line and actually seem to vote for their constituent's interests on occassion.

[Tesla]

19. We need a good rep here in the 3rd!!!

There is still use for a nice lawyer here in Dayton!!!
We have a Democrat Mayor!!!
A black woman!
She beat the incumbent!
He has the 3rd district now, we can win !!!

[Tigress DEM]

23. Dayton has a DEM Mayor??!! Well AWESOME!!

:bounce:

[rateyes]

22. I hope everyone remembers that this was a special election...

Hackett can run again in 2006...ought to start right now...every time Schmidt screws up...each time she's mentioned in scandal...keep the pressure on....we can win this seat in little over a year. And, yes, we need to make sure the lawyers are there to keep the thing honest---still not convinced it was this time...seeing as how the power mysteriously went out for a while in Schmidt's home county, and when it came back up---she had pulled considerably ahead of where she was...I'm just sayin'