Ohio: you may have the opportunity to send an Iraq War Veteran to Congress

[BamaLefty]

THIS IS BIG, IMO! Think about having an Iraq war vet on our side in Congress. Very, very powerful!!

E-MAIL:

Paul Hackett knows what's at stake for all Americans.

As a major in the United States Marine Corps, he left his wife and children in Ohio to serve in Iraq. Paul opposed the war from the beginning, but he answered the call to duty and served his commander in chief in Falluja.

Now he needs your help to get to Congress. Last March, President Bush appointed Hackett's Republican congressman to the post of U.S. Trade Representative -- setting up a special election. Paul saw his chance, and decided to run for Congress to combat right-wing extremism here at home.

This race represents a tremendous opportunity and an important first step toward taking back Congress in 2006. The special election is being held on August 2, 2005. This is an election we can win, but Paul Hackett needs your help to do it:

http://www.actblue.com/list/hackett

Hoping to tighten their grip on power in Washington, Republicans have recruited a candidate whose extreme views reflect loyalty to the White House and not to the voters in Ohio. As president of Greater Cincinnati Right to Life, Hackett's opponent is already an active member of the conservative crusade to erode reproductive rights -- as well as a staunch supporter of a state legislative bill encouraging the display of the Ten Commandments in Ohio's public schools.

Unlike Republicans in Washington, Hackett has the experience to bring the war in Iraq to a swift and secure resolution. America needs socially progressive, fiscally responsible leadership -- and that's why we need Paul Hackett in Congress. He supports measures to promote small business growth and sustainable environmental policy. We are proud to add him to the DFA-List.

http://www.democracyforamerica.com/dfa-list.php

By electing Hackett, we can score a victory for progressive values and give Iraq war veterans their first voice in Congress. This is an uphill battle in the heart of Ohio, but it's an election we can win if we give Hackett the resources he needs -- and this election will bring us one step closer to taking our country back in 2006 and 2008.

http://www.actblue.com/list/hackett

Thanks for helping our next generation of leaders succeed.

Sincerely,

Jim Dean

PS: Paul would be the first Iraq War veteran to serve in Congress. And he's a Democrat. Think about the message that would send, and contribute what you can.

http://www.actblue.com/list/hackett

[MeDeMax]

1. kick --- n/t

[BamaLefty]

2. Is Franklin County In The 7th Congressional District?

A Dem stronghold... Kerry won big there.

[MeDeMax]

3. yes, Franklin is chopped up into 7, 12 & 15th districts

Franklin is in the 7th, 12th & 15th districts, see maps below

7th district:




12th district:




15th district:

[Deep13]

4. Max Cleland on Hackett:

Here is a campaign e-mail from Max Cleland, the Vietnam triple-amputee who was somehow not patriotic enough to be in the Senate.

Dear XXXXXX,

Marine Major and Democrat Paul Hackett could be a first for our country -- the first veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom to be elected to Congress. He fought in the Fallujah campaign, took part in reconstruction efforts and worked side-by-side with Iraqi military and civil personnel.

Paul Hackett knows what's really happening in Iraq. And, he's ready to take his experience to Washington. He's running in the August 2nd special election in Ohio's 2nd Congressional District stretching from just outside Cincinnati eastward along the Ohio River.

Paul's campaign has a tough fight against some of the most entrenched special interests in Ohio. His opponent, Jean Schmidt, is a favorite of the corrupt and ever-present Republican establishment -- one that never misses an opportunity to smear and cheat.

Take a look at a day in the life of the two candidates. On the night of October 25, 2004, Jean Schmidt had dinner at an expensive restaurant and partied at a Bengals game in Cincinnati. Her trip, sponsored by a global bio-tech lobbyist, yielded yet another ethics scandal for Ohio Republicans.

That same evening, Paul and his men were keeping insurgents' supplies from entering war-torn Falluja. They ate the standard-issue MRE and fought to defend Iraqi civilians and their fellow troops.

At the end of the day, the choice for voters couldn't be clearer. In Jean Schmidt, they have the hand-picked choice of the backslapping insiders who sell the process to the highest-bidding right-wing group or corporate interest.

In Paul Hackett, voters have someone with first-hand experience in uniform and the drive to solve problems and put us on the right track. He proudly served his country in Iraq, and he's ready to serve in Washington.

So, take a moment and read the article about Paul Hackett below. Tell your friends, family and neighbors about what's happening in Ohio's 2nd District because it's a preview of what's to come next year -- real leaders stepping up to serve at a time of abuse of power and corruption in government.

[Demrock6]

5. You got a Minnesota Dem helping out!!!

I spread the word about Paul Hackett, kicked him some cash, and got 1 other "that I know of anyway" to help him out as well.

Paul is running for Ohio 2nd district, in the south. A GOP stronghold.


Has anybody found any poll numbers? I cant find any with google. If you see some numbers between Hackett and Schmidt let me know. PM me as I dint come to the Ohio thread to often.

This would be a great victory as a Dem has not won there in 15+ years or so. Well I think I read that somewhere.

[MeDeMax]

6. you got it partner !

I am in northern Ohio but watching the race closely, 2nd district hasn't seen a DEM in decades. I posted more info on this DU thread.

You can listen to him live on streaming audio today, check the calendar info on this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1944565

and Great work !

[existentialist]

14. Hackett race numbers

The story I read today said that Hackett, with limited funds for the campaign, had decided not to spend any money on polling, that Schmidt was spending money on polling, but was not releasing the results publicly.

I heard no mention of any independent polls.

I also read that the Republicans hadn't lost in that area for 35 years, but that they clearly considered this race to be close.

[Carla in Ca]

7. I just read about this on DailyKos

OH-02 R Schmidt has accepted $10,000 from DeLay's PAC. Has that been reported? Can Hackett use this against her?

OH-02: Schmidt Gobbles Up DeLay Cash
something colossally and unnecessarily stupid is simply stunning to behold.

Jean Schmidt is the Republican candidate hoping to fill the vacant seat in Ohio's second congressional district. (A special election is being held on Tuesday, August 2nd.) Ohio's GOP, as you may know, has been mired in endless corruption of late, particularly the already-infamous Coingate scandal. Meanwhile, Tom DeLay, of course, is the poster-child for thuggish modern-day Republican crookery. About him, nothing more need be said. But did we mention that Bush's approval rating in the state is a nifty 40-57?

You'd think with all that baggage that an up-and-coming Republican congressional candidate would want to distance him or herself from the morass, to showcase a new, clean Ohio GOP. Fortunately, you'd be wrong.

Turns out that Ms. Schmidt just accepted a whopping ten grand from Tom DeLay's radioactive ARMPAC. This ain't some long-ago contribution - DeLay stuffed Schmidt's coffers late last month. And yeah, you're remembering correctly: This is the same ARMPAC named in a felony money-laundering indictment and tied up in the seemingly endless DeLay/Abramoff web of scum.

I say good for Schmidt! She's showing us the GOP's true (and unchanging) colors. She's also showing us that even in one of the most conservative districts in the nation, she's afraid enough of her opponent, Iraq war vet Paul Hackett, that she has to take 10 large in DeLay's toxic blood money. Like the last one, Hackett's next ad just writes itself.

<http://www.dailykos.com/>

[MeDeMax]

10. no luck at DailyKos, but I found this

I couldn't locate the article in DailyKos but I found this piece in the Cincinnati Enquirer (most leading newspaper from the area).

"Schmidt chips in another $20K for home stretch"

"GOP candidate has raised $406K more than Hackett so far"

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050722/NEWS01/507220384/1056

<...>

Reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show that Schmidt raised more than $620,000 as of Thursday, including nearly $220,000 of her own money. She had already spent $411,000.

<...>

According to Schmidt's report, her cash is coming from what looks like a "Who's Who" of Washington and Cincinnati.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois; Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas; the National Republican Congressional Committee chairman, Tom Reynolds of New York; and Rep. John Boehner of West Chester Township each gave Schmidt $10,000 through their political action committees. Rep. Steve Chabot of Westwood gave $1,000.

Paul needs more help, A LOT more help.

[lizzieforkerry]

8. This is the county that wouldn't allow the press in to see the ballot

counting because of a bogus Homeland Security threat. If we can elect a Democrat, Repubs here will most likely explode in the streets.

[MeDeMax]

9. you are partially correct

that was the infamous warren county, it is one of 7 counties in this district, see map of 2nd district below:



Hamilton county is probably the most democratically inclined among the 7 counties in this district.

[lizzieforkerry]

11. Yes, living here, I realize that there are several counties

that make up the 2nd district. I was trying to make the point that this is a very republican area. The part of Warren County that he will represent is very heavily populated with the majority of Homearama neighborhoods. The fact that he has a chance in an area that includes this cesspool shows that he is a good candidate. If we can elect him it would send a message to all of these repubs around here that don't think they have to follow the rules. The repubs that think they can lie to the public and not have anyone say a word about it. Of all the races this summer I think people here on DU would be interested in sending money to a candidate that is running in Warren County. A county that a large number of us followed closely after the election. This is a chance for some of us to get our revenge.

[MeDeMax]

12. I couldn't agree more your highness

your point is 110% on the bullseye :-)

[MeDeMax]

13. hoping DEMS & DUers will call Radio Stations

during talk shows and put in a plug for Hackett, in the coming few days leading up to the election.