Democratic establishment uses its influence to promote a true progressive

[Cocoa]

that's the way I see it.

Assuming everything is true about pressure from dem leadership for Hackett to drop out, which may or may not be true, I see it as a positive.

Here's how I look at the choice Hackett vs. Brown. Hackett is a dynamic, promising centrist whose appeal came from using strong rhetoric, and from his status as an Iraq veteran, and from his potential appeal to swing voters or even republicans, and who has a strong following on the Internet. Brown is a solid democrat with a career devoted to progressive causes, showing leadership on labor issues. He's kind of obscure, and not very exciting, and easily painted as a liberal in the general election, but he stands for exactly what I think a democrat should stand for.

For me it's a no-brainer. Part of the role of the party leadership is to exercise influence within the party, and if they did it in this case I'm all for it.

[IndianaGreen]

1. Like they did in Iowa in 2004?

Yep, I get your drift alright!

[guruoo]

20. DLC to Hackett grassroots: Happy Valentine!

[RandomKoolzip]

2. In simple terms: Brown's boring, Hackett isn't.

Both guys are/were good candidates, but Hackett is/was likely to say more interesting things; that's why we like(d) him so much.

[Douglas Carpenter]

33. Hackett has charisma -- but I still support a progressive over a centrist

Brown Tops DeWine in New Poll
An Opinion Consultants poll finds Ohio voters favor Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for the U.S. Senate over incumbent Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH), 43% to 38%

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2006/01/26/brown_tops_dewine_in_new_poll.html

Sherrod Brown is endorsed by PDA (Progressive Democrats of America) and is an outspoken member of the Progressive Caucus.

Representative Brown is at least as liberal as Sen. Kennedy or Sen. Feingold

courtesy of vote smart - link:

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=H3141103&type=category&category=Foreign%2BAid%2Band%2BPolicy%2BIssues&go.x=12&go.y=8


2006 In 2006 Citizens for Global Solutions gave Representative Brown a rating of A.

2005 In 2005 Citizens for Global Solutions gave Representative Brown a rating of A.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Council on American-Islamic Relations 100 percent in 2005.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation 100 percent in 2004.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA) 100 percent in 2004.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Peace Action 100 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 84 percent in 2003-2004.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 96 percent in 2005.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Arab American Institute 50 percent in 2004.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the National Council of La Raza 100 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Human Rights Campaign 77 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 90 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the National Education Association 89 percent in 2003-2004.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers 100 percent in 2005.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 100 percent in 2005.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the United Auto Workers 93 percent in 2005.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the American Postal Workers Union 100 percent in 2004.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 100 percent in 2004.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the United Auto Workers 93 percent in 2004.

2004 On the votes that the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers considered to be the most important in 2004, Representative Brown voted their preferred position 88 percent of the time.

2004 On the votes that the Service Employees International Union considered to be the most important in 2004, Representative Brown voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Communications Workers of America 100 percent in 2004.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers 100 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 On the votes that the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers considered to be the most important in 2003-2004, Representative Brown voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 95 percent in 2004.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the American Wilderness Coalition 100 percent in 2005.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund 100 percent in 2005.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the American Wilderness Coalition 100 percent in 2004.

2004 On the votes that the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance considered to be the most important in 2004, Representative Brown voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund 100 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters 94 percent in 2003-2004.

2004 In 2004 National Organization for Women endorsed Representative Brown.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2005.

[atreides1]

3. Part of their role is to exercise influence within the party

Now all they have to do is play the role of a real opposition party in Congress, and we'll have a whole party!!!

[IndianaGreen]

7. They did this to Dean in Iowa in 2004

I am not about to endorse the actions of weenie Democrats that only act tough against other Democrats.

[LincolnMcGrath]

27. I don't understand the Iowa comments.

In my precinct the Dean folks that promised to show never did. (Caucus Night) The Kerry and Edwards teams went for long term, established Democratic Party activists.

[IA_Seth]

31. Hallelujah brother!

I am sick of repeating it, but Dean's failure in Iowa had everything to do with WHO his SUPPORTERS were, not some massive conspiracy.

In my area, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, the Dean supporters were out of staters who failed to connect to the public. Kerry had unions supporting him and canvassing neighborhoods. Kerry had locals tied to him personally and to his campaign. Local activists knocking on doors and talking to their neighbors negated all of Deans momentum and then some.

The fact that Dean's supporters weren't local didn't make him a bad guy. I was always amazed he had so many people willing to come to Iowa to help...but he should have relied more on local grassroots to get his name and agenda out there, and less on out of staters.

[redqueen]

4. I'm not in Ohio so I don't have a dog in this fight.

However, the way this was handled was ugly ugly ugly.

I still don't see what makes the story one of national interest.

[mdmc]

24. same boat here

shitty politics...by our big wig within the party... This was Chuck Schuemer's call, and he did a shitty job. If we win both the senate and the house seat in question, then all things (should) be forgiven.

[sui generis]

5. so where were they for Zell Miller?

part of the role of the primary campaign is to let us little constituents decide for ourselves without having some party authoritarian tell us who to vote for.

I call foul. Hackett should run as an independent then.

[Dhalgren]

8. That's my biggest problem with this. Why wasn't the primary

election used to decide who the Democratic candidate would be in the run against the Republican in the fall? It might be different if the Democratic "leadership" were a group of real opposition pols, but too many of them seem to be too afraid of rocking the boat. So, when they use backroom tactics to quash a candidate before the primaries, it makes anyone with a brain think the worse...

[tsuki]

21. Because the club is closed.

[SteppingRazor]

6. I agree Brown is a better candidate, BUT...

that's the very reason I wanted him to sit this one out. I wanted Hackett to run against DeWine while Hackett's star was still on the rise, then save the career politician, whose name will be just as recognizable four years down the road, to run against Voinovich in 2010.

But, what the hell. I think my way of thinking is more long-term, but I could be missing something.

[Cocoa]

9. kick

[SaveElmer]

10. If Hackett couldn't stand up to Reid and Schumer...

How was he gonna stand up to the Republican sleaze machine? I like Paul Hackett, but he is a political novice...Sherrod Brown is an experienced well liked, popular progressive condidate, who I think is going to win that race. It's the DSCC's job to recruit and support candidates who it believes will win. They backed the right horse in this case.

[bklyncowgirl]

11. Sorry, this was ugly and makes the party look dumb.

I'm not an Ohioan so I don't get to vote in this race, but it seems to me that the way this was done makes the party leadership look like Inspector Clouseau channeling Machiavelli.

Here's Reid and Schumer encouraging the hot young war veteran to run for Senate but then the hot young war veteran says a few things that ruffle their feathers and they decide to back old tried and true seasoned (if somewhat boring) old warhorse instead.

We also have this bit with a Democratic party operative going around claiming the hot young war veteran is a war criminal while Reid and Schumer are calling Hacketts donors telling them to save thier money.

Why are Democrats capable of using the most vile dirty tricks against other Democrats--and so totally inept when it comes to dealing with Republicans?

In the meantime DNC Chairman Howard Dean, who's probably having flashbacks to Iowa issues a rather odd statement which boils down to both scolding the DSCC for perpetrating an unsanctioned hit--and admitting that there's not much he can do to stop them. DFA head Jim Dean goes a bit further than his brother in a splendid rant on the DFA blog.

Why are the Democrats doing this now while the Republicans are in meltdown mode over Abramoff, the Vice President just shot a guy in the fucking face and even the Republicans admit that the President botched Hurricane Katrina so bad that even they couldn't cover the stink.

You just can't make this stuff up.

[IndianaGreen]

12. The irony is that Hackett polled better than Brown against DeWine

Ohio Senate: Tight Race

DeWine Now Narrowly Leading over Hackett, Brown

January 7, 2006--Ohio Senator Mike DeWine has eked out a narrow lead over both potential Democratic opponents in his re-election effort, but the race remains hotly competitive.

The Republican incumbent enjoys an edge of 43% to 39% over Cincinnati-area lawyer Paul Hackett, and 45% to 40% over Congressman Sherrod Brown. Rasmussen Reports polling in mid-November and early December showed DeWine neck and neck with both contenders. Hackett then led DeWine by a single percentage point, while Brown trailed him by just two. The margin of sampling error in each of the polls is +/- 4.5 points.

Brown and Hackett appeal to many of the same constituencies, and especially those who think the President is doing a poor job in Iraq. In prospective contests with DeWine, Brown wins the support of 77% of those who believe President Bush is doing a poor job waging the war; Hackett wins 78%.

Hackett has had to cope with on-again, off-again support from Democratic party leaders. Brown had initially decided to abstain from a Senate run but then threw his hat in the ring after all. Hackett, who drew national attention for a narrowly lost bid for Congress against Jean Schmidt, insists he'll remain in the race regardless of any pressure from fellow Democrats to cede the field to the more politically experienced Brown.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/January%202006/Ohio%20Senator%20January%204.htm

[Cocoa]

13. no surprise

Hackett is flashier. He's a war vet. He says things that get noticed.

Brown does boring things like leading the fight against CAFTA.

[incapsulated]

14. "Flashier"?

Flash didn't get him from less than a percentage point from taking a district that had been solid republican for decades.

That is a rare gift for a democrat and something that Brown has never demonstrated he can achieve. Unfortunately for the un-liberal state of Ohio, he is going to be the only choice against a republican in a state wide race. I would have put my money on "flashy centrist" Hackett in that race.

[Cocoa]

15. the dem establishment seemed to favor the sturdy dem over the flashy

centrist. In the case of this senate race.

In other races they have decided to go with people like Casey in PA. I can understand that, too. In PA they think a pro-life canidate like Casey is the best bet against Santorum, probably for the reasons you say about electibility.

The fact that they think a true progressive has a shot in Ohio, and they're going for it, and not choosing the safer candidate, is something I find extremely exciting, as a progressive.

[incapsulated]

17. Frankly, I see no evidence that the DCCC or the party machinery

Has any interest in Brown's politics. He is the insider and it's "his turn". Hackett is an outsider, one who they can't control, and someone who they have never demonstrated any appreciation for other than to encourage him to run when they thought Brown wasn't interested. They have slammed down on progressives, too, who don't serve their purposes. And their record of losing self-evident. I want to win. I want fresh blood encouraged in the party. I want grassroots candidates supported. I want an end to "business as usual" because it's getting us nowhere and we are really running out of time. This upcoming election is critical. It is ripe for the taking. This was an incredibly stupid move. Ohio democrats deserved to have their choice and their vote. Instead it was chosen for them.

[eridani]

23. Pennacchio is still in the Pennsylvania race

He has not let the party establishment's favoritism toward Casey push him out. Same with Cegelis vs. Duckworth in Illinois. Hackett had the same option, and chose not to take it. And don't tell me that DSCC anc DCCC are not discouraging people from backing Pennacchio or Cegelis.

[bklyncowgirl]

28. Flashy can be good. This is a race. You want a thoroughbred or a nag?

It's sort of like having a choice between riding Secretariat or a less talented but thoroughly reliable plodder in the big race. Secretariat has the ability blow the doors off the starting gate and romp home by a mile but there's a chance he could do something unpredictable and blow it.

The plodder will get you safely to the finish line but whether he gets you there first will depend largely on whether the other horses and jockeys screw up.

If you're a gambler and confident in your riding skills you'll go with the brilliant horse even though he might be more difficult to handle. If you're the timid sort you'll go with the plodder because at least you'll arrive at the end in one piece.

It's pretty clear that the party bosses are the timid sorts. As for me, it seems that the voters in Ohio should have been the ones to choose whether they want to put their money on Secretariat or Old Brownie.

[Cocoa]

30. flashy is good, but substance is better

the dems went with substance.

And Brown can be flashy. Did you see his confrontation with Colin Powell? Powell lost his cool, it was a beautiful thing.

[sandnsea]

16. They wanted him to run for the House

Not exactly kicking someone to the curb. Anybody want to kick me like that, here's my hiney:

[incapsulated]

18. *After* they encouraged him to run for the Senate

And changed horses midstream and then told him to get out. He won't do it because he won't go back on his word to the three people already running for the House seat. I admire his integrity. Too bad you can't see it.

[sandnsea]

19. Ooh, yeah, kick me to the curb like that

Sorry. This is the most childish bunch of shit I've seen in a long time. They should have let Paul Hackett run, for alot of reasons. But I fully understand the purpose of the DSCC and they'd be irresponsible not to try to get the people in place and ready to run for November. Six of one, half dozen of the other, alot of people are saying Hackett wouldn't have won the primary anyway, so what's the difference if Hackett recognized it and pulled himself out now.

[Douglas Carpenter]

22. for me I support a Progressive over a Centrist -- I 'm amazed that the

DC boys just happened to agree this time around on this particular race.

Brown Tops DeWine in New Poll
An Opinion Consultants poll finds Ohio voters favor Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for the U.S. Senate over incumbent Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH), 43% to 38%

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2006/01/26/brown_tops_dewine_in_new_poll.html

Sherrod Brown is endorsed by PDA (Progressive Democrats of America) and is an outspoken member of the Progressive Caucus.

Representative Brown is at least as liberal as Sen. Kennedy or Sen. Feingold

courtesy of vote smart - link:

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=H3141103&type=category&category=Foreign%2BAid%2Band%2BPolicy%2BIssues&go.x=12&go.y=8


2006 In 2006 Citizens for Global Solutions gave Representative Brown a rating of A.

2005 In 2005 Citizens for Global Solutions gave Representative Brown a rating of A.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Council on American-Islamic Relations 100 percent in 2005.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation 100 percent in 2004.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA) 100 percent in 2004.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Peace Action 100 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 84 percent in 2003-2004.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 96 percent in 2005.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Arab American Institute 50 percent in 2004.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the National Council of La Raza 100 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Human Rights Campaign 77 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 90 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the National Education Association 89 percent in 2003-2004.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers 100 percent in 2005.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Service Employees International Union 100 percent in 2005.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the United Auto Workers 93 percent in 2005.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the American Postal Workers Union 100 percent in 2004.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 100 percent in 2004.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the United Auto Workers 93 percent in 2004.

2004 On the votes that the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers considered to be the most important in 2004, Representative Brown voted their preferred position 88 percent of the time.

2004 On the votes that the Service Employees International Union considered to be the most important in 2004, Representative Brown voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Communications Workers of America 100 percent in 2004.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers 100 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 On the votes that the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers considered to be the most important in 2003-2004, Representative Brown voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 95 percent in 2004.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the American Wilderness Coalition 100 percent in 2005.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund 100 percent in 2005.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the American Wilderness Coalition 100 percent in 2004.

2004 On the votes that the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance considered to be the most important in 2004, Representative Brown voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.

2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund 100 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Representative Brown supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters 94 percent in 2003-2004.

2004 In 2004 National Organization for Women endorsed Representative Brown.

2005 Representative Brown supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2005.

[xchrom]

25. primaries are for letting the people choose.

and that's what should have happened.

[LincolnMcGrath]

26. Hackett vs. Brown should have been settled at the primary

[MrBenchley]

29. What I find funniest....

Is that for months now we've been told that "we" have to have a purge of the Democratic party to purify it of all but the furthest left wing "progressive" folks.

And now here's PDA-endorsed Sherrod Brown, running against Paul "Deport 'em all" Hackett, a blowhard whose position on issues like immigration and guns is pretty much the same as racist Tom Tancredo or Virgil Goode.

Hackett quits because his campaign fails, and lashes out at everybody else in a fit of Nixonian self-pity.

And the people who've been telling us "we" have to have a purge imagine they've got the purge they've been screaming for, and are foaming with rage about the DLC (who have nothing to do with any of this).

More fun than the zoo.....

[sendero]

32. Jesus..

... there are sure a lot of guilty consciences around here.

Give it a rest. Nobody but a drooling moron thinks that Brown's "liberal credentials" had JACK SHIT to do with why he was the annointed one.

Look around, how many times does a true progressive get any help from the establishment?

I'll tell you what the difference was - THEY DON'T WANT MAVERICKS LIKE HACKETT MESSING UP THEIR CAREFULLY ORCHESTRATED DO-NOTHING DANCE.

[MrBenchley]

34. Guilty consciences? That IS rich....

Hackett QUIT, and blamed everyone else for his failure. All else is bullshit. And preposterous bullshit at that.