Democract, Iraqi War Vet Paul Hackett Runs Tough Race In Ohio
Special election in Ohio today. Paul Hackett is a Democrat running against Republican Jean Schmidt in Ohio's 2nd Congressional District, which has been held by Republicans for three decades. Hackett is also "a Marine Reservist and an Iraq war veteran who opposed the war before the U.S. invasion and remains a harsh critic of President Bush's policy there."
Hackett told USA Today that Bush's taunting line, "Bring em on!" was "the most incredibly stupid comment I've ever heard a President of the United States make." He also told the newspaper that, while he was willing to put his life on the line for the President, "I've said that I don't like the son-of-a-[expletive] that lives in the White House."
Both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee have bought TV time for commercials over the weekend. "He called the commander in chief a son-of-a-[expletive]," said NRCC spokesman Carl Forti. "We decided to bury him."
Hackett, hoping to capitalize on the widespread disarray in the scandal-plagued Ohio GOP, remains unapologetic about his characterization of the President. "I said it. I meant it. I stand by it," he said in a phone interview. "In this district, we need more straight-talking, straight-shooting politicians."
It's refreshing to see a Democrat who is unafraid to talk tough.
"All the chicken hawks back here who said, 'Oh, Iraq is talking bad about us. They're going to threaten us' -- look, if you really believe that, you leave your wife and three kids and go sign up for the Army or Marines and go over there and fight. Otherwise, shut your mouth."
Let's just hope that all the votes are counted this time and there aren't any
security lockdowns in Warren County.
