Reply #244: I don't find the comparison valid

[sunnystarr]

Wellstone:

In 1965 he earned his B.A., and four years later was awarded a Ph.D. in Political Science. Wellstone's 1969 doctoral dissertation at UNC was "Black Militants in the Ghetto: Why They Believe in Violence."

During the 1970s, he became involved in community organizing, working with the working poor and other politically disenfranchised communities. The first organization he founded was the Organization for a Better Rice County, a group consisting mainly of single parents on welfare, which he organized to advocate for public housing, affordable health care, improved public education, free school lunches, and a publicly-funded day care center. During this same period, he also began organizing with union members, farmers, and liberal activists. Later, he would use these connections in his bid for the Senate.

He went on to become a professor of political science at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he taught for 21 years until 1990. In 1982, he ran for state auditor, but lost to Arne Carlson. In 1988, he was the Minnesota campaign manager for Jesse Jackson's Presidential campaign.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wellstone

Hackett:

Hackett was elected to the city council of Milford, Ohio, a city in Clermont and Hamilton Counties, in 1995 to replace Chris Imbus, who was recalled from office by a vote of 410 to 86. In the recall election on May 2, he defeated businessman Jacques E. Smith by a vote of 388 to 81. On the Milford council, he opposed efforts to rezone a parcel of land in order to retain the Milford post office within the city limits. He resigned from the council in September 1998 to devote more time to his family and his law practice and was replaced on the council by James Gradolf.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Hackett

Of course they both share the same first name. However, notice that Hackett didn't finish his term on the city council and the reason given sounds a bit lame. It's that willingness to leave it when things don't go his way that disturbs me. Very little in politics goes the way a politician wants. So while he rates an 11 on the Hunk scale, has a great delivery, and says what I like, what he doesn't do is demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the people in his district or state. He's just too willing to throw in the towel and get back to making the big bucks. Wellstone on the other hand knew where he was going and only death stopped him from getting there.