Bloggers supporting Sherrod Brown for Senate

[Algorem]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051021/NEWS01/510210419/1056

Blogs no longer all-Hackett after Brown gets into race

DAVID HAMMER

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - ...

But popular Democratic Rep. Sherrod Brown has since forced a primary, and Hackett no longer has sole command of a blogosphere that carried him from Marine patrols in Fallujah to the brink of a key U.S. House victory in a matter of months...

Brown initially announced he wouldn't run for Senate, and bloggers and Democratic Senate leaders alike stood squarely behind Hackett. But then, two weeks ago, Brown reconsidered. Since then, several leading Democratic bloggers have asked Hackett to step aside for a man with 30 years in public office and $2.1 million in his campaign war chest...

"The blogs were here for Hackett, and here for me," Brown told The Associated Press, holding his hand high for Hackett's support level and then lowering it for his own. "Now, they're even and that was the only place he had any advantage before."..

Some of the heaviest hitters in the world of liberal blogging, including DailyKos.com's Markos Moulitsas Zuniga and MyDD.com's Jerome Armstrong, have urged Hackett to step aside. In addition, Armstrong and SwingStateProject.com's Tim Tagaris are on Brown's campaign payroll...

[Kolesar]

1. So an out-of-state Army vet is telling Ohio Dems what to do

I like Markos and I think his site is tops. But I don't think blogs have it "all" figured out. If they had a dynamite Kerry/Edwards result to show for their efforts, I would go with them. But I don't think Markos & My DD know any better than those of us who do retail politics with our feet on the ground and our noses at our neighbors' front door.
Good morning everybody! :rant:

[ripzaw]

2. As long as they keep it clean between themselves...

In general, I think Paul Hackett is a pretty neat guy. I'm pretty fond of Sherrod Brown too. The primary between these two could be a good thing, if it gives Hackett a chance to show his chops and Brown a change to prove his widespread appeal. It will, however, definitely not be a good thing if they lay into each other and leave themselves exhausted for the general. That's where we come in. Candidates look at the blogosphere like a piggy bank? Fine. If Hackett and Brown don't keep this primary clean, then no piggy bank for you!

The petition is at http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/hackettbrown/

The text follows:

Whereas: The Democratic Party needs to make the defeat of Republicans their top priority

Whereas: Both Paul Hackett and Sherrod Brown would make outstanding candidates top oppose Mike DeWine for Ohio's Senate seat in 2006

Whereas: The Democratic Party is prone to "circular firing squad" tactics

Whereas: A messy primary not only could cripple the winner going into the general, but would show a lack of good faith on the part of the participants

Whereas: 2006 also offers a tremendous number of other critical Democratic pickup opportunities

Whereas: The resources of Democratic activists are limited

The undersigned request that Paul Hackett and Sherrod Brown run a clean primary campaign free of attacks levelled at each other. Furthermore, the undersigned resolve only to donate tiem or money to either candidate pending the conclusion of a clean, attack-free primary. If either Mr. Brown or Mr. Hackett turn to negative attacks against the other, the undersigned pledge to withhold any financial support from the attacking candidate.

[OhioBlue]

3. I don't like the tactics that the

Brown camp seems to be using to STATE that the blogs are turning their way - using paid consultants that act as if it is their own opinion... it is just feeling like a strong arm tactic that the Bush WH has been using..... I am not saying that Sherrod Brown is anything like Bush, but I really think his consultants and campaign people need to rethink their approach. The Primary isn't until May and they are not conducting themselves in a way that I would expect Sherrod Brown to condone. I wanted him to be a leader to help create a wave of success for Dem candidates in Ohio. I'm not getting that impression at all - but a self serving campaign. I am disappointed in the way he went about his decision. If I continue to have the feeling that they are using strong-arm tactics to STATE things that aren't true, I'm not sure how much support for him I will have even if he wins the Primary. My vote - most likely, my volunteerism or even word of mouth advocacy - probably not.

[OzarkDem]

4. Hope Sherrod keeps it in check

An ugly primary race won't convince Ohio voters to support Dem candidates.

Let's hope the winning candidate attacks Repubs with equal fervor.

[Schmajo]

5. Getting Hackett to Back Out

I suspect that the Brown campaign has tried to start fast out of the blocks to convince Hackett to drop out of the Senate race and focus on something else, e.g., the General Assembly. Since he has statewide name recognition, Sherrod would benefit only marginally from a primary battle (whether dirty or clean).

[mtnester]

7. Sherrod who?

eom

[Algorem]

8. .

[Schmajo]

9. Well, mostly state-wide recognition

[WCGreen]

10. HACKETT WHO????

I guess you aren't all that familiar with Ohio Politics....

[mtnester]

11. You would be wrong about that.

I am repeating what regular sheep are saying in the coffee houses and restaurants of this area, not myself. I know exactly who Sherrod Brown is.

I will also state the Ohio Repubs were DELIGHTED, nay DELIRIOUS, to hear Sherrod Brown has entered the race...what does that tell you?

[WCGreen]

12. My sources up here in Cleveland, and I am fairly

well connected with the democratic party and have many friends who are elected Republicans, tell me that Sherrod Brown is running for any number of reasons...

First, with the failed business of Jeffry Armbruster, the state senator who takes in most of Sherrods district, takes out the person that the GOP wanted top run against Brown...

Second, now with Brown running for Senate, the GOP is scratching for a candidate....

Third, Tom Sawyer, a former Democratic Congressman who was redistricted out of his seat in 2002, is the likely winner in 2006.

Brown is a known progressive, a man who has fought hard for the democratic party and has always always voted progressively....

Brown has run and won state wide before... He has contacts in every county in the state...

Hackett, not so much...

[VolcanoJen]

6. This is such utter crap, and par for the course, coming from the Enquirer.

Bloggers aren't supporting Sherrod Brown.

They're running Sherrod Brown's paid ads. Even this site, our beloved DU, has run the ad... but changed the title text to read "Paid Advertisement" so as not to mislead readers into thinking DU is throwing its support behind Brown.

For Brown's camp to make this move on the blogs, and spend this kind of money at the absolute beginning of the primary race, shows he's worried about Hackett getting the blog support.

So, the way I read it? Brown's buying blogger love. He's purchasing it.

[safi0]

13. Hackett's support

In the blogosphere easily dwarfs Brown's. Hackett opened his site about 2.5 days ago. This is how much money he's raised via the netroots:

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

[Kukesa]

14. $6,800 in 2.5 days? Sounds good to me. nt/

[safi0]

16. 8360 in about three days

[Kukesa]

17. Sounds even better; netroots is what it's all about.

Link here:

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

[safi0]

19. He's surpassed 10 thousand

[WyLoochka]

15. From Sirota - the guy who helped

get a true progressive into the Montana statehouse:

What Should Progressives Demand From Candidates - Sizzle or Substance?

<snip>

"The debate, while seemingly confined to one state, actually brings up a fundamental question for all progressives: are we going to reward with support our ideological heroes - the people who have fought the lonely, unglamorous, unsexy fights over the years for our cause? Or are we going to abandon these fighters for flavor-of-the-week candidates whose image/profile looks great at the moment, but whose position on issues we know little - if anything - about? And if we abandon the people like Brown who have gone to bat for us over the long haul, what message do we send to all of our other allies in terms of what they can expect in return for sticking their necks out and taking the tough votes?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/what-should-progressives-_b_9454.html

[femrap]

21. How would truly Progressive Democrats look at

Brown's record? Doesn't he stack up as the 'real' thing? Or am I wrong...if so, show me where his Votes have been pug lite.

Now Hackett on the other hand. From hearing him speak twice, I would say he represents very much a Libertarian platform...not a Democratic one by any means. I was also under the impression that he was a Reagan Democrat...I am not too fond of those...I think they have morphed into pug lites.

I don't understand why Hackett doesn't want to run against Mean Jean again. I would think he would be a shoe-in for the 2nd District...especially with all the corruption that has come to light in the state and nationally since the Special Election.

And another thing that has bothered me about Hackett....he didn't ask for a Recount in Clermont Cty. where the voting machines experienced 'humidity' problems and were down for a couple of hours. That BOE is crooked...the recount for the Presidential Election in Clermont was AWFUL...stickers were found on ballots covering Kerry's name, as well as absolutely NO cooperation from the staff. The candidate has to request a Recount...we as voters could not. Instead he went off on vacation.

I think because he did well against Mean Jean, he put his sights and ego on bigger and better races.

This is my 'gut' feel about Hackett...he is into the politics for the power, prestige and money. I NEVER got the impression that he wanted to serve Ohioans...to help them deal with the state's massive decline. He just came off to me as extremely self-absorbed and unwilling to listen because he was the one who was right. He has bully tendencies.

Milford city council to US Senator....makes me nervous. Liked Reagan....really makes me nervous. When does Ohio get A REAL DEMOCRAT FOR SENATOR? I guess a libertarian is better than a pug....but I think Brown is better qualified as a Democrat.

And just one last thing that I have noticed...it seems that SW Ohio is rather provincial....the residents like Hackett for the simple reason that he is FROM here. They don't like the 'Northern' candidate. Something similar to the N. and S. California phenmenon. I would hope voters would educate themselves on the candidates FIRST before backing a guy because he's a local.

My 2 cents...

[OzarkDem]

18. Looks like its all working out ok

Both are good candidates, wish there were two Senate seats open. That said, Sherrod has never been a negative campaigner and, as a loyal Dem, it would be very out of character for him to go negative in a primary race. Its just not his style.

[VolcanoJen]

20. So, Kos calls Hackett supporters "The Hackett Fedayeen"???

Speaking of bloggers supporting Sherrod Brown, I guess Markos has made it clear which side he's on.

I haven't spent much time over at Kos, although I'm pleased he included Paul Hackett in his "Fighting Dem" feature, but this is beyond insulting.

Kos makes it clear that he knows little or nothing about Ohio politics.

You are right (4.00 / 2)

There is no contradiction.

Personal preferences versus pragmatism. If I had a choice, I'd choose Hackett. Heck, I'm having him on my Fighting Dems segment on Air America this Tuesday.

But really, Hackett has no chance against Brown. Another run at OH-02, forcing the GOP to spend money defending what should be a safe seat, could pay double dividends -- giving us a chance to take the seat and stretching the GOP in the House picture even thinner.

But alas, the Hackett Fedayeen have to rely on lame "flip flop" accusations to try and score points. And the worst of it is they think this is helping their candidate.

by kos on Sun Oct 23, 2005 at 06:33:34 PM EDT
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