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Wednesday, July 27, 2005
OH-2: Swift Boating of Hackett Into High Gear
Posted by Tim TagarisEric Minameyer, an advisor to Jean Schmidt, was just the beginning of the "swift boating" of Paul Hackett in what appears to be a coordinated effort by her campaign. Upon arriving at Hackett HQ this morning to take some photos and videos, I was shocked to hear that the deplorable tactics have been taken to a new level in the past 24 hours.
1.) A local conservaitve radio host started by questioning Paul Hackett's service to country. Scott Sloan of WLW 700 AM in Cincinnati went off on some insane rant about the real level Paul's patriotism regarding the war in Iraq and claimed Hackett was using his service for "political purposes."
Over the past two days, Republicans have been calling into talk radio across the district saying things like, "Paul wasn't really a Marine Corps Major in Iraq." It's a coordinated effort, as I am hearing from people that similar lines are being repeated and repeated by radio callers in and out of the district.
2.) The "swift boating" is picking up steam, and we have to fight back. I sat no less than five feet away from a reporter from a cable news outlet that asked, "Some say that this was all a plan on your part. To go to Iraq and come back with this great story while running for congress."
Less than 30 minutes ago, a reporter from CBS asked about Eric Minameyer's question, and yes, questioned Paul's service to his country.
3.) A few days ago, an Amry Private First Class was burried in Fairfield, Ohio. Within 24 hours, a number of flags were burned and tossed into a pile infront of his mother and father-in law's home. As you can imagine, this incident has led to a lot of press and sadness for the family.
The same host above, Scott Sloan, attempted to tie Paul Hackett to the flag burning incident. He said that it was people like Paul Hackett that allow things like this to happen.
3.) Last night, a number of people in the district began receiving robo-calls talking shit (for lack of a better word) about Paul Hackett. Of course, they hit on the standard themes, choice, equal rights, and yes, Iraq.
4.) Earlier today, the police had to be called at campaign HQ as a strange individual pulled up to the office, kept the car in park, and started plugging away at a lap-top. When people walked out of HQ to investigate, the car pulled off quickly. The police have been notified.
One local said, "this really reminds me of what was happening last October. It got real ugly down here before the election.
Sound familiar...
Action Items in the extended entry:
1.) Contribute to Paul Hackett
2.) Write or Call
--We'll steal from the Ohio GOP Website on this one.
1.) Link for letters
2.) Link for Call-In
3.) Zip Code: 445202
Specific Shows:
55KRC - Cincy
Morning Show with Jerry Thomas and Craig Kopp
5am-9am 513 749 5800
700 AM (We need these flooded Now till Election Day--All Hackett, all the time)
(513)749-7000
Jim Scott - Weekdays, 5 - 9AM
Mike Mconnell - Weekdays, 9AM - Noon
Bill Cunningham - Weekdays 12:20 - 3PM
Gary Burbank - Weekdays 3:00 - 6PM
Scott Sloan - Weeknights 9PM-Midnight
Talking Points:
1.) How dare Jean Schmidt's campaign and her surrogates question Paul Hackett's service to this country.
2.) Jean Schmidt is using deplorable tactics to change the subject from her close association with Gov. Bob Taft's "culture of corruption." She is, after all, the subject of an ethics investigation for accepting unreported gifts by a pharmaceutical lobbyist. Gifts she failed to report.
3.) As you all know, this area has been deeply affected by the war in Iraq, how can Jean Schmidt and her friends claim to support the troops while attacking them at the same time?
I don't have any polling numbers, but I gotta imagine they do and the race is a lot closer than they had hoped over at Schmidt HQ. Last night at the debate, it was "terrorism, terrorism, terrorism, gay marriage, gay marriage, pro-life, pro-life, pro-life," which I now regard as, "The Alamo," or last line of defense for faltering Republicans.
A large hat-tip to OH-2 Blog as well.
Posted at 02:02 PM in Ohio | Technorati
Comments
The tipping point was probably when the newspaper had the nerve to endorse a D..D..D. Democrat!
Please keep us posted. All (progressive) eyes are on this race right now.
Posted by: stumpy ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.swingstateproject.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 27, 2005 03:02 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
Thanks to everyone for contributing!
Posted by: Bob Brigham at July 27, 2005 03:25 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
Tim,
The url for the OH-2 Blog is http://blog.oh02.com, not blog.oh2.com. Some typo-squatter is on oh2.com.
Regards,
Jimmy Stewart
Progressive Candidate for State Rep.,
Ohio's 22nd District
Posted by: Jimmy Stewart at July 27, 2005 03:40 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
I'm a twenty year vetern of the United States Navy. I did not have the opportunity lead in combat. Does that mean that my service wasn't worthwhile?
Posted by: Lisa at July 27, 2005 04:09 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
Your talking points, while virtuous, will probaby be ineffectual. They're purely defensive, which we all know, in our hearts, doesn't amount to a hill of beans. New talking points should be:
1) She's a lesbian and married Peter Schmidt out of convenience.
2) He commitment to family is shaky at best. Only one child? What's up with that? Maybe if she didn't run so many marathons, she could be home, tending to matters of the state.
3) She won't take Ohio to the next level. She's harboring antiquated ideas about energy, business and commerce; Ohio needs a leader who has vision and a grasp of the future, not one who is mired in the past.
Posted by: beloit08 at July 27, 2005 07:20 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment
Lisa is right. Hackett must take the OFFENSIVE not the defense, like John Kerry did. He is right to oppose the war. Those who "question" his patriotism pretend they cannot stand ANYONE speaking out against the illegal war. Hackett has to SAY that America was sold a bill of goods and that we are engaged in an illegal war and that all hell is breaking out and no one supports the American presence. There may be a civil war but Bush should have thought of that before hand. In fact it may even be what he intended, who knows. Those who can't stand hearing it should all go over to Iraq. And if it is true that Jean Schmitt she should come out and say so. Too bad for her husband.
Posted by: HumptyDumpty at July 28, 2005 03:33 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment