Redfern statement on Hackett decision to leave U.S. Senate race

"From his first appearance on the political stage, Paul Hackett created a strong dose of common sense and grassroots populism for Democrats nationwide. While this race might not have turned out how he would have liked, Mr. Hackett has infused among many Democrats a sense of personal pride, strength of purpose and clarity to our nation. It is my hope that whatever disappointment he might feel about these circumstances, that he will seize a different moment in the future, and do what he does best - lead Ohioans and our nation to a better day."

- Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern

Comments

[Cindy Scott`]

I am frustrated beyond words with the Ohio Democrat party.

Let's get this straight - if the Ohio Dems pushed Hackett out in favor of Brown, that was a colossal mistake. Brown has no better chance against DeWine than Celeste did, and I'm TIRED OF VOTING FOR LOSERS. Brown has nothing new to offer - it's same-o same-o, status quo, and DeWine walks back to the Senate for another six years.

Hackett is fresh, he offers new ideas, choice. If Ohio Dems won't back him, I urge him to run as an Independent and I'll throw my money and time into that campaign.

[Disappointed dem]

I am disappointed in our party...which isn't easy to say. I cannot believe we are turning on good candidates (and people) and risking splitting the party in two in this critical year.

[Paul]

Meet the new leadership, same as all the rest.

[Bob Brigham]

I just sent an email to a bunch of reporters that said that you are a bunch of incompetent fools. Can't wait to see Redfern lose yet another Senate race.

[badgervan]

What idiots. Hackett has much of the country, not just Ohio, behind him.
Mr. Redfern: you have no idea how many dem votes you just lost for your candidates.
Just unbelievable.
To Paul Hackett: run as an independent. We need to teach these good ol' boys a lesson. Keep speaking for us.
And thanks for your service, from a Navy vet. Don't give up.

[Jacob R Clark]

I am FURIOUS over the apparent forced ouster of Paul Hackett from the 2006 Senate race. I will NOT be voting for Mr. Brown, who to me represents the status quo, the kind of Democrat we desperately need to put to pasture. I have been a Democrat ALL MY LIFE but it is increasingly hard to maintain my allegiance to what was once a great party that stood for the best ideals of this nation when its leaders do everything they can to alienate supporters and sabotage any chance of ridding us of this scurrilous Republican regime--who I can hear laughing all the way to the bank, where they presumably will deposit more of their ill-gotten lucre. FOR SHAME! I hope Mr. Hackett mounts an independent campaign as I will do everything in my power to ensure he represents me in the U.S. Senate next January. Again, I just can't believe this party; what the hell are you thinking? Sherrod WHO?
C'mon....

[Anastasia]

I have to register my disappointment in the party that it will not even let its members pretend they have input into whom the candidate will be. I can't imagine what would have been lost in letting this primary play out, geting people excited and involved, and then perhaps all uniting behind the winner. Now I'm hearing people threatening to vote for DeWine. Maybe they won't. But what has been served by making Paul Hackett's supporters feel angry and betrayed? Certainly this won't help turn them into Brown supporters.

[Eric]

You just lost a very committed and active Dem tonight Chris. Congratulations on that. You could have left this shameless piece of BS unsaid. We all get it. Really we do.

[Daniella]

I am so disturbed by your old fashioned political tactics. There is no way that you will get any of my support and money. You are ruining any chance that we have to beat the GOP.

Further more you are alienating your support base. I was not convinced that Paul Hackett was my candidate but I would have liked the option to hear what he proposed and what he had in mind for Ohio.

However I am now convinced that your party does not represent my best interests.

[anon]

wow why is everyone blaming the party? perhaps hackett realized that he was too big for his own britches? yes his grassroots base is strong but how can you expect to go for SENATE without ANY experience? also, did he have enough signatures? everyone's first reaction is to blame the party for everything. do a quick look around and maybe examine the factors regarding his dropping out.

[anon]

Have fun losing another election, boys. You just lost the working half of the Democratic Party.

[Richard Blumberg]

I will not work for Sherrod Brown.

I will not contribute to Sherrod Brown's campaign.

I will not put a Sherrod Brown sign in my yard or on my car.

I will not vote for Sherrod Brown, even if it means not voting for any senatorial candidate.

You guys have just proved that you are a cozy bunch of cronies, no better than the slime in the White House, and that you are not interested in principle or the interests of the people, but only in hanging onto the power you've managed to achieve in your own claustrophobic world.

Paul, run as an Independent; I'll work twice as hard for you and give you double what I'd have contributed to your campaign as an (ugh!) Democrat.

Richard
Former lifelong Democrat

[pdh]

Since I am not going to be allowed to vote for Paul Hackett in the primary, I will write his name in at the general. I will never vote for Sherrod Brown ... period.

Hackett represented my hopes for a future democratic party that would actually stand for something coherent. Thanks a pile for driving him out.

Perhaps I should vote for Bob Ney, too, since we seem to be the party of weasels, & he's the head weasel in my district.

[dirtgirl]

I signed up to be a precinct captain last week, but now when they call to confirm it, I'll tell them I have no intention of helping Ohio's joke of a "democratic" party.

You obviously don't really want to involve the rank and file, you prefer instead to get our free labor and money while keeping the decision-making all to yourself. Why even have a primary? Voters cannot be trusted, obviously.

(and I'm not even a Hackett supporter)

[david smith]

You have got to be kidding me. What kind of show are you running, when you force someone out before the primary? God forbid the actual VOTERS decide who best represents thir views. I was not even sure I would vote for Hackett, although it would have been nice to get the chance. So, I guess , what? Brown has paid his dues, and gets the shot?
Is there really any confusion in the Democractic Party as to why they are losing more and more ground?

You employ the same good ol boy , back slapping, insider model of politics that the Republicans do, only you are on the losing team. How can you keep doing the same thing over and over, and expect any change?

Disgusted. And not voting for Brown.

[scott]

I'm with you dirtgirl. Been watching your excitment over the weeks on all the other blogs. This turn of events is disgusting to say the least.
What do we all do now?

[david smith]

Ok, I had to post again...I just read this in the Dispatch article -->
"He said he was outraged to learn that party leaders were calling his donors and asking them to stop giving and said he would not enter the 2nd District congressional race."

Was that seriously going on? You were calling his donors, and asking them to stop? Seriously?

What is wrong with you people?

http://columbusdispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/02/14/20060214-B2-01.html

[Chris]

I hope PH gets into a congressional race. If we can win two spots as opposed to one, that is one step closer to ridding this country of the disaster occurring in Washington right now. I wonder who those above that say they won't vote for SB are going to vote for. I want change. I don't want these people to stay in office one minute longer. They are screwing up this country. Sherrod Brown would be a welcome change to Mike DeWine. Give PH a few years in the house, then run him against George V. Does Boner or Hobson have an opponent yet? Put Hackett in one of those races.

[Andrew]

I'm so pissed I can't even tell you how pissed I am. Happy f-n birthday to me I guess, UGH! I intend to walk over to 271 E. State Street today and give the staffers a piece of my mind in person. This is rediculous!

[Marc]

I live in California and donated to Ohiodems in '04 and this year and to Paul Hackett this year. As a result of the recent pressure the party put upon Hackett to withdraw I now realize that my money is completely wasted. *&^$@ I haven't read anywhere any good reasons the party decided to do this. Paul.... Please run as an independent!! OhioDems.... you will never receive any money from this out of stater again! I am very deflated and now resigned to seeing Ohio go red again.

[misterkeitel]

I am OUTRAGED at the Democratic Party. I was reving up to fight like hell to get folks in my home city of Dayton to vote Paul Hackett and kick DeWine out of the Senate. We NEED someone like Hackett in goverment. Don't you understand that? This nation needs a change -and if the party leaders can't see that, then the people have to take the reings of power back from them.

[Cindy Scott`]

I've made a tough personal decision. I'm canceling my monthly "Democracy Bond." I don't want my money spent on a faulty political machine.
The notion that Schumer and Reid think they know what's best for Ohio, and who should be OUR candidate... and that our party, losers for YEARS, would listen to that... well, it's just too much.
Brown could have bided his time and run against Voinovich. Hackett was on a roll and he has what it takes to kick DeWine out of the Senate.
So, no way Ohio Dems ....none of my money for Brown; no bumper stickers, no yard sign, no campaigning. As the writer, above, suggested - I will write in Hackett before I'd vote for Brown.

[LEM]

As a 21 year Veteran I have endured years of ridicule from other vets about how the democrats do not care about or vets and would rather destroy the military. I did not believe them until now. I guess the DNC has showed there true colors for the vets by having Paul step down. It has been a real struggle to vote Democrat the last few years; you have not had a candidate I could truly vote for now I know why to do not have my interest in mind so I will just need to find a new party now.

If you want to win elections you have to have candidate the people believe in, not some body the smoke back room want. Do you really need this in the party for the people?

[Previous Dem voter]

I would suggest that Paul Hackett run as an Independent and that registered Democrats re-register as Independents as well. I have argued for years against those who said it's time to go with a third party, but no longer.

[Enjoy November, Jackasses]

I hope you guys enjoy seeing Brown go down in flames. He won't have my vote.

Ted Strickland won't have it, either. He pushed Brown into this race. He pushed this dumbass to the top of the party. He might as well get out and push Ken Blackwell into the governor's mansion.

WE CAN'T REBUILD THE PARTY UNTIL WE FINISH BURNING IT DOWN. I won't support this hand-picked, establishment ticket. Maybe, after this November is ANOTHER disaster, we'll finally wise up and promote some real reform.