That's loyalty for you. 
Posted on 2/14/2006, 5:04:41 AM by LdSentinal
Paul Hackett, an Iraq war veteran and popular Democratic candidate in Ohio's closely watched Senate contest, said yesterday that he was dropping out of the race and leaving politics altogether as a result of pressure from party leaders.
Mr. Hackett said Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York and Harry Reid of Nevada, the same party leaders who he said persuaded him last August to enter the Senate race, had pushed him to step aside so that Representative Sherrod Brown, a longtime member of Congress, could take on Senator Mike DeWine, the Republican incumbent.
Mr. Hackett staged a surprisingly strong Congressional run last year in an overwhelmingly Republican district and gained national prominence for his scathing criticism of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq War. It was his performance in the Congressional race that led party leaders to recruit him for the Senate race.
But for the last two weeks, he said, state and national Democratic Party leaders have urged him to drop his Senate campaign and again run for Congress.
"This is an extremely disappointing decision that I feel has been forced on me," said Mr. Hackett, whose announcement comes two days before the state's filing deadline for candidates. 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 Second District Congressional race.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
He shouldn't be surprised--stabbed in the back by Dems. You'd think veterans would be used to it by now. He deserved better than this--regardless of his political opinions he has earned the right to be treated with respect.
You've served your purpose (unsuccessfully), now step aside.
Too bad he was'nt one of the dems African-American candidates. Yet, i'm totally surprised they would treat a military veteran like this - I thought they were putting their hopes in Vets that don't support the War or Bush.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
Lay down with dogs, get up with fleas.
Good riddance, Hackett, you scumbag.
"Check this out" ping.
Live and learn my liberal friend...get back on the plantation or else!
"...he was dropping out of the race and leaving politics altogether as a result of pressure from party leaders."
Must have shown signs of attempting escape from the asylum...
Thought they were loading up with vetrans to shed the pussy image.
They stepped in it once again, golly, how can they be so stupid.
Another Hero in the true spirit of John F. Kerry. This country would lose to invading French Boy Scouts if all Veterans were of the same ilk.... Can we find any democrat veterans where the record clearly supports their honorable status as a hero? I know many serve honorably who are democrats but it is "a shame" that the democrat veterans that run for office as heros are not.
The Democrat Plantation refused to accept him... If nothing else, Hackett could do great ahrm to the Democrat Party for the way they treated him
And then some.....
Yep. He should have known that they'd toss his out as soon as he stopped being useful to them.
Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York and Harry Reid of Nevada are now running Ohio politics. I guess Ohioans aren't qualified to pick their own candidates.
James Webb, take note.
That's loyalty for you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.