Texas Tuesday ... Ohio Style

Hackett, in our view, is a gust of fresh air. If we had to put a label on him, it would be Libertarian Democrat. He says what he thinks and doesn't seem to have much use for the orthodoxy, or the partisanship, of either party. He doesn't want the government telling him what kinds of guns he can own, nor does he want it interfering in family or medical decisions or taking away civil liberties in the name of fighting terror. He regards Social Security more as an insurance program than a retirement savings plan, but wants to put it on a sound footing and would raise the earnings ceiling if necessary to do so.

If elected, he notes, he would be the only member of Congress with direct military experience in Iraq - which, he says, is a fight we should end as soon as possible. He wants to finish the job and get out, and he wants the United States to stop holding hands with Pakistan and to get serious about tracking down those responsible for the 9-11 attacks.

We like Hackett's candor. We're impressed with the freshness of his ideas. We believe his experience shows him to be someone who is action-oriented.

We endorse Hackett for the 2nd District seat.

Libertarian Democrat? Is it too early to break out the Proxmire comparisons?

On her recent appearance on the Speaking Frankly radio show Jean Schmidt stated that Eric Minamyer was advising her campaign. Given Mr. Minamyer?s recent habit of indirectly questioning Paul Hackett?s service in Iraq this site must ask the question does Eric Minamyer speak for the Schmidt campaign?

I understand that Hackett did not participate in combat at all. It is still dangerous over there as I can personally attest. Let?s just not act as though we led marines in combat if we did not, okay?

I have asked the question time and again, what role did he actually play?

Given all the opportunities he has had to say "I served in combat" one fair conclusion is that he did not.

At a time when we have noncombat personnel getting their beheading broadcast around the globe, Minamyer's comments are nothing short of a disgrace to this country. But we've seen this play out before, haven't we? There are more than a few good Republicans who know slime when they see it. Give it a week and we'll see how many of them reside in the Ohio 2nd.