Great Run in Ohio, Paul Hackett, but You Still Lost; There Are No Moral Victories in Politics
There are no moral victories in politics. Only victories and defeats. There is no Miss Congeniality prize.
Democrat newcomer Paul Hackett lost narrowly in Ohio in a special U.S. House election Tuesday. He ran a good race. He was a good candidate.
But he lost.
I don't care how others in my party are spinning this, that his narrow loss is actually a "victory" since the Republican didn't win by a sufficient enough margin. This is a victory because Ohio is "less red" than thought.
Not buying it.
Bottom line: A great Democrat is not going to Washington, DC. A Republican is.
I didn't expect what you're going to read below from a military veteran. He more than anyone else should realize the zero sum nature of both war and politics.
I hate getting these emails. It's like something you'd tell your U12 soccer team that lost a close match against a tougher opponent. That's fine for kids, not fine for people in the electing Democrats business.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR VICTORY.
We Democrats all too often are willing to accept that horrible feeling in the bottom of our stomachs when we lose. We have to get over accepting that feeling. Great athletes don't accept it. People facing life threatening illnesses don't accept it. Tough labor union negotiators don't accept it. Great trial lawyers don't accept it. But we Democrats all too often do.
Mr. Hackett lost. It stings. He was a great candidate. Lots of people worked hard on his campaign, including some of my blogging colleagues here in South Dakota. Everyone is to be commended on a good effort. Hopefully, Paul will run again. Learn lessons from the loss.
But don't call it a "victory."
-----
Dear Todd Epp,
 |
Yesterday, one of the reddest regions in America turned a whole lot bluer.
I ran in a special election to serve in the United States House of Representatives from the 2nd District of Ohio. I am a Marine recently returned from Iraq, a husband, a father, an attorney, and a Democrat.
When I won the Democratic primary for this contest, few people believed we had a shot at victory. But DFA put its faith in me -- and went to work organizing on the ground and online. Your support helped build the greatest Democratic get-out-the-vote effort this district has ever known.
While we didn't pull out a victory yesterday -- we came incredibly close. We got 48 percent of the vote. And in those results rests hope for the future.
It had been 15 years since a Democratic candidate for Congress received more than 30 percent of the vote in Ohio's 2nd District and decades since a Democrat held the seat. Your support helped me improve Democratic performance by nearly 20 percent. This is a victory for democracy. And if we can do this in Ohio -- we can do it anywhere.
Join me, and help DFA elect Democrats in Ohio and across the country:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/bat
We have the power to win back Congress. Yesterday proved it. And DFA is on the front lines of the fight -- determined, hopeful and fearless.
I believe we can change this country. I believe we can win in every state -- and I know that you do too. Please join me today:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/bat
Thank you,
Paul Hackett
Todd Epp
14 Comments
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (14)
America, but I have read some things about
Paul Hackett who is obviously a person of
high moral character. Having said that, I
want to address the actions of the group
of South Dakota bloggers, whose activities
might "kind of involve Steve Hildebrand".
This group of Hildebrand Boys have been
regaling everyone ad nauseum about their
travels to Ohio for this special election.
I wonder if the Democracy for America
advocates dismemberment of Republican
Senator's private parts and accusations of
homosexuality directed at their detractors
I am hesitant to use the word accusation
when talking about homosexuality, since
there is a certain level of insensitivity
there related to people that are gay. I
hear middle school kids throw around that
word gay to demean someone. So, I take
offense to this group of so called
progressive thinkers doing the same thing.
Given that Paul Hackett is a veteran that
served in Irag, I highly doubt that he
would sanction these profane, vulgar
activities of the Hildebrand Boys.
Isn't it about time that these boys find
real employment as opposed to sponging
off of Tom Daschle who seems to be
embarassed by them. Todd Epp who
graciously allows the use of his site to
anyone, is employed, maintains his site
himself, and has become the unofficial or
maybe official spokesperson for the South
Dakota bloggers, That is because Todd
has credibility and integrity and more
importantly some sense.
I think it's important that it be pointed
out that the Hildebrand Boys blog set up
is not what it appears to be. It's not
journalism, entertainment or even just a
hobby as some of these boys have said.
Their Permanent, Hate and Bitterness
Campaign is mean spirited and destructive.
Who asked these boys to go to Ohio? If
you were a candidate running for office,
would you want this tightly controlled
venom spewing machine doing anything on
your behalf? I think it demeans people
of integrity such as Paul Hackett, who is
a veteran, to be in any way associated
with this type of systematic destruction
of anyone or anything not marching in
lock step with them.
Are you boys going to be spending the
rest of your sorry, pathetic lives in
pursuit of bitterness and hate? You
don't have to leave home to do that.
Just look in the mirror!
haven't addressed the important issues
here. The Hate and Bitterness Campaign
which doesn't serve anyone, but their
own little self serving group needs to be
addressed. As for Patty Cake, didn't
Darth Vader Wannabe vociferously defend
the honor of one these boys during the
campaign regarding some profane incident?
I am not a supporter of John Thune, but
I'm reasonably certain that most of his
shortcomings or perceived shortcomings
have been brought to our attention now,
let's move on. If there are some issues
that are newsworthy involving Senator
Thune, bring them out in a less juvenile,
more mature manner.
The talk of the dismemberment of Senator
Thune is disgusting and vulgar and there
is no place for that type of conversation
in a civilized society.
I find it interesting that suddenly these
Hildebrand Boys are identifying themselves
and want to appear legit.
But let us be clear about where all this started. John Thune is the one who brought vicious and malicious campaigning to South Dakota. He paid bloggers to do it. It's a matter of public record. He is being held accountable. The lasting rancor is not over the fact that he won. The anger and indignation is over what he brought to the state and what he did to its political process.
If you get tired of hearing about what John Thune does wrong, you ain't heard nothing yet. And you will be enjoying the Thune tradition.
to your comments since you present them
in a manner that is definitely not what
I was talking about. Your insightful
and intelligent comments always elevate
the conversation. As I mentioned earlier,
I was and am not a supporter of Senator
Thune. I think you would agree that these
issues related to Dan Nelson have not even
begun to be addressed and I in no way feel
that Senator Thune, Tyler Haahr, Jim Haahr
Mark Mickelson, and anyone else connected
to this obscene cover-up at Metabank
should get away with it. My efforts are
directed there right now, since the
bankruptcy proceedings seemed to have
put this on the back burner. You can rest
assured that at the end of the day, that
this behind the scenes deal making will be
brought forward and those responsible will
be made accountable, no matter what their
role in it was or is.
long as we love you, what's the problem?
If anyone is still interested in the
actions of Metabank, here they are. They
have been actively calling customers of
DNA in an effort to get cars back that
weren't funded due to high risk following
Metabank's motions filed in the bankruptcy
court resulting in DNA's bankruptcy being
dismissed.
Centrix Financial reps have indicated
that deals initially approved for funding
through their company were sent back to
DNA/Metabank after viewing the outrageous
motions filed by Metabank.
According to former employees there are
between 40-50 cars just from the Hyundai
dealership in Rapid City that have been
funded, but the trade-ins haven't been
paid even though the money for trade-ins
was part of the funding received by
Metabank from finance companies like Wells
Fargo Auto Finance. In other words, where
is the money for the trade-ins that came
to Metabank for that purpose?
One customer from Montana who I speak with
daily bought a Hyundai from the Rapid City
dealership, traded in his van which he
owed 16,000.00 to Wells Fargo, took the
new car home to Montana, sent in the title
for the van he traded and Wells Fargo
funded the Hyundai via Metabank, but they
haven't paid off his trade yet. In fact,
he has made his last payment to WellsFargo
for the van that is sitting at the Rapid
City lot so his credit isn't damaged. He
has been promised daily, that something
will be done to get his trade-in paid.
There are between 40-50 of those deals at
the Rapid City dealership like that.
The Iowa Attorney General's Consumer
Protection Division has started to provide
assistance along with the Iowa Department
of Transportation to get cars in Iowa
registered and licensed. They are also
working on getting the titles for some
customers.
The former employees are currently filing
proof of claim forms with the South Dakota
Bankruptcy Court since they still haven't
been paid. If there are any former
employees who need a proof of claim form,
you can e-mail the following:erin2535@mchsi.com or you can
go to the South Dakota Bankruptcy Court
United States Division and download the
proof of claim form, print it and send it
to the bankruptcy court's address that is
provided on the form. South Dakota
Acceptance is the Debtor, Clair R. Gerry
is the Attorney for Debtor. The case # is
05-40866.
There are alot of rumors about offers
being made to Metabank wanting to purchase
all or part of the business, but after
speaking to credible sources today, there
haven't been any serious offers made to
Metabank. In fact, bank officials from
Metabank have approached some of the large
dealerships in the Sioux Falls area to
try and dump parts of the business on them
with no success.
involves DNA's home in Sioux Falls. DNA
apparently had to use his house as
collateral so that Metabank would release
the employees final payroll. This is the
payroll where they were last paid. This
house listed at 1.5 million actually was
sold to an individual connected to the
ethanol business in South Dakota for
around 800,000.00. This deal needs to be
checked out. What is the relationship
between Metabank and this individual who
has ownership in the ethanol business?
He gets this kind of a deal from Metabank?
What was the big rush to sell DNA's house?
Who did you have to know to get in on the
deal? When do you think we can expect to
see this house back on the market for the
true selling price? There's alot more to
talk about, it's mind boggling.
taken. The tricks of the Steve Hildebrand
Trained Monkeys don't include those kind
of issues. The veterans and the consumers
are of vital importance to many of us. I
am just tired of this group's continued
blatant attempts to be the story.
fan club and I hope you're in mine. If I
had your e-mail address I would let you
in on what's going on.
I really miss SDBW and you alot! That was
alot of fun!
sdblogwatchman@hotmail.com
One of the things that that gets me most about Democrats in South Dakota is seeing so many excellent Democratic candidates drop out of politics altogether after one loss in a state Senate race, or county treasurer race, or whatever. A candidate can use a loss to come back and run a winning campaign next time around. It happens time and time again. Usually with Republicans, because they understand this concept.
A 70% red district in Ohio has a network of local Democratic organizations for the first time in a generation due to this candidate and this campaign. That can mean good things down the road. And that's maybe more important than one candidate or one race.