The recent special election in the 2nd Ohio Congressional District has major significance for Democrats and progressives here in this most conservative area of Cobb (and Georgia).  For some time now, there have been those in the Cobb Democratic Committee who have cautioned against taking too strong a public stance on national issues - the war in Iraq, the lies of this administration, politically motivated outing of CIA assets, recess appointments of to the United Nations, the interference with private family matters such as in the Terry Schiavo matter.  They have cautioned that there are many conservative Democrats and swing voters here in Cobb that who would be outraged if the Democrats assault the record of this President and the treasonous activities of his staff.  So they have asked us to concentrate more on local Georgia issues to win back the State Legislature in 2006. 

In my view, the major near-victory of Paul Hackett in Ohio's 2nd Congressional District special election demonstrates the bankruptcy of that strategy.  Paul Hackett was expected to lose by a huge margin in the extremely conservative 2nd District.  The press said that a loss by less than 15% would be considered a major victory.  Yet he gained 48.2% of the vote where no Democrat had earned even half that amount in decades.  In truth, his opponent was weak and Paul Hackett's Marine service in Iraq was a strong plus.  However, Mr. Hackett ran as a avowed progressive.  He was strong in his denunciation of the President.  As reported in the Washington Post on July 31st, "Hackett told USA Today that Bush's taunting line, 'Bring 'em on!' was "the most incredibly stupid comment I've ever heard a president of the United States make.' He also told the newspaper that, while he was willing to put his life on the line for the president, 'I've said that I don't like the son-of-a-[expletive] that lives in the White House.'"

So why is this so significant for Georgia and Cobb Democrats?  The demographics of Ohio's 2nd District are very close to those of the 6th District in Cobb.  Bush won the 2nd Ohio District by a margin of 2:1 in 2004.  Bush won the 6th District in Georgia by 2.5:1 in Cobb.  Paul Hackett nearly turned the tables on the Republicans by taking strong positions on national as well as local issues.  Every day, I hear from former supporters of Bush joining with the ranks of Democrats and progressives in Cobb and throughout the State on national as well as local issues.

As Howard Dean wrote, "The formula is simple. Paul Hackett didn't apologize for being a Democrat, didn't hold back from criticizing a president who has failed to lead in Iraq and at home, and took a strong Democratic message into the heart of a Republican stronghold."

It is time the leadership of the DPG and its Cobb Committee start realizing that we can win by attacking national issues head-on and stop waltzing around these critical issues, in fear of losing middle-of-the-road and conservative voters.  Let me know what you think about where the Cobb Committee needs to go.  I hope you will join with me at our business meeting of the Cobb Democratic Committee on August 25th to voice your opinion on this very important issue.

 

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