From the diaries--Chris

Eric Minameyer was just the beginning.  I knew it was important when I got a call saying, "We need the bloggers now more than ever, and this has nothing to do with money."

Eric Minameyer, an advisor to Jean Schmidt, was just the beginning of the "swift boating" of Paul Hackett in what appears to be a coordinated effort by her campaign.  Upon arriving at Hackett HQ this morning to take some photos and videos, I was shocked to hear that the deplorable tactics have been taken to a new level in the past 24 hours.

1.) A local conservaitve radio host started by questioning Paul Hackett's service to country.  Scott Sloan of WLW 700 AM in Cincinnati went off on some insane rant about the real level Paul's patriotism regarding the war in Iraq and claimed Hackett was using his service for "political purposes."

Over the past two days, Republicans have been calling into talk radio across the district saying things like, "Paul wasn't really a Marine Corps Major in Iraq." It's a coordinated effort, as I am hearing from people that similar lines are being repeated and repeated by radio callers in and out of the district.

2.) The "swift boating" is picking up steam, and we have to fight back. I sat no less than five feet away from a reporter from a cable news outlet that asked, "Some say that this was all a plan on your part.  To go to Iraq and come back with this great story while running for congress."

Less than 30 minutes ago, a reporter from CBS asked about Eric Minameyer's question, and yes, questioned Paul's service to his country.

3.) A few days ago, an Amry Private First Class was burried in Fairfield, Ohio.  Within 24 hours, a number of flags were burned and tossed into a pile infront of his mother and father-in law's home.  As you can imagine, this incident has led to a lot of press and sadness for the family.

The same host above, Scott Sloan, attempted to tie Paul Hackett to the flag burning incident.  He said that it was people like Paul Hackett that allow things like this to happen.

3.) Last night, a number of people in the district began receiving robo-calls talking shit (for lack of a better word) about Paul Hackett.  Of course, they hit on the standard themes, choice, equal rights, and yes, Iraq.

4.) Earlier today, the police had to be called at campaign HQ as a strange individual pulled up to the office, kept the car in park, and started plugging away at a lap-top.  When people walked out of HQ to investigate, the car pulled off quickly.  The police have been notified.

One local said, "this really reminds me of what was happening last October.  It got real ugly down here before the election.

Sound familiar...

1.) Contribute to Paul Hackett

2.) Write or Call

--We'll steal from the Ohio GOP Website on this one.

1.) Link for letters

2.) Link for Call-In

3.) Zip Code: 45202

Specific Shows:

55KRC - Cincy
Morning Show with Jerry Thomas and Craig Kopp
5am-9am  513 749 5800

700 AM (We need these flooded Now till Election Day--All Hackett, all the time)

(513)749-7000

Jim Scott - Weekdays, 5 - 9AM
Mike Mconnell - Weekdays, 9AM - Noon
Bill Cunningham - Weekdays 12:20 - 3PM
Gary Burbank - Weekdays 3:00 - 6PM
Scott Sloan - Weeknights 9PM-Midnight

Talking Points:

1.) How dare Jean Schmidt's campaign and her surrogates question Paul Hackett's service to this country.

2.) Jean Schmidt is using deplorable tactics to change the subject from her close association with Gov. Bob Taft's "culture of corruption." She is, after all, the subject of an ethics investigation for accepting unreported gifts by a pharmaceutical lobbyist.  Gifts she failed to report.

3.) As you all know, this area has been deeply affected by the war in Iraq, how can Jean Schmidt and her friends claim to support the troops while attacking them at the same time?

I don't have any polling numbers, but I gotta imagine they do and the race is a lot closer than they had hoped over at Schmidt HQ.  Last night at the debate, it was "terrorism, terrorism, terrorism, gay marriage, gay marriage, pro-life, pro-life, pro-life," which I now regard as, "The Alamo," or last line of defense for faltering Republicans.  

A large hat-tip to OH-2 Blog as well.