One of the more effective lines of defense against the Hackett Swiftboating story is that this was something that came up around the time of the special election. Brian Rothenberger, communications director for the Ohio Democratic Party uses this tactic in a phone interview follow up to the Mother Jones article that broke the story:

The rumor about Hackett had been known since last summer, according Brain Rothenberger of the Ohio Democratic Party. “Who knows where it came from?” he said in a phone interview; but he did say it originated in the blogosphere. “I don’t think it had any credibility. The blogs are fueled by rumor. It’s a perpetuated myth.”

Brian, since you know it started in the blogosphere, you can provide people with a link. See… here’s the problem… I’ve been following Paul Hackett and the blogosphere longer and more closely than anyone… hell, for a long while I was the blogosphere when it came to Paul Hackett. I never heard anything about this at all during the special election. Trust me, if I had people would have known about it. (I think the Congresswoman can back me up on that one.)

There’s also a much bigger problem, Brian. People know who was spreading the rumor. People know who was showing the phoney pictures. People who aren’t just any kind of people but leaders within the Ohio Democratic Party. People who in a few months will be choosing your boss. Even if this was a grand Rovian plot to insure Mike DeWine’s seat in the Senate, that doesn’t explain or justify why the Democrat spreading the rumor was doing it.

I would bet good money that you know exactly who it is. If it took me nothing more than a chance meeting in a coffeeshop to get confirmation surely someone so in tune with the goings on of the ODP would have heard about it. If you didn’t, you should do us all a favor and resign now.

My suggesting is that you communicate back to the Ohio Democratic Party leadership that you’ve got yourselves a major problem and that trying to blame the blogosphere just isn’t going to cut it any more. The blogosphere is your friend. The blogosphere is covering your asses right now. We are not a part of the problem, but quite possibly you are.

Kos and Sirota also weighed in:

Markos Moulitsas-Zuniga–the Kos of DailyKos–agreed with Sirota. In an email exchange with MotherJones today, he wrote, “Nobody forced Hackett out. He decided to quit when he apparently realized that running for Senate is hard work.” He wants progressives and Democrats to get some perspective. “There are non-establishment candidates running all around the country…Howard Dean got the full brunt of the establishment’s ire, yet he didn’t take his ball and go home when he lost. There are too many crucial races in the country for people to focus on to worry about the guy who dropped out.”

Actually Markos, that’s exactly what Howard Dean did. He quit. By the time the Ohio primary rolled around my vote for him over John Kerry was nothing but a symbolic gesture. Somebody will have to explain to me the motives behind your questionable actions. I’ve heard the more paranoid explanation, but you’ve always denied it.

Yes, running for Senate is very hard work. It’s a lot harder when members of the leadership lie to you. It’s a lot harder when they actively try to damage your campaign. It’s a HELL of a lot harder when they are told about dirty tricks that have the potential to damage races for Democrats all over the State and do nothing about it.

People have seen the Monkey wrenching letters from Democrats in the House. They’ve talked to the harassed donors. They’ve interviewed the people who heard the lies about war crimes. They’ve named the person directly responsible. How about sticking to subjects that you know something, like sports or how much Bush sucks, instead of messing with things going on here in Ohio?

As for Sirota, he continues to be a load.

…he wrote that the speculation about Brown or even Washington Democrats maliciously undercutting Hackett is “all horse-race crap—and it is sad, sad commentary that such a loud part of the supposedly progressive ‘base’ is so comfortable following cults of personality, and appearing not even interested in the actual issues.” Sirota said it all boiled down to one fact, “Paul Hackett was going to get crushed by Sherrod Brown.”

David… I’m going to enjoy watching you defend your guy from the aftermath of this story when the whole truth comes out. Republicans are already putting the 2nd grade puzzle pieces together. Keep blaming us Hackett cultists for telling the truth. Keep blaming other people for the sins that will soon be costing you so dearly.

BTW, here’s the poll (HT to Plunderbund) that you say was the reason Hackett jumped out of the race:

Hackett Brown Poll

And that is before seeing him.

I don’t care how good of a “Democrat” any one is. I don’t care how much of a “progressive champion” someone is (whatever the heck that means). Wrong is wrong.

My suggestion for you brainiac pundits is to pick up the phone and tell your pals in Ohio to clean house. I’ll even tell you how to spin this:

There were a few rogue elements blah blah blah… this wasn’t sanctioned by the campaign blah blah blah… it’s unfortunate that some overzealous people stepped over the line and blah blah a hero in such an underhanded blah blah blah… Both Paul Hackett and blah agree blah blah join together blah to defeat Mike DeWine… if they had known blah… we are glad to get this behind us and blah

Trust me, the alternatives are much worst.

(via Buckeye Senate Blog)

UPDATE: De Magno Opere has also chimed in.