Ohio 2nd Blog

The Enquirer’s Politics Extra “blog” is reporting that the group Patriot Majority will start airing June 28th a negative commercial against Congresswoman Schmidt concerning her comments on conditions at Walter Reed hospital.

Also, The Daily Bellwether is reporting that Schmidt has fallen into some hot water with the FEC.

ADDED: The Hotline’s Blogometer has a good rundown of progressive discussion concerning the tactics of early media buys:

IRAQ: It’s The Vulnerability Stupid

The netroots are pleased with DSCC efforts to pressure GOP Senators up in ‘08 with television buys in their home states tying them to Pres. Bush on Iraq. MyDD’s Jonathan Singer blogs: “So this is what I’d like to see more of, not only from the party committees but also from the outside groups who purport to want to forward the progressive cause. Begin running ads when an issue is still on the public’s mind. Run ads when the momentum is on your side and just a little more of a push could win even more support for your efforts.” Open Left’s Matt Stoller adds: “Senator Schumer is media savvy, and my read is that this ad is designed more as a statement of DSCC priorities than a real attempt to knock down McConnell’s numbers. But stating those priorities, while Democratic elites and liberal groups plan their strategies for 2008, is a critical part of building a narrative of vulnerability.”

Also at Open Left, Chris Bowers highlights the efforts Americans Against Escalation in Iraq in pressuring Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) on the war. Bowers blogs: “We saw moderate Republicans wiped out in the Northeast last cycle, it’s looking like a new crop of Republicans in suburban districts like that of Kirk are endangered. If only the Blue Dogs and New Dems would wizen up, we could actually stop the war.”

Porkopolis has posted links to a campaign video by Republican underdog Senate candidate Bill Pierce. It’s a clear vision of why he’s running for Senate. I like the new media tactics he’s employing to overcome the lack of money. He also did MTB last month.

I think that Congressional candidates should check it out. In the smaller venue of a House district something like that can have a much greater impact. BE THE MEDIA. Never before have candidates had so many options to get their message out.

UPDATE: BSB has posted video.

WKRC Local 12 has two video’s up today, one that includes their interview with Danny Bubp and one of Jean Schmidt’s appearance today on Bill Cunningham’s show.

Now one of these two people isn’t telling the truth.

UPDATE: Kos has frontpaged the story.

Crooks and Liars has a collection of political sketches from SNL including the one featuring Jean Schmidt.

VIDEO: download link

Congresswoman Jean Schmidt just made waves on the House floor attacking Representative and decorated Marine John Murtha. Tim Saler @ No End But Victory has been live blogging the debate:

5:19 PM Eastern: Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) says the resolution tonight is a “mockery” of Murtha and admits that tonight’s resolution looks nothing like Murtha’s position. The Republicans, of course, never said that the Hunter resolution was intended to be the same as Murtha’s.

5:21 PM Eastern: Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) is shouted down by the Democrat caucus upon quoting a Marine colonel speaking indirectly to Murtha on the suggestion that cowards cut and run, not U.S. Marines.

5:23 PM Eastern: All members ordered to take their seats after the chair suspends and reviews Schmidt’s remarks to determine their fitness for delivery. The shouting has continued through Schmidt’s remarks up to the present.

5:29 PM Eastern: The House is in stand-still right now while things calm down. Regular updates will resume when the proceedings restart.

5:33 PM Eastern: Schmidt apologizes and asks unanimous consent that her statements be withdrawn; unknown Democrat(s) object. Vic Snyder (D-Ark.) says he accepts the apology and wishes that this resolution could be taken up instead at another time under other circumstances.

5:35 PM Eastern: McGovern says that the Republican Congress is only interested in covering up for the Bush administration. Makes reference to “pathetic smears” against Murtha and says that Murtha isn’t afraid of the Republicans. Says that if you support the troops, you’ll oppose this rule.

Here’s also an unofficial transcript from The Stakeholder:

The Speaker Pro Tempore: The gentlelady from Ohio is recognized for one minute.

Ms. Schmidt: Yesterday I stood at Arlington National Cemetery attending the funeral of a young marine in my district. He believed in what we were doing is the right thing and had the courage to lay his life on the line to do it. A few minutes ago I received a call from Colonel Danny Bubp, Ohio Representative from the 88th district in the House of Representatives. He asked me to send Congress a message: Stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message, that cowards cut and run, Marines never do. Danny and the rest of America and the world want the assurance from this body - that we will see this through.

The Speaker Pro Tempore: The house will be in order. The house will be in order. The house will be in order. The house will be in order. The house will be in order. The gentlelady will suspend. And the clerk will report her words. All members will suspend. The gentleman from Arkansas has demanded that the gentlelady’s words be taken down. The clerk will report the gentlelady’s words.

The Speaker Pro Tempore: The house will be in order. Members pleas take seats. The gentlelady from Ohio.

Ms. Schmidt: Mr. Speaker, my remarks were not directed at any member of the House and I did not intend to suggest that they applied to any member. Most especially the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania. I therefore ask for unanimous consent that my words be withdrawn.

The Speaker Pro Tempore: Without objection. The gentlelady’s words will be withdrawn.

Trying to find a USABLE video capture of the speach. VIDEO

UPDATE 2:

Congressional Record article 35 of 36
MAIDEN SPEECH BY THE HONORABLE JEAN SCHMIDT — (House of Representatives - September 06, 2005)

(Mrs. SCHMIDT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today in the same shoes, though with a slightly higher heel, as thousands of Members who have taken the same oath before me. I am mindful of what is expected of me both by this hallowed institution and the hundreds of thousands of Americans I am blessed to represent. I am the lowest-ranking Member of this body, the very bottom rung of the ladder; and I am privileged to hold that title.

This House has much work to do. On that we can all agree. We will not always agree on the details of that work. Honorable people can certainly agree to disagree. However, here today I accept a second oath. I pledge to walk in the shoes of my colleagues and refrain from name-calling or the questioning of character. It is easy to quickly sink to the lowest form of political debate. Harsh words often lead to headlines, but walking this path is not a victimless crime. This great House pays the price.

So at this moment, I begin my tenure in this Chamber, uncertain of what history will say of my tenure here. I come here green with only a desire to make our great country even greater. We have much work to do. In that spirit, I pledge to each of you that any disagreements we may have are just that and no more. Walking in each other’s shoes takes effort and pause; however, it is my sincere hope that I never lose the patience to view each of you as human beings first, God’s creatures, and foremost. I deeply appreciate this opportunity to serve with each of you. I very much look forward to getting to know you better, and I humbly thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to address this humble body.

UPDATE 3: Kos has got it frontpaged.

UPDATE 4: Lost the video link

UPDATE 5: AP’s got the story:

The fiery, emotional debate climaxed when Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, the most junior member of the House, told of a phone call she received from a Marine colonel.

“He asked me to send Congress a message - stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message - that cowards cut and run, Marines never do,” Schmidt said.

Democrats booed and shouted her down - causing the House to come to a standstill.

Rep. Harold Ford, D-Tenn., charged across the chamber’s center aisle screaming that it was an uncalled for personal attack. “You guys are pathetic. Pathetic,” yelled Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass.

UPDATE 7: Georgia10 is also liveblogging with action items!

UPDATE 8: Hackett is calling DeWine out on Schmidt’s remarks. (via DKos)

UPDATE 9: The Democratic Party has a page up where you can send your support to Rep. Murtha.

UPDATE 10: Reactions coming in from all over the place…

Andrew Sullivan:

She later withdrew her remarks from the record. But those words linger as a reminder of what these Republicans have become. For the record: Murtha served 37 years in the Marines, and has Purple Hearts to his name. He visits wounded soldiers at Walter Reed every week. Three years ago, he won the Semper Fidelis Award of the Marine Corps Foundation, the highest honor the Marines can confer. Every time you think these Republicans can sink no lower, even after their vile smears against Kerry’s service last year, they keep going. They make me sick to my stomach.

Steven Kelso:

Hurray for Jean Schmidt!!!

Why are the only conservatives with gonads women? Shall we have the women do all of our fighting for us? Shall we leave them alone in a time of need?

After Democrat Rep. John Murtha called for a quick withdrawal of our troops from Iraq — for all intents and purposes surrendering to the terrorists — some in the GOP are actually using their backbones!

UPDATE 11: Here’s SNL’s sketch on Schmidt’s speech.

Hackett for Ohio has video up documenting Hackett’s first day on the stump.

Also… Stephanie Miller has audio of an entertaining interview she did yesterday with Hackett.

(via DKos (RECOMMEND ME!))

Hardball has the video up of Hackett’s apprearance. Here are my comments:

VERY solid.

Perfect for that show. Honest and he talked like a real person, not just going full tilt partisan. Came off as very mature about the situation. The way he played off of what the academic was saying was really nice. He works good with Matthews too. Gave honest answers that weren’t just talking points and Matthews loves that. As soon as you start dodging he goes in for the kill.

I’d even say statesman like, but still totally Hackett. Real. His best TV appearance yet.

I liked him talking about the importance of Bush saving face. Us partisans underestimate the importance of stuff like that. If you don’t give your opponent an out the only way they can go is through you.

As for the talk of overkill, if every appreance was like the one on Real Time goofing on Bush, than he might run a real risk. People need to be very careful going head to head against professional comedians. There’s a reason so few of them become politicians, and they love to help you tie your noose. (BTW, Phyllis Schlafly’s appearance was about as solid as I’ve ever seen anyone on that show, and this is coming from someone who is NOT a fan of hers. )

Talking like he did today about solutions and not just about it helping the Democrats and he’s on very solid ground. He has to avoid being labled as nothing but a pretty boy Bush bashing lightweight. He certainly wasn’t that last night.

His words have real weight behind them because he lived it and he can articulate it well, AND like Wesley Clark he doesn’t have the baggage of Clinton or Kerry of supporting this mess blindly. That puts him shoulders about them. If he added some talk about more general terrorism issues his voice would be very powerful. The cameras already like pointing in his direction. America’s listening.

onegoodmove has video of Paul Hackett on Bill Maher’s show Real Time. (Requires Quicktime) Crooks & Liars has the same video in WMF format and an interesting discussion in the comments.

Some initial reactions from the blogs:

• Jungle Kat territory: I would like to declare a new love: Paul Hackett. I just saw him on “Real Time and with Bill Maher,” and it was love at first Bush-mocking joke. In the five minutes (if that) Mr. Hackett was on the show, he stood up for his beliefs! He actually stood by what he said about President Bush!! I kept pinching myself, thinking, “Is this guy a Democrat???”
• silentkid: There was a first, Paul Hackett actually put Bill Maher on edge during their interview. That was the first time I’ve seen Bill made speechless. But what do you expect from a former Marine who has a national audience to strike back at someone who slandered his name on national radio for weeks leading up to the special election in Ohio.

More reactions:

• DED Space: Did anyone else find him shallow and phony? This was the first time I’d seen him, and I couldn’t wait for the interview to be over.
• Hammer Of The Blogs: Last night’s return of Real Time With Bill Maher was certainly welcome. I found myself very impressed with Paul Hackett. Hackett was a last-minute substitution for Cindy Sheehan, as Sheehan had to hustle back home to care for her ailing mother. As it turns out, Hackett will prove to have been the better choice anyway. Eventually Sheehan has to go back home for good and try to get on with her life, and the people who are currently so outraged about her will forget her name by Christmas.
  
  Hackett, on the other hand, has a real political future ahead of him — he’s funny, smart, engaged, and unafraid to speak his mind. I found myself wishing he’d run for something out here. I’d love to replace a treacherous, servile enabler like Dianne Feinstein with a pit bull like Hackett. If the Democratic Party is going to survive and thrive and return to its lost glories, it needs more Paul Hacketts, pure and simple. This is the future of the party, folks.

ALSO: Eric Minamyer and BizzyBlog were not impressed.

Fox News has a very fair and balanced piece up on the race. Includes video.