Hot News!
• Freestore Foodbank Battle of the Blogs!
• Cincinnati NAACP President shares update on Cincinnati Retirement Plan
Contact Us
v mail, fax: (214) 481-6464
e mail: click here
On today's date in The Beacon archives, we published:
•Fans find reality not reported by Enquirer (2007)•Open Letter to John Pepper about Disney Characters (2006)
•More Lack of Coverage from The Cincinnati Enquirer (2006)
Events
 |
|
|
Saturday, September 13, 2008
WCPO Hack Paul Hackett Gets Blasted
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Photo courtesy of here.
One-time Democratic loser Paul Hackett, who for some reason appears with fellow-loser and Republican Phil Heimlich as a political analyst on WCPO, recently posted an item to the Daily Kos revealing how out-of-touch Hackett is with successful political campaigns (probably a result of his limited experience losing). Hackett’s hack-job at trying to give the Obama campaign advice demonstrates not only why he quickly disappeared from any active tickets, but it also calls into question why WCPO gives losers like Hackett and Heimlich prime-time billing as political commentators and analysts.
Here is what Paul Hackett says Obama needs to run as political ads in Ohio to win:
The message is simple and the professionals can refine it but essentially it should contain these elements:
“Sarah Palin? Can’t keep her solemn oath of devotion to her husband and had sex with his employee. Sarah Palin? Accidentally got pregnant at age 43 and the tax payers of Alaska have to pay for the care of her disabled child. Sarah Palin? Unable to teach her 16 year old daughter right from wrong and now another teenager is pregnant. Sarah Palin? Can you trust Sarah Palin and her values with America’s future? John McCain? Divorced from his first wife one month and marries a billionaire influence peddler and convicted felon. John McCain, a record of rash and impulsive decisions. That’s not change that’s more of the same.”
Rather than engage in mud-slinging and rumors, surely the Obama campaign is just giving Palin a few weeks to do something goofy. If that happens, they won’t need to lift a finger. Others are jumping on the boat against Hackett’s weird suggestion, too. (Here, here, and here, for just a few examples.)
So there is no shortage of commentary blasting Hackett’s hackery, but why does WCPO give guys like him and Phil Heimlich any time on screen? What about these guys qualifies them to be political commentators? Should someone like Gene Beaupre appear on TV instead? Or how about a prominent local politician who isn’t out of politics due to losing?
One of WCPO’s competitors would be smart to copy their round-table political format with some real analysts instead of these hack-jobs.
• Share This Article!
Listen to this article
|  |
Register
Anonymous comments are allowed, but you can create an account above to stamp your name and to avoid typing the anti-spam code.
If you are not familiar with our rules for leaving comments, click here! The Cincinnati Beacon is not responsible for the contents of any comments. Comments do not represent the views of the moderators of The Cincinnati Beacon.
13 Sep 2008 at 10:20 am | #
When I first heard about these comments I thought it was a joke. It is quite clear that this godawful idea is not only inappropriate (outside the walls of the Karl Rove school of electoral politics), but it would draw warranted criticism against the Obama camapaign.
When these types of ideas are floated as a realistic suggestion within the campaign season, it should only remind us that we have a long way to come to reform many aspects of the election process.
If I were a member of the Obama campaign I would think it would be more useful to use a clip from this interview found here. It seems all you have to do is ask McCain some real questions that take him away from his talking points and you get instances like this.
13 Sep 2008 at 11:01 am | #
That’s the toughest interview John McCain has had since the Daily Show. Too bad the corporate media doesn’t ask real questions like this guy or John Stewart does.
13 Sep 2008 at 01:46 pm | #
So what are you saying? No fair? Aside from WCPO’s decision to hire these two, Hackett sounds exactly like the Republicans have, non-stop, since the days of Willie Lynch. And they’ve been quite successful haven’t they? Where’s your outrage at Fox Network or WlW radio 700? This kind of garbage is their daily fare. I don’t think Obama will take this route though he certainy has been subjected to unfair and untrue character assassination, as has his wife and extended family, by the Republicans. If the McCain/Palin campaign wasn’t based on “family values” claiming the moral high ground, and that it’s all about character, personal foibles would be a moot point. But it’s their issue, so they’ve opened the flood gates. Sorry Hackett offends you by lashing back at the Republicans. That must hurt.
13 Sep 2008 at 05:14 pm | #
SO if someone loses an election or two we should pay no attention to their political commentaries? That is going to make JJ here at the beacon pretty sad
13 Sep 2008 at 05:44 pm | #
cincysuz, If Obama takes this advice, his campaign will get toasted. I guess they aren’t letting you volunteer on the strategy committee. Maybe you should call Paul, and see if he’ll let you give him pep talks in the green room before his big WCPO gigs.
The bottom line is that Hackett’s advice is BAD for the Democrats, and that’s why so many Democrats are blasting him for giving it.
It must kill you to try and hold the high ground, since you love acting just like a Republican.
And third32—Justin is an independent activist who runs grassroots campaigns. He was never heralded by a major party as the best thing since sliced bread, only to quickly descend into the pit with Heimlich. False analogy.
13 Sep 2008 at 05:54 pm | #
Another similarity between Hackett & Heimlich. For their go-it-alone style and inability to play well with others, both have been excommunicated from their respective political parties.
13 Sep 2008 at 06:52 pm | #
No I’m not advising the Democrats, but the way you bristle when the Repbublicans are criticized, I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t occasionally put a bug in their ear.
13 Sep 2008 at 06:58 pm | #
Oh, you mean like when we wrote that piece about McCain’s felon step-father, that was linked by several national blogs? You mean those kinds of stories we don’t write?
Please.
Do you really think Hackett makes any sense here? And do you think either him or Heimlich deserve TV spots on WCPO?
13 Sep 2008 at 11:54 pm | #
Geez, couldn’t they get anybody with credibility? Neither are strategic or policy successes. When are these guys on TV? I didn’t even know about it.
15 Sep 2008 at 04:08 pm | #
Hackett’s advice is the WORST I’ve ever seen!!!!!