09-03-2008
Times Leader: No GOP Speech, but no regrets for Hackett
By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
Congressional candidate Chris Hackett chose family and campaigning over what he deemed “a slim chance” to speak at this week’s Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. He was scheduled to speak Monday night but concerns about the effects Hurricane Gustav had on the Gulf Coast curtailed the GOP festivities.
Hackett, who will face U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township, for the 10th District seat this fall, said his three days in Minnesota were a thrill, and even though he was not able to give his two-minute speech, he has no regrets.
On Tuesday, Hackett released a transcript of his planned remarks he would have given had he been able to address the convention. The remarks included several comments in support of GOP presidential candidate John McCain, whom Hackett credits for never asking for a single dollar for pork-barrel projects.
He also planned to take McCain’s challenger, Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama, to task for comments he made in San Francisco back in April.
“I bring greetings from Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. My part of Pennsylvania has lots and lots of small towns filled with people who Barack Obama says are bitter and who cling to things like guns and religion.
“Well, I can report to you that Barack Obama is wrong. The people in our area are hard- working, patriotic, optimistic, wonderful people. The only thing that makes us bitter is liberal politicians like Barack Obama who want to raise our taxes, waste our money on pork spending projects, and refuse to expand American energy supplies. That’s what makes us bitter.”
He also planned to make a comparison between McCain, who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and a former Republican president with military ties.
“Not since Dwight Eisenhower has there been a candidate who is more qualified to serve as Commander in Chief than John McCain,” Hackett would have said.
Even though he wasn’t able to make the speech, he said he’s glad he accepted the invitation. He was one of two non-incumbent Republican congressional candidates invited to speak at the convention.
“It’s a great experience. There’s so much good energy in the party right now,” he said, a few hours before catching a flight to Philadelphia. When he arrived during the weekend, he had planned on heading home Tuesday. After his speech was canceled, however, there was some uncertainly as to whether his trip would be extended another day or two.
Hackett said some convention officials “indicated there was a slim chance I’d be able to speak if I stuck around for another day or two.”
He said that while the original invitation to speak, and the possibility he still could have taken the podium, was intriguing, “I thought it best to come back to the district.” The Kingston Township businessman said the short time away from his wife, Ramah, and their four children was long enough and he owed it to his supporters and voters to get back on the campaign trail.
He did not question the decision by convention officials to curtail the convention’s opening day as the Gulf Coast was being hammered by high wind and heavy rain caused by Gustav - three years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the same region.
“I fully agree with John McCain making the decision to really delay the opening of the convention so our full energy and attention can be focused on Americans facing the storm coming across the Gulf. Bottom line is, we shouldn’t be celebrating when Americans are facing this kind of a challenge,” Hackett said.
Vincent Rongione, manager for Carney’s congressional campaign, declined to address Hackett’s missed opportunity specifically but did issue a statement regarding the storm.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all the residents and responders in New Orleans and the entire Gulf Coast region who were impacted by the storm and are now helping to rebuild and deal with its aftermath.”