Hackett not going quietly

Indian Hill lawyer and Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett dropped out of Ohio's U.S. Senate race two weeks ago. But the blunt-speaking Democrat who drew attention for his off-color remarks about the president and Ohio Republican Party, is still taking advantage of the spotlight.

Or, whatever's left of it.

After leaving the race on Feb. 14, Hackett appeared last week on MSNBC's "Hardball." Today, he has an Op-Ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer:

"Somewhere along the way I became something I'm not: a political rock star. But I only wanted to help my country."

In both his TV appearance and in print, Hackett accuses his Democratic opponent, Rep. Sherrod Brown of northern Ohio, of spreading rumors about Hackett's service in Iraq:

"Was I screwed? Maybe, but that's life. There were a lot of political machinations, mostly behind the scenes. Much made its way into the press, including an ugly whisper campaign regarding my service in Iraq perpetrated by Brown. Brown has denied this, but county party chairmen told me about the rumors and where they were coming from. Brown had initially told me he would support my Senate campaign but then changed his mind. Again, a clash of cultures. That's politics. But that's not me. My word is my bond."

Hackett also continued to accuse Democratic Senatoral Campampaign Committee Chairman Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., of working to undermine his campaign:

"Schumer and Reid, the guys who said my country needs me, had a change of heart. There was never any explanation given. Schumer, in particular, actively sought to undermine my insurgent campaign, in part by calling up my donors and telling them not to raise money for me, which is like a doctor cutting off oxygen to a patient. He also worked through others to get state and local politicians to publicly urge me to quit."

So, was it worth it?

"You bet. In less than 11 months, we changed the debate on Iraq, inspired at least 11 other Iraq vets and countless non-vets to run for Congress, and invigorated a state Democratic Party to believe in itself again."