Gordon Smith: You're so vain.
From the The Hill:
It’s no secret that Sen. Gordon Smith has style.Nobody can rock the bold pinstriped suit like the Republican from Oregon. Few will even attempt the look, which Smith models with aplomb. And, if previous years are any guide, Smith will go above and beyond the call of sartorial duty for “Seersucker Thursday,” an annual event planned for this week by Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.).
So maybe we shouldn’t have been surprised that the most fashionable senator’s standards extend to his cars.
Watching him speed off in his white Mercedes, we were impressed, in spite of ourselves, to see the license plate “FROZEN” staring back at us. (Smith managed his family’s frozen foods company until his election.)
But who can survive on one car alone? Smith can also be spotted in cars labeled “GETYUP,” “PEAS1” and “VEGOUT.”
Well, Gordon, this music video is for you:
Discuss.
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June 18, 2007
Posted in in the news 2007. |
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Jun 19, '07
Oh, snap!
Jun 19, '07
About 10 years ago we saw this Jaguar (with Oregon plates) parked right at the steps of the Capitol. Can anyone say for sure who it belonged to?
9:24 a.m.
Jun 19, '07
Gordon Smith is a wealthy man who can afford any American-built luxury car he chooses.
9:35 a.m.
Jun 19, '07
Or non-American-built even.
9:50 a.m.
Jun 19, '07
omg, that was 35 years ago? i was still in high school, and Carly Simon was so gorgeous. remember the cover to "No Secrets"? yikes!
so is anyone going to get pictures of Gordo with his cars to show how close he is to average Oregonians and how they can trust him to understand their lives & struggles?
10:08 a.m.
Jun 19, '07
It seems as if we are arguing Success v. Abuse of Power/Incompetence. Not one of us would not buy nice cars if we had money. Don't try to convince me otherwise. Let's attack this man on his political record and not his fetish with nice cars. I have a similar fetish and if I was to come in to some money I would own one or two. I would hope that the money came from noble and honest work though.
Jun 19, '07
Hey - Vance Day, head of the Oregon GOP, is attacking undeclared Democratic candidates for parking tickets. (And he's not even saying that the parking tickets were unpaid!)
Day opened the door to the realm of automobile-related attacks. Has Gordon Smith ever received any parking tickets? What about any other Oregon Republican? None of them have ever received parking tickets? Not ever? Not one?
Jun 19, '07
Let's attack this man on his political record and not his fetish with nice cars.
Respectfully, no. Ironically, it such nobleness which hamstrings Democrats election after election. Anything which drives up Smith's negatives or tarnishes his (store-bought) "every man" image is... i was going to say, "fair" but of course, there are attacks which would be out of bounds.
The point is, American elections are not merely a contest of ideas, but also an American-Idolesque popularity show. Republicans have won the media war for years and will continue to do so until Liberals can shake the wimp factor and learn to fight dirty.
Jun 19, '07
Twenty years ago I was working for a Dem candidate for US senate. One day I proudly picked up the candidate at the airport in my brand new BMW. Another staffer who was traveling with the candidate was mortified that the candidate would be seen arriving at a campaign event in a foreign car, so we had to stop a few blocks away from the campaign event so that the candidate could switch from my BMW to a good American built Chevrolet for his arrival. He won the election, so maybe the import vs. foreign car thing does matter, although it probably matters more to pro-labor Dems than to pro-capital Repubs.
Jun 19, '07
It seems as if we are arguing Success v. Abuse of Power/Incompetence. Not one of us would not buy nice cars if we had money. Don't try to convince me otherwise.
There are many people with standards different from yours. I have known several people who could have purchased expensive cars but didn't because they preferred a more modest life style and preferred to give some of their excess wealth to charities and other public causes. Every once in a while there are similar human interest stories in newspapers.
There is no single rule that applies to all people in a particular group, but you can deduce possibilities or even probabilities from certain characteristics. If someone chooses to drive a high-powered car such as a Mercedes Benz or a large pickup, the odds are pretty good that person enjoys the sense of power that vehicle gives. A few months ago "60 Minutes" had a segment on a psychologist who worked for American automobile companies who helped persuade the vehicle designers that high powered vehicles would sell because people got that sense of power. That, of course, was before gasoline went from a buck something to over three dollars.
Jun 19, '07
As a hormone overloaded high schooler in 1972 I too loved Carly Simon and yes, I still have the "No Secrets" album in my collection. Nice touch. Thanks for the memories and let's beat the nice tailored pants off Mr. Smith in '08.
Jun 19, '07
I was definitely not around when that song debuted but I do enjoy it.
As for Gordon Smith, I rather like his dapper look. It kind of helps dispel the myth that Oregonians are either clad in plaid or hippie attire (not that there is anything wrong with either). While I may be a fan of his fashion sense, I am not a fan of his politics.
I consider his automobile collection fair game. Really, I had to laugh at the pathetic parking ticket reference (is that the best they can come up with? Come on!) -- they're just asking for it with that kind of amateur style "gotcha!" game.
Jun 20, '07
Let's attack this man on his political record and not his fetish with nice cars.
Butch Cassidy: No, no, not yet. Not until me and Harvey get the rules straightened out. Harvey Logan: Rules? In a knife fight? No rules. [Butch immediately kicks Harvey in the groin]
Jun 20, '07
As for Gordon Smith, I rather like his dapper look.
Unfortunately, for many people that will be sufficient persuasion to vote for Smith.
Jun 20, '07
[Butch immediately kicks Harvey in the groin]
Now THAT'S what i'm talking about! If we could somehow just harness all of that liberal, intramural snark that fills the blogosphere and focus it on the GOP instead.
Jun 20, '07
Truthout has an interesting article on Rove support for re-electing Smith.
Jun 20, '07
I find the foreign vs. domestic auto issue funny for Oregon Democratics. Oregon doesn't have any manufacturing sites. On the other hand, autos and auto-related parts are the largest single import coming in to the Port of Portland. Aren't all those dock workers unionized? Seems to me a good Democratic activist in Oregon would logically prefer an Asian built automobile (imports through Oregon, of course, come from the Pacific Rim, not Europe).
<h2>When I offer hole-in-one prize cars for Democratic fundraisers, they always prefer a domestic car as the prize. To each their own.</h2>