What you can do to stop Gordon Smith.
Kari Chisholm
It's often lamented that the blogosphere is just a bunch of highly-informed activists chattering amongst themselves.... that what we're doing here doesn't actually do anything to move votes.
That's not entirely true, of course, just ask Ron Saxton.
But it is sort-of-true. There's a lot of commentary that never makes it out to the general public. And other than the occasional burst of fundraising, we don't often move from chatter to action.
Well, here's your chance. Over at StopGordonSmith.com, Trent Lutz has an innovative idea for this Labor Day Week. He wants you to Be The Voice.
Find an issue on StopGordonSmith.com that appeals to your family and friends in Oregon. Copy and paste the web link, email it to them and encourage them to join our campaign to Stop Gordon Smith.Let’s put in the work this week to let our friends, family and co-workers know about his record.
Whether it’s on the environment or veterans or voting with President Bush, email the links that you think will convince them to join our campaign. You can be the voice that informs Oregon voters.
BlueOregon has some 2500 unique readers every day. If just 20% of us sent a note to 50 friends and family each, that's 25,000 Oregonians that would learn the truth about Gordon Smith's record.
He likes to pretend that he's a nice friendly moderate - when the truth is that he's undermined the right to choose, our environmental legacy, Oregon's voter-approved minimum wage law, and he's supported this President over 90% of the time, including many, many votes to support the War.
Don't let him get away with it.
Head on over to StopGordonSmith.com and follow Trent's lead.
[Full disclosure: My firm built StopGordonSmith.com, but I can't take any credit for this brilliant idea. I speak only for myself.]
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connect with blueoregon
11:28 p.m.
Sep 3, '07
Nice Novick allusion in the link, Kari! Our mutual friend is a pithy guy, what can I say.
12:06 a.m.
Sep 4, '07
Wow. I didn't even plan that! Yes, I do love how Steve insisted on calling Ron Saxton a "$400-an-hour hosebag corporate attorney."
Sep 4, '07
Isn't it time for StopGordonSmith.com to change it's focus? I hit the button a time or two for troll relief. The contribution page still says: "Donations will help show potential candidates that we’re ready to step up and help defeat Gordon Smith in 2008"
Novick and Merkley aren't just potential candidates, they're real... and by many accounts, real good.
If the StopGordo site were more of a generic switch, serving to spank Smith at every turn (a la "Saxton Watch" - good times, good times), i'd be willing to chip in some more $$. But at this point, my next check's going to have a real name on it again (with a prominent "D" in the name).
Sep 4, '07
But to be fair, it should be noted that Gordon was actually for the war before he was said he was against it.
And he certainly can't help the fact that he looks so French.
7:59 a.m.
Sep 4, '07
EBT... Funds donated via StopGordonSmith.com are held in escrow until the nominee is chosen, at which time 100% will go to the nominee.
Not sure what you think it's doing content-wise, but the purpose is exactly what you describe -- serving to spank Smith at every turn.
The DPO isn't really soliciting funds from the public to pay for it, but I'm sure they'd happily take a donation from you right here.
As you know, the Democratic Party of Oregon won't endorse a candidate until Oregon Democrats select a nominee in May.
Sep 4, '07
EBT... Funds donated via StopGordonSmith.com are held in escrow until the nominee is chosen, at which time 100% will go to the nominee.
We get that, Kari. (And to hear Mike Riley, Merkley will be getting those funds in May.) But now that there are two credible candidates in the race (who need the $$ now), why not donate directly now. Now... (my inner counselor is telling me i have patience issues).
9:33 a.m.
Sep 4, '07
I think the best advice is: if you care who wins the primary, give to that candidate now. As a Novick supporter I would add that this is especially true if you want Novick to win, because Merkley has so much establishment support that he will never have to worry about havng enough money.
If you don't care who wins the primary, give to StopGordonSmith.com now, but in any case, once you start giving, keep giving till it hurts, and then give some more.
Sep 4, '07
Kari, I am no fan of Gordon Smith. I was hoping DeFazio would take him on. I would have voted for DeFazio.
The fact is there is a damn good reason that Defazio, Blumenauer, Kitzhaber, et al chose not to run.
Vera Katz verbalized it on Bob Miller's show on KPAM a couple months back:
"I don't think any democrat can beat Gordon this time around."
Those were Vera's words, not mine.
I'll bet you five bucks, with four to one odds, that Gordo walks into another term.
That's right... five will get you twenty.
The offer is only to Kari, folks. Just in case I am wrong, I can't cover that for all the readers of Blue O :)
10:10 a.m.
Sep 4, '07
Frankly, Vera doesn't know what the fuck she's talking about, Dave. Smith's in pretty bad shape. There's been nothing to suggest he's anything but headed for trouble. GOP losses in the Senate could hit 8 seats; a loss of four is almost guaranteed---according to REPUBLICANS.
Sep 4, '07
It's often lamented that the blogosphere is just a bunch of highly-informed activists chattering amongst themselves.... that what we're doing here doesn't actually do anything to move votes.
Apropos: From Common Dreams: Hillary rolls on: Are netroots a paper tiger?
If the answer is "yes" or "maybe" then the next question, partly answered above, is what can we do to make it a real tiger?
Sep 4, '07
Well put Stephanie.
And I'd also encourage people to check StopGordonSmith.com more often, the good folks over at the DPO take it seriously and work hard to keep it up to date. No matter who you support in the primary it's a great resource for the end result we're all looking for.
In order to win this race in the general, Dems who know what Smith is all about need to step up and get his record out there in the public eye. I run into way too many people who barely know what Gordon Smith does, let alone why he's bad for Oregon.
11:11 a.m.
Sep 4, '07
why not donate directly now.
Yeah - but I don't believe the DPO can ask you do that legally until there's a nominee. Keep in mind that filing day is in March, so we don't even technically know the full slate of candidates.
Sep 4, '07
By the way, Kari, I consider the Saxtonville series your finest moment as a blogger.
12:02 p.m.
Sep 4, '07
Why thank you, Barton. sheepish grin
Sep 4, '07
Except for being Rogue of the Week.
Sep 5, '07
...insisted on calling Ron Saxton a "$400-an-hour hosebag corporate attorney."
what are trying to say here, Kari, that Ron Saxton doesn't> make $400 an hour.
5:24 p.m.
Sep 5, '07