A Novick supporter for Jeff Merkley

By Jenni Simonis of Gresham, Oregon. Jenni is a local party activist and builds websites for political candidates.

Even though I began this political season as a Steve Novick supporter, I once again today got a reminder of why I now support Jeff Merkley and why it’s so important that we all work towards electing him this November.

This afternoon in a little country store in downtown Troutdale, Speaker Jeff Merkley addressed a crowd of around 15, not including staff, who had come out to meet and talk with him and state representative candidate Nick Kahl (HD 49). This was the 7th stop on the 100 Towns for Change tour, which is taking Jeff to small towns all over the state.

As he told me today, it is important for him and the campaign to get out of Portland, out of the major cities, and into the small towns. “This race is about the entire state,” he said.

I think it’s great that Jeff is out speaking to people in little and medium sized towns all over the state. Sure, you might not have standing room only crowds of hundreds or thousands, but their voices are just as important. And these are the areas often times most overlooked in races like this one.

And it’s at events like these, where there’s no formal program – just Jeff going around and speaking with people – where you really get a feel for the problems affecting this state. Some discussed the economy and how worried they are about being able to make ends meet – even with a good job. Some discussed the Columbia River Crossing and how important it is for the economy to have a good transportation system, while also including alternative ways for people to get where they need to go. And others discussed the war in Iraq and all the ways it is affecting our country.

Time and time again, Jeff listened to everything that was said and then responded with his views, how Gordon Smith had handled the issue(s), and how he’d do it differently. He left people feeling as if they’d truly been listened to, and that he cared about their issue. That this gathering of 15 people was just as important as a gathering of a thousand.

After going through the room and making sure to stop and chat with everyone, Jeff gave a quick speech on why he’s leaving the state legislature for the U.S. Senate, what he sees are the biggest problems affecting our country, and what needs to be fixed. He also introduced Nick Kahl to the group – Kahl is running for the house district seat being vacated by Karen Minnis.

Jeff said that we have to put our nation back on track – it’s clear we’re in deep trouble. We need to work to put the economy back on track – and that means creating an economy that works for all Americans. While Gordon Smith has worked hard for the richest among us – the oil companies, the pharmaceutical companies, etc., Jeff has been fighting for all of us.

He did that work on a state level in his position in the state legislature. While he was in Salem fighting for fair interest rates for people needing payday loans, Gordon Smith was in DC fighting to protect payday loan companies in bankruptcy proceedings.

While Jeff was helping to pass legislation encouraging the use of alternative forms of energy – which has brought in more than a dozen new companies to Oregon – Gordon Smith was voting in ways that protected the oil companies’ profit lines.

After more than a decade of paralysis in Salem, Jeff along with other Democrats in this state, took back the state house and were able to get legislation through to better the lives of everyday Oregonians. And now, he says, it is time for him to help end that same paralysis in the U.S. Senate.

We need to protect and create new jobs here in the United States. He explained that through this administration’s trade policies, tax policy, and now the contracting out of military contracts overseas that we are doing away with our middle class. By driving those jobs overseas, which Gordon Smith has approved of through voting for subsidies for companies moving those jobs, we aren’t just hurting our economy today.

When contracts for things like new equipment for our military are taken overseas, we’re also losing the ability to build tomorrow’s workforce. Those that already have longtime experience in these areas help to train tomorrow’s workforce – that experience just doesn’t help with the project they have today, but those further down the line. And every time we lose one of those contracts or a branch shuts down and moves overseas, another group of young people doesn’t get trained. And it is the beginning of a cycle that is destroying the middle class, he said.

Members of Congress like Gordon Smith doing very little to keep our future secure, whether it is keeping and growing jobs here, ensuring soldiers coming home have the mental health care they need, or protecting our environment. And another six years of Gordon Smith representing Oregon in the U.S. Senate is going to put us even further behind in turning things around.

By the end of Jeff’s speech and his quick Q&A, it was obvious that Jeff cares deeply about the issues that are affecting our state, our nation, and our world. And his proposals, such as a Veterans Bill of Rights for the 21st Century, show that Jeff could easily be one of the most progressive members of the U.S. Senate. I may have been supporting Novick during the primary, but these issues and ideas make it very easy for me to get behind Jeff and support him in any way that I can. I know from my experience in working with him over the past six years that he’ll fight for what’s right for Oregon and our nation – and he’ll be an excellent U.S. Senator for Oregon. This is a case where I don’t feel that I need to work against Gordon Smith and make sure he isn’t re-elected – but a time when I can get behind the Democratic candidate and work for Jeff. I learned in 2004 that just being against someone isn’t enough – supporting your candidate and working for him will win you more votes and support than just being against the other guy. And it makes for a much better experience, as well.

I hope that all of you will have a chance to see Jeff as he heads around the state to talk with people. He was heading to Boring and then to Sandy when he was through with the event in Troutdale - and that’s just the beginning . You can read more about his 100 Towns Tour for Change here.