Don't buy the champagne yet Gordon Smith
Paulie Brading
Gordon Smith is running a textbook election on how to annoy his conservative Republican base. He began early on when he attempted to ride the coat tails of presidential candidate Barack Obama in a campaign ad. I guess he was making a kinda cute bipartisan effort to lure Democrats and non affilated voters to vote for him. The problem with the Smith campaign's decision to link itself with Barack Obama is that it was transparent and immediently seen by the Republican base for what the tactic was, totally desperate.
The Republicans have been at the wheel for 8 years with Gordon Smith riding shotgun, voting with George W. Bush 90% of the time. As recently as Friday, September 19th Smith is quoted over at Politicker OR as saying, "We need more leaders with a track record of independence, willing to buck their own party." There he goes again, shifting with the winds while his campaign's ads consistently play fast and loose with the facts. Again, Gordon slaps his own base in the face.
Right now the GOP is on the attack against Obama and right now Gordon Smith is running as fast as he can away from the Republican party. It must be a sort of schizophrenic experience to be stating he bucks his own party while voting with the party base 90% of the time. Check R- Congressman Greg Walden's positions on any issue and the real Republican party positions pour right out of his mouth. Gordon Smith stays true to the base 90% of the time, he just denies doing so when he's up for re-election.
A fine example is Gordon Smith's vote on March 13, 2008 to ban earmarks for one year. Earmarks are, as we all know, the pet projects lawmakers slip into spending bills without review and designed to benefit constituents or campaign donors. A yes vote would have banned earmarks for the fiscal year 2009. Gordon Smith voted NO.
A year ago Gordon Smith wrote, "Through smaller government, disciplined spending and continued tax reform, I believe that our economy will continue to expand, enabling us to reduce the deficit and pay down the federal debt, while at the same time lessoning the tax burden for American families." That statement is pure Republican party line spin. Gordon Smith wants us to believe he's had some sort of transformative political make over in 12 short months. Sorry, Mr. Smith, you can't have it both ways.
The path to 60 Democratic seats in the U.S. Senate runs through Oregon and New Hampshire, New Mexico, Minnesota, North Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, and Colorado. We will never repair the damage of the past 8 years with Gordon Smith misrepresenting what the majority of Oregonians want.
It's tempting to write a line or two about pigs and lipstick but that's so over.
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connect with blueoregon
Sep 21, '08
When is Gordon Smith going to publicly answer questions about the roles he, Greg Walden, Dick Cheney and Bush played in the Klamath disaster?
Sep 21, '08
I have met Gordon Smith on several occasions. During our discussions he did nothing but evade, dissemble, and lie. Once, I politely called shenanigans on him and he responded by insulting me personally. He doesn't belong in the United States Senate. I am a Republican, but I doubt that I will ever vote for Gordon Smith.
Sep 21, '08
While it might be comforting to believe that Republicans are upset with Smith trying to link himself with Obama, it's a good bet that most Republicans will recognize that his is a cynical ploy to get votes and once back in office Smith with be their agent voting the party line 90 or more per cent of the time. As an independent I'll be voting for Jeff Anybody-But-Smith.
Sep 21, '08
Based on comments from many Salem insiders I know, Jeff was not universally hailed as a good speaker. His testy relations with senate democrats and partisanship did not serve him well with colleagues. This is part of the reason for his "up or out" move from the house after only one session as speaker.
The Steve Duin column this morning is disturbing in the sense that it makes Jeff's claims on the rape ad issue appear downright Clintonian. No matter what folks on here say, Smith has had a long record of working across the aisle on many issues. Jeff hasn't.
4:13 p.m.
Sep 21, '08
Based on comments from many Salem insiders I know, Jeff was hailed as an extraordinary speaker who could bring 6 people into a room, all with very different opinions and help them hammer out a compromise. He has always been descibed as completly decent, a mediator, intelligent and and deeply versed in all sides of an issue. Peter Buckley is on record as praising Jeff for having the fortitude to stay on difficult issues until a resolution could be reached.
Jeff Merkley recieved a 100% endorsement from the Democrats in the Oregon legislature. Jeff worked for Habitat for Humanity, The World Affairs Council, was a Pentagon analyist, served in the Oregon House of Representatives where he was elected Speaker of the House.
Meanwhile Gordon Smith continues to be reliably opportunistic in order to be elected, saying and doing whatever it takes to try to stay in office including turning on the Rebublican base that elected him.
Sep 21, '08
Democrats (and those who want Smith and other Republicans out) need to keep hammering away at the Republican brand. It's damaged and stands for nothing and it's time to make it a "dirty" word (like "Liberal"?) When people ask why you are voting for Merkley, the response should be "Because Smith is a Republican". And then proceed to tell the person asking what that means.
5:59 p.m.
Sep 21, '08
Based on comments from many Salem insiders I know, Jeff was not universally hailed as a good speaker. His testy relations with senate democrats and partisanship did not serve him well with colleagues. This is part of the reason for his "up or out" move from the house after only one session as speaker.
Melissa:
Which "Salem insiders" are you speaking of? I've spoken with House members and insiders on both sides of the aisle that say the opposite. In fact, Dem House members universally endorsed Merkley in the primary (when they had no political danger if they didn't--Jeff was leaving the Speakership/House to run for the Senate). I've also talked with lobbyists and advocates who say essentially the same thing.
So please...which "insiders" are you speaking of?
9:32 a.m.
Sep 22, '08
paulie, jeff had unanimous support from the House, not the full Leg caucus. And Carla answers a point about his lesser popularity in the senate, but talking again about the House. Let's noT fudge, eh?
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