Gordon Smith’s Hypocritical Media Campaign – Take Two
After consistently voting to fund and authorize the Iraq War, Gordon Smith tries to fool Oregonians - Again
United States Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) is at it again.
Despite voting more than 20 times from 2002 through 2007 to fund and authorize the Iraq War, Smith wants to convince Oregonians he opposes the conflict. In a Sunday column by conservative writer George Will of the Washington Post, Smith declared his opposition to the war.
“I remember the last time Gordon Smith pulled this stunt,” DPO Executive Director Trent Lutz said. “Last December, after telling as many reporters as he could find that he opposed the war, Senator Smith retreated to the Senate chamber and continued voting for the conflict. By consistently voting for the war while telling the public he opposes it, he has lost all credibility with Oregonians. Who is going to believe him now?”
The consistent gap between Smith’s votes to continue the war and his quotes opposing it, and his staunch support of U.S. Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) presidential campaign shred Smith’s credibility.
McCain Hypocrisy
Even Will, a loyal conservative, noticed the hypocrisy of Gordon Smith’s positions. McCain is the number one advocate for staying in Iraq, yet Smith steadfastly supports his campaign.
“Smith has endorsed John McCain's presidential campaign. But the core of McCain's campaign is the puzzling doctrine that if we do not win in Iraq ‘they will follow us home.’ The global threat of terrorism cannot be defeated in Iraq, so, will terrorists not ‘follow us home’ only if U.S. forces continue to engage them in Iraq — where Gen. David Petraeus says there can be no military solution to that nation's afflictions? If so, that implies a need for endless engagement in Iraq, which is not a politically possible option.”
(George Will Column, 6-17-07)
Smith’s December Comments and May Votes
As Smith tries to convince Oregonians he now opposes the war, he will have to overcome the distrust created by the gap between his December quotes and his ensuing votes.
"I, for one, am at the end of my rope when it comes to supporting a policy that has our soldiers patrolling the same streets in the same way, being blown up by the same bombs day after day. That is absurd. It may even be criminal. I cannot support that anymore."
(U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR), December 7, 2006)
But Smith’s votes did not match his quotes. Less than six months later Smith voted to prolong and fund the conflict.
On May 24, 2007, Smith voted in favor of fully funding the Iraq War. Every Democratic representative from Oregon, including U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), voted against that bill.
His decision to continue funding the conflict came eight days after his May 16, 2007 vote against bringing to a vote, an amendment that would remove most troops from Iraq by March 31, 2008.
“Gordon Smith has voted more than 20 times to authorize and fund the Iraq War and launched two media campaigns to convince Oregonians he opposes it,” Lutz said. “It does not matter how many reporters he talks to nor how slick his quotes are, he can’t hide his voting record in support of the Iraq War.”
Posted June 18, 2007 Iraq, Smith + McCain, Smith vs. Smith 0 comments
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