Veterans Hammer Smith’s Veteran Voting Record
Gordon Smith is learning that he can’t outrun his voting record.
His votes against veterans caught up to him yesterday as Veterans In Action criticized him for his atrocious voting record and asked him to change course.
Smith has earned a 40 percent score from Disabled American Veterans. That rating placed him in the bottom 25 percent of the U.S. Senate - lower than more than 25 U.S. Senate Republicans and every Democrat and Independent serving at that time in the chamber.
Why do you think Smith has earned a failing grade from Disabled American Veterans?
Why do you think Smith has consistently voted against veterans’ causes?
Does he not know how his votes damage veterans?
Or does he not care?
Posted August 29, 2007 Smith vs. Smith, Veterans 9 comments
Comments
Glad to see people sticking it to Smith on this issue, it's amazing how little the GOP actually 'supports the troops' where it really matters. I know a lot of veterans aren't happy with Smith at all.
It is interesting to note, only one Democratic Senator got lower than 80% rating from the Vets group, and that was Ben Nelson who got a 60% rating. Only one GOP Senator got a rating as high as Ron Wyden (that being Olympia Snowe in Maine, the only one on the GOP to go above 60% the lowest rating fo any Dems).
So Demcorats don't support the troops how?
Great website Mrs. Chisolm. Guess who got a lower rating than Sen. Smith...John McCain the hero of all veterans, did you mention that in this here little digital propaganda slam? Smith doesn't vote on bills that are bundled with a bunch of pork, he demands clarity and fiduciary responsibility ...it's called the courage of one's convictions.
Pretty good indicator of the relative importance he places on the popular vote vs. corporate contributions. That actually helps him. His core supporters believe that the electorate are dirt and powerful alpha males should run the show.
Of course none of that would be a surprise if folks would take him to task for his religious beliefs, that they are incompatible with a progressive society.
Actually, McCain is far from hero to all veterans. However, it's interesting you bring that up because one issue veterans have with Smith is the fact that he's playing the anti-war card now but supporting McCain's presidential run. In terms of fiscal responsibility, one of the last veterans' benefits bills Smith voted against would have funded itself by closing tax loopholes for corporations.
To Dustin Davis:
Political voting in the Senate has always been a matter of voting not for the title of a bill, but for what is contained in the bill itself. Each party over the decades has put forth a bill for whatever reason and as the bill makes it's way through both houses, the bill changes. In other words, you can't blame either party for being at fault for adding amendments. They both are guilty. Let's face facts. Smith votes with the republican party line a majority of the time. He seems only to vote against the GOP when his reelection chances will go up if he votes against the party. His vote has nothing to do with the courage of his convictions. Get wise and stop voting against your own best interests-er, that's assuming you're not someone in the upper 5 percent of income earners in the US.
DAV may give him a failing score, but my experience working with vets has been that Smith's office has been an ally to vets seeking help when dealing with the VA, and generally considered as good as Wyden's in that regard. I am guessing that this is based more on his voting record rather than how Smith's office helps individual vets. And no, I'm not a Republican and I'm probably not voting for Smith. I just get irritated when I see bashing of someone who actually does help vets.
That's a fair point, except for the large number of veterans who are not happy with Smith at all. It's nice that he helps out those who come to his office personally, but when it comes down to making sure things get fixed on a bigger level Smith isn't willing to make the sacrifices. If he's not willing to fix the system then he deserves whatever criticism comes because of it. He can't get off the hook for not helping thousands of veterans by making a couple token gestures.
Gordon Smith is NOT a conservative! Here in rural Oregon where gas prices are some of the highest in the country, he voted AGAINST drilling in Alaska, which I believe just the psychological effect of that bill passing would have an immediate effect on fuel prices. We're HURTING out here and his silence is deafening.
That's just one issue. He has shown with every vote that he is a RHINO ( republican in name only). Every time I have called or e-mailed his office-- no reply,--nothing. It's the typical politician's disease these days. They are totally disconnected from their constituents, living in a bubble in DC.
Our government representatives USED to run for office to do the right thing for their country. These days they run for THEMSELVES, a career, power, benefits, perks etc.Gordon Smith is absolutely tone deaf to the people that he SUPPOSEDLY serves. He's hiding, he's not looking out for us, he's a psuedo conservative, he's gotta go!
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