Will Gordon Smith Answer The Daily Astorian's Question Honestly?
The Daily Astorian has lobbed a simple question to Gordon Smith.
“Will Gordon Smith embrace Bush?”
(The Daily Astorian Editorial, 2-12-08)
It's not hard to answer the newspaper's question. The Say Anything Senator has a long record of siding with President Bush, but running from his true record in an election year.
Smith Is A Loyal Bush Man:
-Smith consistently votes with President Bush.
-Smith led Bush Campaign in Oregon.
Smith Will Run From His Record In An Election Year:
-Bill Lunch, a non partisan political pundit says Smith tries to paint himself as a moderate, belying his true record.
-Columnist David Sarasohn of The Oregonian said Smith is “heading to the center like a gyroscope” as he prepares for re-election.
(David Sarasohn Column, The Oregonian, 12-2-07)
-Smith’s 2002 U.S. Senate opponent reminded Oregonians not to be fooled by Smith’s campaign conversions.
-Smith’s own supporters and allies have groused about Smith’s authenticity and accuracy.
“Anyone can look at Gordon Smith’s track record and determine his answer to The Daily Astorian,” DPO Communications Director Marc Siegel said. “Gordon Smith will publicly fight for President Bush up until Smith has to fight for re-election. Then, the Say Anything Senator will act like he’s never heard of the president he’s helped to lodge our troops in Iraq, jeopardize a woman’s right to choose, irresponsibly cut taxes for America’s wealthiest individuals and stall action on combating climate change.”
Read the full editorial from The Daily Astorian:
Daily Astorian
Editorial
2/12/2008
Will Gordon Smith embrace Bush?
Many Americans are eager to see an end to the Republican fetish of ideology
President Bush is ready to embrace Sen. John McCain as his successor. It is amusing that McCain thinks this is a good idea. Of course McCain faces the task of energizing the so-called Republican base, which tends to reside on the right wing. To the extent that McCain is attractive to the rest of us, it is because he has been an independent, pragmatic voice among congressional Republicans.
The New York Times on Sunday devoted space to a discussion among Republicans of the value President Bush brings to the McCain campaign. While Mr. Bush remains in the cellar with 30 percent approval ratings and four-fifths of Americans believing the nation is on the wrong track, the president still packs a wallop with moneyed Republicans.
The pointed and difficult question for all Republicans running in 2008 will be: "What part of George W. Bush's presidency do you accept?" The Iraq War? The economy? Environmental policy? Federal debt?
While Republicans quoted in the Times article thought the president could help Sen. McCain in various ways, GOP senate, gubernatorial or congressional candidates are not likely to rush to Mr. Bush's side.
In Oregon, the Senate race between incumbent Gordon Smith, one of two prospective Democrats, Steve Novick and Jeff Merkley, and Independent John Frohnmayer will assuredly be about George W. Bush. Sen. Smith grasps that and has for some time. Hence Smith's late-night conversion on the Iraq War.
Smith can take comfort in a January poll by Riley Research. That polling indicated a huge, 73 percent bloc of undecided voters when asked about the Democratic candidates for the Senate. But Smith's bottom-line problem is that Oregonians don't know what he's done or whether he's done anything beyond being seen with Sen. Ron Wyden. Smith seems to lack the legislative gene, a problem Wyden assuredly does not have. Riley Research polling indicates Smith's approval rating is stalled in the range of 38 to 39 percent.
Many Americans would like to see an end to the fetish of ideology - the mistaken notion fostered by Republican leaders going back to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich that the other political party's concerns could be ignored.
George Bush will be on the ballot in November, in the sense that this election will be a referendum on his eight years in office. Do we want more of it? That's the question that John McCain and Gordon Smith will be forced to answer.
Posted February 12, 2008 Smith + Bush 0 comments
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