Common What?
Gordon Smith rolled out his re-election platform over the weekend.
Is it a pledge to stop raking in special interest cash, stand up to the special interest agenda and start voting in Oregonians’ interests?
No.
Is it a pledge to start speaking honestly with Oregonians? After all, Oregon newspapers and the Say Anything Senator’s own supporters and allies have complained about Smith’s contradictions, fact bending and inaccuracies.
No.
What Gordon Smith said was:
"’If you check the record,’ he said, ‘you will find that I have found common ground for the common good.’"
(The Oregonian, 3-2-08)
So, let’s take Smith at his word and check his record.
Common Ground:
On the important issues facing Oregon, Smith cancels out Oregon’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden’s vote. On Iraq, climate change, health care, and a host of other issues, Smith pushes Wyden and Oregon backward.
Although Oregon went Blue in both 2000 and 2004, Gordon Smith consistently votes with President Bush.
Oregon’s most prominent political pundit noticed that Smith tries to paint himself as more moderate than his voting record indicates. Not much common ground there.
Smith finds more common ground with the special interests who contribute millions to his campaign and control his votes than with Oregon families.
Common Good:
Other than reminding special interests that Oregon has a Republican U.S. Senator who accepts their checks, what has Gordon Smith achieved for Oregon?
Let’s ask the columnists and editors who cover him closely:
“The larger question is what Smith has done with his appointment with history. While Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden has authored a tax bill and a health care reform bill, Smith has turned in no work product of that heft and weight. It has been a largely cosmetic performance. That has caused us on prior occasions to wonder why Smith bothers to serve. At this point in the life of the nation, a senator from Oregon ought to be offering serious solutions to major problems.”
(The Daily Astorian Editorial, 4-10-07)
“Give Smith credit: He just illustrated the dramatic difference between sitting in that seat and actually filling it… Gordon Smith? He sat on his hands when it mattered.”
(Steve Duin Column, The Oregonian, 12-12-06)
“By contrast, Sen. Smith has little accomplishment to show for his two terms. He clearly lacks the legislative gene, which causes me to wonder why he serves, except for the prestige of the job.”
(Steve Forrester Column, The Daily Astorian, 10-3-07)
“Gordon Smith’s campaign platform is about as credible as the Say Anything Senator’s word,” DPO Executive Director Trent Lutz said. “The only Common Good Gordon Smith supports is what’s good for the special interests. The only Common Ground he’s found is uniting newspaper editors, his supporters and opponents in distrusting his statements.”
Posted March 3, 2008 Smith vs. Smith 1 comments
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Common good? What’s good for Oregonians about this record?
Gordon Smith voted over 20 times for the Iraq War including even after he said he would oppose it.
-Voted against reaffirming Roe v. Wade.
-Voted to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, after pledging not to during his 2002 campaign.
-Earned a 40 percent score from Disabled American Veterans.
Let’s send Gordon home…for the common good.
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