Iraq

New Ad: Smith And Iraq

The DSCC began airing a new television ad on Gordon Smith’s support for the Iraq War.

Discuss: New Ad: Smith And Iraq

Posted August 28, 2008 in Iraq, Smith Videos, Smith Videos - 0 comments

Rep. Blumenauer Responds To Smith's Misleading Ad

Watch Rep. Earl Blumenauer respond to Gordon Smith's misleading advertisement, and the claim that Smith was "one of the first" to stand up to the war.

Discuss: Rep. Blumenauer Responds To Smith's Misleading Ad

Posted June 25, 2008 in Iraq, Smith Videos, Smith vs. Smith, static - 1 comments

Oregon Delegation Corrects Smith Inaccuracies

From the Desks of US Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, Darlene Hooley and David Wu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2008

Oregon House Members Response to Gordon Smith Television Ad “Guts and Independence”

“After watching Gordon Smith's new television ad featuring Elizabeth Furse and Avel Gordly we feel compelled to respond and to help set the record straight: Gordon Smith was not one of the first to speak out against the war. It was only after the resounding rejection of the failed Bush agenda at the ballot box in 2006 that Gordon Smith revealed that he harbored second thoughts about the war. Any previous consternation, on his part, was concealed from his constituents and those of us that were fighting to change this disastrous policy.

To this day, he has turned a blind eye to the other abuses: Halliburton; independent contractors; torture. The list on the war alone is as extensive as it is troubling.

We welcome Senator Smith's change of heart. We hope that it extends past just the war, to deal with all the assorted disasters and outrages associated with it.

We know that our friend and former colleague Elizabeth Furse has been gone from Congress for a long time. Had she still been in office, she would have opposed the war with us from the beginning rather than wait years for Senator Smith to speak out.”

Watch the coverage:

Discuss: Oregon Delegation Corrects Smith Inaccuracies

Posted June 19, 2008 in Iraq, Smith vs. Smith - 4 comments

National Blog Challenges Say Anything Senator

The Say Anything Senator may have topped himself with his latest contradiction.

Open Left documents how Gordon Smith won’t support the Responsible Plan to End The War In Iraq, a plan that Oregon’s leading Democratic U.S. Senate candidates support.

No surprise as that position dovetails with Smith’s five votes in 2007 to continue the war. Five votes that cancelled out Democratic U.S. Senator Ron Wyden’s votes.

But, the Say Anything Senator, rather than standing by his opposition to the Responsible Plan and standing by his voting record to continue the war, takes hypocrisy to a new level by seeking credit for authoring the plan.

Open Left pinpoints the hypocrisy.

“That Gordon Smith is literally arguing he authored a plan to remove all troops from Iraq without endorsing that plan should give you a sense for how precarious the Republican position really is.”
(Matt Stoller, Open Left, 4-8-08)

“With his latest contradiction, the Say Anything Senator has made two things clear,” DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. “One, unlike the leading Democratic U.S. Senate candidates, Gordon Smith does not support a Responsible Plan To End The War In Iraq. Two, he will say anything to get re-elected.”

Discuss: National Blog Challenges Say Anything Senator

Posted April 9, 2008 in Iraq, Smith vs. Smith - 0 comments

Will Smith Use McCain To Repair His Credibility With Oregonians?

As New Hampshire voters go to the polls today, one prominent Oregonian faces a choice of his own.

Gordon Smith can rescind his support for the Iraq War’s most ardent proponent - U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) - or he can continue to endorse a man who is campaigning on prolonging the war.

Since launching this video of Smith and McCain in July, the DPO has been criticizing Smith for his contradictory support of McCain. Smith says he opposes the war, but continues voting to prolong the war and has endorsed the war's most unyielding proponent for president.

Click and Play it Now

McCain’s campaign manager, Rick Davis, said McCain’s presidential candidacy is no longer about the White House, it’s about staying in Iraq.

“’This isn’t about electing a man president,’ Davis said. ‘It’s about continuing a war.’”
(Roger Simon, The Politico, 9-18-07)

“If Gordon Smith truly opposed the Iraq War, wouldn’t he end his support of the war’s most stubborn proponent? By tomorrow morning, John McCain will be the favorite to take the Republican nomination. By tomorrow morning, will Gordon Smith show character and credibility and drop his endorsement of McCain?” DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith asked. “The Iraq War is not just another policy issue. It is the most important issue facing our country and a daily matter of life and death for our armed forces. But apparently it’s not an important enough issue to Gordon Smith. He is letting his friendship with McCain outweigh his obligation to his constituents and our men and women in the military to bring the troops home.”

It’s no surprise to Oregonians that Smith is less than credible on the Iraq War.

His own supporters, editorial writers, and other voices throughout Oregon have all criticized Smith's credibility in 2007 and 2008.

Discuss: Will Smith Use McCain To Repair His Credibility With Oregonians?

Posted January 8, 2008 in Iraq, Smith + McCain - 3 comments

Smith Votes To Keep Troops In Iraq - Again

For the fifth time in 2007, Gordon Smith voted to keep troops in Iraq.

His Tuesday, December 18 vote followed his two votes in Fall and two in May to keep troops in Iraq.

Oregon’s other U.S. Senator, Ron Wyden, voted opposite Smith on all five votes.

Smith’s votes to keep troops in Iraq come despite his year long public claim that he opposes the war.

It’s no surprise Smith isn’t following through on his words.

Smith has proven he will say anything to win re-election.

Discuss: Smith Votes To Keep Troops In Iraq - Again

Posted December 19, 2007 in Iraq, static - 0 comments

Ineffective + Political Posturing = Gordon Smith

How ineffective is Gordon Smith?

How little does he actually care about following through on what he says?

Just ask him.

Although Smith boasted to columnist George Will he would have a dozen Republican U.S. Senators by September 2007 helping to get troops out of Iraq, he’s tallied zero support for removing troops.

“Smith's loneliness may be assuaged in September, when Petraeus reports on the effects of the troop surge. ‘There is,’ Smith says, ‘a high expectation that we’ — Republican senators — ‘will be able to vote for something different in September.’ And: ‘I can,’ he says, ‘think of a dozen Republican senators who will be with me in September.’"
(George Will Column, 6-17-07)

But, Smith’s ineffectiveness in Washington, DC doesn’t stop him from telling Oregon’s media he’s fighting for us.

“Lindsay Gilbride, the press secretary in Smith's office, responds: ‘Senator Smith understands and shares the concerns of many Oregonians regarding U.S. troops fighting in Iraq...[and] will continue to be the consensus builder among Republicans and Democrats in the Senate.’"
(Willamette Week Online, 12-7-07)

“September has come and gone, yet Gordon Smith has nothing to show for his political posturing except for more scripted responses. He claims to be a consensus builder, but he has not moved a single GOP colleague,” DPO Communications Director Marc Siegel said. “The only consensus Smith has built is among ineffectiveness, political posturing and Gordon Smith. Either Smith has no influence with his colleagues or he doesn’t actually believe what he’s saying.”

Discuss: Ineffective + Political Posturing = Gordon Smith

Posted December 10, 2007 in Iraq - 0 comments

Historic Protests

Thanks to all the Oregonians who made this event a success! We delivered our message statewide today because you came out to support our cause.

Below is today's press release on our statewide protests:

Oregonians Throughout The State Protest Smith For Saying Anything To Win Re-election.

One Year After Smith Said He Could No Longer Support The Iraq War And Only Days After We Learned 3,500 More Oregonians Will Head Out To Iraq, Stop Gordon Smith Campaign Holds Smith Accountable For Saying Anything To Win Re-election.

Portland - Gordon Smith will say anything to win re-election.

That was the point Oregonians throughout the state drove home today as they protested outside Smith’s senate offices in Bend, Eugene, Medford, Pendleton and Portland. This is likely the first time an organization has ever protested outside all of an Oregon U.S. Senator’s offices.

“Oregon can’t afford a senator who will say anything to win re-election,” DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said in Portland. “Smith has proven he cannot be trusted on the Iraq War. He will say anything to win re-election.”

“He was a war proponent until Americans tossed his party out of power. But he was only a war critic until it was time to vote,” said political consultant and former KOPT-AM radio host Brian Shaw in Eugene. "Now it's election season and Oregonians are being told to forget the gap between his public speeches and his voting record."

The protests - along with the video released Monday at StopGordonSmith.com - come one year after Smith’s speech from the floor of the U.S. Senate that he would no longer support the war. Although the Stop Gordon Smith Campaign ended up postponing the Bend protest this morning, a dozen Oregonians still showed up to protest Smith for saying anything to get re-elected.

Only after America kicked Smith’s Republican Party out of office and said no to the Iraq war did Smith say he would oppose it.

And, although Smith claimed to oppose the war, he has been “here, there, everywhere” on the war according to The Oregonian’s February 10, 2007 editorial.

In fact, in 2007, even after he said he would oppose the war, he has actually voted four times to keep troops in Iraq and prolong the conflict. It’s a conflict that will continue to haunt Oregon families. Last week, we learned thousands more Oregonians will be heading out to Iraq over the next few years.

About 40 people attended the protest in Eugene, 45 in Portland, 25 in Medford, 10 in Pendleton and 12 in Bend.

Discuss: Historic Protests

Posted December 5, 2007 in Iraq - 2 comments

Oregon's Largest Newspaper Catches Smith On His Iraq Votes

When questioned by a reporter about the fact that he continues to vote to keep troops in Iraq and prolong the Iraq War, what does Gordon Smith do?

Come up with new doubletalk to explain his old pattern of continuing the war.

“Smith has voted for bills with redeployment timetables. But he also voted for the May Iraq appropriations bill that did not contain a withdrawal timeline. And Smith has twice voted against proposals that would have cut off war funding.”
(The Oregonian, 11-20-07)

“Over and over again Gordon Smith has proven that he can’t be trusted to stand up for Oregon when it counts to end the Iraq War,” DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. “Oregonians have a U.S. Senator they cannot trust. He will say anything to win votes.”

For several years, Smith was one of President Bush’s biggest cheerleaders, giving him blank check after blank check for the Iraq War.

Read more and discuss: Oregon's Largest Newspaper Catches Smith On His Iraq Votes

Posted November 20, 2007 in Iraq - 0 comments

Poll Results – Smith's Votes To Keep U.S. In Iraq Tops All Options

Oregonians won’t accept a U.S. Senator who goes back on his word.

That’s the message they sent this Halloween as “Creepy Credibility” outpolled all other options in the Stop Gordon Smith Campaign’s Halloween poll.

Nearly 40 percent of those who participated in the poll chose Smith’s four votes to keep troops in Iraq – after he said he would work to get them out – as the scariest part of his record. By comparison, Ron Wyden voted opposite Smith on all four votes.

The results, in order of percentage:

Creepy Credibility: Smith voted 4 times to keep troops in Iraq since he came out against the war. - 39%

Eerie Economy: Smith cut taxes for Big Oil and corporations while voting against the minimum wage 6 times. – 26%

Endangered Environment: Smith was against drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, until he voted for it. No wonder his environmental rating is 14%. – 19%

Haunted Honesty: Oregon's second-largest newspaper has questioned his willingness to bend the facts. - 9%

Chilling Choice: Smith is consistently anti-choice, even voting against reaffirming Roe v. Wade. - 6%

Discuss: Poll Results – Smith's Votes To Keep U.S. In Iraq Tops All Options

Posted October 30, 2007 in Grassroots Resources, Iraq - 0 comments

Smith Voted Today To Keep Troops In Iraq - Again

Over and over and over again, Gordon Smith votes to keep troops in Iraq.

Today, facing yet another opportunity to back up his vows to get troops out of Iraq, Smith voted for the second time this fall and fourth time since May, to keep troops there.

The Feingold-Reid amendment that the U.S. Senate voted on today would have cut off funding for the war in Iraq effective June 2008. Smith voted against it. Oregon’s other U.S. Senator, Ron Wyden, voted for the plan.

If Smith truly wanted to end the Iraq War, why would he consistently vote to prolong it? Why would he not stand up and vote in Oregon's interest?

As DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith has said before, Smith has proven he can’t be trusted on this issue.

“Oregonians simply can’t trust Gordon Smith on the Iraq War,” Wood Smith said. “Gordon Smith is a man of talk, not action. He will talk to reporters night and day about his reversal on the Iraq War, and then go to the Senate chamber and vote to prolong the conflict.”

Discuss: Smith Voted Today To Keep Troops In Iraq - Again

Posted October 3, 2007 in Iraq - 1 comments

Smith’s Iraq Votes Don’t Match His Quotes

Gordon Smith says he opposes the war, but votes to prolong it - AGAIN

The gap between U.S. Senator Gordon Smith’s (R-OR) votes and his quotes grew again today as Smith voted for the third time since May to extend the troops’ stay in Iraq.

This is despite his vows to help get troops out of Iraq.

“Oregonians simply can’t trust Gordon Smith on the Iraq War,” DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. “Gordon Smith is a man of talk, not action. He will talk to reporters night and day about his reversal on the Iraq War, and then go to the Senate chamber and vote to prolong the conflict.”

QUOTES:

“Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) said he is working on a plan that envisions troop withdrawals in greater numbers than Petraeus’s suggested 30,000 by next summer. Petraeus’s proposed reduction would bring U.S. troop levels to about where they were before President Bush’s January ‘surge.’”
(The Hill, 9-12-07)

VOTES:

Today, Smith voted against U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold’s (D-Wisc.) plan to force a pullout of U.S. forces from Iraq by restricting military funding to noncombat operations in Iraq.

Under the plan, American soldiers would begin coming home within 90 days, with most troops home by next June. Oregon’s other U.S. Senator, Ron Wyden, voted for the plan.

Today’s vote followed Smith’s two May votes to prolong the war.

Read more and discuss: Smith’s Iraq Votes Don’t Match His Quotes

Posted September 20, 2007 in Iraq - 1 comments

Write Your Newspaper - Smith Has Broken Oregon's Trust

Don’t let Gordon Smith fool the public.

Despite his more than 20 votes to fund and authorize the Iraq War, Smith is trying to convince Oregonians he’s leading the charge to get us out of Iraq.

Despite voting to fund the war less than six months after he said he could no longer support it, Smith wants Oregonians to trust him.

Even though U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and all four of Oregon’s Democratic Congressional representatives have battled to end this war, Smith tells Oregon he’s the one to get us out of Iraq.

It’s too late for Smith to earn Oregonians’ trust, and we have to let The Oregonian and The Register-Guard know it.

Both papers have written editorials about Smith’s newest claim that he’s the leader to get us out of Iraq.

“Smith cosponsored an amendment to a defense appropriations bill that would force Bush to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq in 120 days. That's a lonely stand for a Republican.” (The Register-Guard Editorial, 7-20-07)

“Smith earnestly believes he has been consistent since his Dec. 7 bombshell, and he says he is receiving ‘overwhelming appreciation’ back home from ‘the common-sense center of Oregon.’ Whatever the case, he has done much this month to demonstrate the sincerity of his views on getting out of what he declared on July 11 to be a ‘low-grade civil war that we cannot win, and which is not ours to win.’" (The Oregonian Editorial, 7-22-07)

Do you believe Smith’s claims?

I certainly don’t.

We can’t let Smith fool the public.

Use these talking points to write a letter to the editor of The Register Guard, The Oregonian, or your local newspaper. Click here to find a newspaper near you.

Read more and discuss: Write Your Newspaper - Smith Has Broken Oregon's Trust

Posted July 23, 2007 in Iraq - 0 comments

Gordon Smith: More War?

United States Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) just can't get enough of war presidents.

After nearly seven violent, disastrous years under President Bush, Smith is pushing for four more under U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

McCain, who along with Bush is the most unyielding proponent of staying in Iraq, is Smith's choice for president.

Where do Smith and McCain want to take us next? Watch the video:

Click and Play it Now

Although Oregonians oppose the war, Smith has voted more than 20 times to authorize and fund it – including twice in May – and thinks the war's most intractable U.S. Senate proponent is a good fit for president.

"A John McCain presidency would lead us to endless losses in Iraq and potential armed conflict with Iran. The only Oregonian who endorses that direction is Gordon Smith," DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. "Smith could stand up for Oregon values and endorse a different candidate, or he could withhold endorsement. Instead, he stands steadfastly by McCain's misguided military missions."

Discuss: Gordon Smith: More War?

Posted July 11, 2007 in Iraq, Smith + McCain - 7 comments

DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith’s statement on U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith’s (R-OR) hypocritical suggestion today that he backs Iraq withdrawal by spring 2008

“Wait two months and Gordon Smith will flip again. Smith has proven he can’t be trusted on this issue. His version of getting us out of Iraq is to publicly claim to oppose the war, but vote more than 20 times to authorize, prolong and fund it, including multiple yes votes after he said in December he could no longer support the war. Oregon needs a senator who has the courage to do the right thing every year, not just in an election year.

Again, Gordon Smith simply can’t be trusted on this issue. Look at who he endorses to lead our country, John McCain. The number one proponent for staying in Iraq is Smith’s number one choice for president. Smith’s actions speak louder than his words, and his actions and endorsements keep us in Iraq.”

Discuss: DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith’s statement on U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith’s (R-OR) hypocritical suggestion today that he backs Iraq withdrawal by spring 2008

Posted July 10, 2007 in Iraq - 1 comments

Do you trust Gordon Smith?

No other U.S. Senator has so consistently voted for the Iraq War while claiming to oppose it. From 2002 to 2007, Gordon Smith has voted more than 20 times to authorize and fund the Iraq War. The string of his yes votes connects from October 2002 through May 2007.

Less than six months after Smith said in December he could no longer support the conflict, he twice voted to prolong and fund it.

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, voted against that bill.

Read more and discuss: Do you trust Gordon Smith?

Posted July 9, 2007 in Iraq - 3 comments

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?”

Read more and discuss: Gordon Smith’s Hypocritical Media Campaign – Take Two

Posted June 18, 2007 in Iraq, Smith + McCain, Smith vs. Smith - 0 comments

Two Iraq War Supporters And Campaign Cash

Smith brings in fellow Iraq War supporter to raise money for his campaign

Voting to continue funding the Iraq War last month was not enough of a slap in the face to Oregonians for U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR).

Now he’s bringing in a fellow Bush loyalist and ardent Iraq War supporter to bolster his campaign coffers.

United States Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will raise campaign funds for Smith on a cruise tomorrow evening on the Willamette River.

Read more and discuss: Two Iraq War Supporters And Campaign Cash

Posted June 15, 2007 in Iraq, Who Loves Gordon? - 1 comments

Smith on Iraq

Smith Voted For Troop Escalation Before He Voted Against It.In early February, Smith essentially voted in support of President Bush’s plan to send more than 21,000 additional U.S. troops to Iraq by refusing to even allow debate on a resolution blocking the President’s plan. Less than two weeks later and under intense political pressure, Smith flipped and voted against the escalation.[Vote 43, 2/5/07; Vote 51, 2/17/07]

• Editorial: "Follow the Bouncing Senator." In an editorial written between the first and second Smith votes on escalation, the Oregonian opined that Smith has "been here, there, everywhere on the war, on a Senate resolution opposing President Bush's troop escalation, even on the question of debating the issue in the Senate." They concluded, "Gordon Smith needs to explain himself on Iraq." [Oregonian, 2/10/07]

Read more and discuss: Smith on Iraq

Posted June 15, 2007 in Iraq, Smith vs. Smith - 0 comments

Smith Is All Talk, No Action on Iraq

Gordon Smith says he opposes the war, but votes to prolong it.

The gap between U.S. Senator Gordon Smith’s (R-OR) votes and his quotes grew again today as Smith decided to talk about helping the troops, but voted to extend their stay in Iraq.

“Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., voted against bringing to a vote an amendment that would remove most troops from Iraq by March 31. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., failed in a 29-67 vote. It needed 60 votes to be brought for an up-or-down vote. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., voted for the amendment.”
(The Oregonian, 5-16-07)

“If Gordon Smith were an action figure, he would never sell,” DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. “When it comes to Oregon’s interests, Gordon Smith is a man of talk, not action. He will talk to reporters night and day about his reversal on the Iraq War, and then go to the Senate chamber and vote to prolong the conflict.”

Read more and discuss: Smith Is All Talk, No Action on Iraq

Posted May 16, 2007 in Iraq - 0 comments