Oregon’s US Representative Peter DeFazio has long been a GOP target for his progressive ideas such as requiring Hedge Fund Managers to pay their taxes. The GOP has fielded Art (‘send me your urine sample’) Robinson the last few election cycles; however, he was never a threat as OR-04 voters have always returned DeFazio to office with double digit majorities. This election year, DeFazio faces a greater threat to his House Seat.
Two days ago, this article appeared in The Oregonian: ‘Alek Skarlatos, 28-year-old political novice, closes in on incumbent Peter DeFazio in 4th District congressional race’. CD-04 has always been a purple district that has become more red over the years. The Cook Political Report, as well as Daily Kos, now rate OR-04 from likely to lean Democrat.
In line with the GOP’s strategy of crippling the upcoming Biden Administration while damaging the nation, Representative Peter DeFazio is an even bigger target since he is the fourth ranking Democrat in the House and the House Transportation Chair. Infrastructure is to Peter DeFazio as Climate Change is to Jay Inslee—a lifelong obsession. His contacts, knowledge, and influence will be indispensable to the Biden plan to Build Back Better. He will play a major role if he is reelected.
DeFazio’s opponent—Alek Skarlatos—has three components that the GOP loves in a candidate:
- He attracted international press when he intervened with others in a terrorist attack on a Paris train in 2015,
- He was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, and
- He is an unqualified empty cup at the age of twenty-eight who supports Trump 100% and opposes any further Covid19 relief or a minimum wage.
As CD 4 constituents, we are being slammed by Skarlatos’ TV ads full of distortions and GOP fearmongering (The Oregonian Oct. 18, 2020):
Early in the campaign, Skarlatos released a video that at first glance looked more like a trailer for a new Terminator flick. A searchlight cuts through murk of what appears to be a post-apocalyptic landscape. Ominous music plays.
“Socialists and communists are burning our cities,” Skarlatos intones. “Violent mobs are attacking our men in uniform. We can all feel it. America is in danger.”
While we send support to Democratic challengers to flip Red House and Senate seats, let us not lose sight of those valuable legislators who possess the Knowhow and Moxie to BUILD BACK BETTER!
Today from Team DeFazio:
Did you watch the congressional debate, Stephanie?
There's only one conclusion: Peter is a hard-working fighter for working families, ready to keep serving the people of southwest Oregon, while Alek Skarlatos is in way, WAY over his head.
We've got to make sure we've got the resources to fight back against his multimillion-dollar disinformation blitz over the next 13 days. Chip in now to show Oregonians the truth about this race!
Here's what happened:
Peter talked about his vision for Oregon's future – protecting our rights and safety, creating jobs and defending our planet, and securing our democracy – and laid out his plans to get us there.
Alek recited the worst of the Republican talking points someone wrote down for him:
- Alek doesn't support extending unemployment benefits, even though thousands of Oregonians can't find work in the era of COVID.
- Alek wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would take health care away from millions of Americans (including almost half a million in Oregon alone) and would eliminate protections for people with preexisting conditions overnight.
- Alek wants to defund Planned Parenthood, cutting off vital reproductive care for thousands of rural Oregonians.
- And Alek insisted that the United States is "not a democracy," just to make sure we understand he doesn't respect the will of the people.
Remember: Republican donors and Super PACs threw $2.4 million at Skarlatos over the last three months because of Alek's dangerous extremist views, not despite them.
And the only folks standing in their way are grassroots supporters like you.