Many of you know that one of the most contested races this election year is the Senate race in Oregon. House Speaker Jeff Merkley has been chosen by Oregonians to face off against Republican Gordon Smith in the fall. Oh wait.....I called Gordon Smith a Republican. He doesn't want you to know what his party affiliation is, especially if you live in Oregon. If you're a lobbyist in D.C. that's another story.
Crossposted at the EENR Blog
More below the fold.....
Every time an election year nears for Gordon Smith, he starts up his moderate act. This year, Gordon Smith wants Oregonians to believe he's not a Republican, but instead he is much more like a Democrat. Don't believe me? Check out these ads and make sure you have your barf bag handy.
This one he has been airing non-stop and it makes me cringe every time I see it on my t.v. screen:
Middle Ground? This is the guy who votes with Bush 90% of the time. That's no middle ground. This is the guy who voted to remove the need for a FISA warrant and believes illegal surveillance on American citizens is just fine. This is the guy who voted to amend the constitution to ban gay marriage. This is the guy who voted against lowering prescription drug prices for our seniors. This is the guy who helped block the employee free choice act. Who does he think he's fooling? Oregonians like myself apparently. Here's another ad he's been smothering the airwaves with:
Do you see what he's doing folks? He already spent $500,000 attacking Jeff Merkley before the primary calling himself the candidate of change and referring to Merkley as politics as usual. Will Oregonians fall for his act this election? I hope not. We do need your help Kossacks to make sure to end the Smith Myth. That's the new term the Merkley Campaign is throwing around now...Smith Myth. It's quite fitting don't you think?
We in the Netroots Need to Rally Around Jeff Merkley!
It's rare in my opinion to come across an effective progressive legislator as well rounded as House Speaker Jeff Merkley. Like Max Cleland said, "He gets er' done." Jeff Merkley is a progressive like you and me. He supports UHC, was against the war from the start, believes we need investigations into war profiteering and believes impeachment should always be on the table. Jeff Merkley fought to strengthen the rights of workers, passing the card check in the House with a slim majority. Jeff Merkley championed the most expansive renewable energy portfolio Oregon has seen in the last thirty years. Merkley also worked hard to pass domestic partnerships legislation and anti-discrimination legislation. These are just a few things Merkley was able to accomplish in the House. Just a few! He also worked to pass legislation where sexual assault victims had easy access to emergency contraception and made sure insurance companies covered birth control. Merkley championed payday lending legislation and helped lower prescription drug prices by allowing bulk purchasing. I could go on and on......
I Found our Progressive Champion
We always complain about Democrats who don't have spines or capitulate to Republican pressure. That's not who Jeff Merkley is. He's a proven progressive legislator who does not back down from a fight. We have to work together to oust faux moderate Gordon Smith and replace him with Merkley. We can't let this massive opportunity pass us by. I know the White House is important, but so is the Senate. You and I both know we need progressive Democrats we can depend on when issues like UHC, ending the war in Iraq, restoring our civil liberties and ending the shame of torturing detainees surface. These issues will come up in the next Presidency. Please get to know Jeff Merkley here. I set up an Act Blue Page for Merkley, so if you can throw him some change that would be great. We need to help Merkley fight back against Gordo's misleading ads and ensure that Oregonians get to know the real Gordon Smith. Trust me folks, we want to send Jeff Merkley to the Senate.