Republican Gordon Smith's campaign has a serious problem addressing the issues Oregonians and Americans care about. The problem? He doesn't talk about them, instead he focuses on negative and misleading attacks. Gordon Smith's Campaign has spent nearly two million dollars attacking Oregon Senate candidate Jeff Merkley. This past week Smith continued his baseless attacks on Jeff and the Oregon Legislature for their recent renovation of the Oregon Capitol Building. Smith is also airing another negative ad pushing the tired ol' "he's a big bad tax and spend liberal" meme. It's a shame that Gordon Smith doesn't feel the need to address the real problems America is facing and would rather spend his time attacking Jeff Merkley.
Full disclosure, I am the netroots director for OR-Sen candidate Jeff Merkley
While Republican Gordon Smith spends his time addressing how much the Oregon Legislature spent on couches for the Oregon Capitol Building, Americans and Iraqis are dying. It's truly sad that my Senator thinks the most important issue to talk about right now is the furniture in the Capitol Building. It's no wonder his approval numbers continue to stay below 50%. Gordon Smith would rather air negative ads than spend his time addressing poverty, the Iraq War and the lack of affordable health care for Oregonians.
Gordon Smith's sad attempt to pin fiscal irresponsibility on the Oregon Legislature is horribly misplaced. The Oregon Editorial boards agree, Gordon Smith's attacks are hypocritical and ill-advised. Gordon Smith supports a 621 million dollar renovation to the Capitol Building Visitor's Center. Gordon Smith continues to support a failed policy in Iraq which has major caused economic instability and a broader national security problem. Gordon Smith supports billions in tax breaks for big oil which has done NOTHING to advance a green energy economy. This is the Smith Campaign in a nutshell; empty rhetoric.
Oregon Senate candidate Jeff Merkley does care about the issues that matter to Oregonians and Americans. Jeff wants to put an end to the war and remove all American contractors and mercenaries from Iraq. Here's a statement from Jeff taking on Smith for his lack of leadership on the war:
"Gordon Smith led us into a war that should never have been authorized and never have been waged," said House Speaker Jeff Merkley "His partisan loyalties blinded him to the reality of the situation. After six of his Republican pro-war colleagues lost their reelection bids, Smith's own political concerns led him to declare that he was 'at the end of his rope.' Smith showed no independence from George Bush when it really counted and he still has no plan to bring our troops home. I opposed this war publicly from the very beginning and I will provide new leadership in Washington D.C. to bring our sons and daughters home."
Gordon Smith has NO plan to end the war in Iraq. Considering the failed state of the private sector in Iraq and the recent demands by Iraq's Foreign Minister who wants us out of the country, we need new leadership in Congress to change course don't you think?
Jeff Merkley isn't spending his time talking about non-issues because he knows better. It's as simple as that. Jeff knows that if you're going to be a Senator representing millions of people, you better represent your constituents. Gordon Smith has taught us all that he lacks the courage and compassion to fight for what's right for our country. Jeff Merkley has proved that he will fight to better the quality of life for Americans, will work to preserve our planet for generations to come and will help restore our nation's integrity and image around the world. Who would you vote for? The candidate who thinks that furniture is more important to address than ending the war, or the candidate whose top priority once elected is to end the war? Yeah...me too.
Kossacks for Merkley!
I recently set up an Act Blue page where my fellow Kossacks can donate to Jeff Merkley. If any of you want to help oust Smith and send a strong-willed progressive Democrat to the Senate, help promote the Kossacks for Merkley page here at Daily Kos and let's get it done!