Republican Gordon Smith is now no longer a co-chair of the McCain Campaign in Oregon. Since 2006, Gordon Smith was listed as the honorary co-chair of the McCain Campaign and has been one of McCain's earliest supporters. Apparently Gordon Smith wants nothing to do with the McCain Campaign...oh but wait..Smith does support McCain 100% of the time.
More below the fold....
Full disclosure, I am the netroots director for OR-Sen candidate Jeff Merkley
Here's what Jeff Merkley had to say about Gordon Smith's recent departure as chair of the McCain Campaign:
"Rather than be straight with Oregon voters about his right-wing agenda, Senator Smith is willing to throw his good friend John McCain under the bus to win reelection," said House Speaker Jeff Merkley. "Gordon Smith believes he can rewrite history. He is willing to do or say anything this year to get reelected."
For months now, Gordon Smith has been trying to fool Oregonians into believing that he's some sort of moderate Republican. Smith aired an ad saying he was one of the first to oppose the war. Not true. Smith aired an ad saying that Obama praises his so-called environmental leadership. Not true. Smith aired an ad cozying up to Kerry's efforts to help homeowners facing foreclosure. Kerry set the record straight. After releasing all these misleading ads in Oregon, he's now trying to pretend that he's not a REPUBLICAN that supports John McCain.
The Smith Campaign is claiming that Smith could no longer co-chair the McCain Campaign because of the tough Senate race he's in. What hogwash. Why don't they just be honest? Gordon Smith is attempting to run away from the Republican brand by distancing himself from John McCain.
No matter what Gordon Smith wants people to believe, the truth is out there for all to see. Gordon Smith is a staunch conservative Republican who has voted with Bush and Cheney 90% of the time. When the Smith Campaign was recently asked why Gordon Smith decided not to attend the Republican Convention his spokesperson replied:
"Senator Smith 100 percent supports John McCain's candidacy for president."
Just want to make sure.