This is embarrassing for Republicans.
Oregon GOP Senator Gordon Smith is touting his connection to the presidential nominee as a selling point of his re-election campaign. The problem is it’s not his party’s nominee featured in the ad, it’s Barack Obama. And the theme of the commercial is bipartisan leadership.
It’s interesting that a Republican is running on the theme of bipartisan cooperation with Senator Obama because yesterday the campaign of Obama’s GOP rival, John McCain, released this statement:
There has never been a time when Barack Obama has bucked the party line to lead on an issue of national importance. He has never been a part of a bipartisan group that came together to solve a controversial issue.
Never, you say? Gordon Smith would respectfully disagree:
Obama: Change even Republicans can believe in!
(Hat Tip: Olbermann)
Because I’m pretty sure I just paid 4.07 a gallon for gas.
…your guy had much to do with the policies that caused +$4.00/gallon gas between the Enron Loophole and the Iraq war.
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p>Second, if you don’t think that raising fuel efficiency standards are controversial, think again. The proposals of the legislation that Obama and Smith worked on, Fuel Economy Reform Act of 2006, was eventually passed in 2007 as Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007. Only 7 Republicans voted for this measure and John McCain, per usual as the Senator with the worst voting record this year, missed the vote.
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p>Third, what has John McCain done to buck his party? I’ll give him McCain-Feingold. Since Bush has taken office, McCain has been in lock step voting with Bush 90% of the time. When McCain bucked his party, he tacked back to the party line; he flip flopped on tax cuts for the wealthy, the radical religious right clerics, torture, offshore drilling and and is now being questioned by the FEC about his campaign finances. I’m not saying Obama is perfect or that he’s not exaggerating his bipartisan cred, but John McCain is throwing stones from his fragile glass house by trying to minimize Obama’s bipartisan efforts.
check out this bizarre video. Make sense of it, if you can!
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Your post might lead one to believe that Gordon Smith is praising Obama. Really he’s saying Obama is praising him.
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p>He’s not saying “I love Obama’s ideas” as much as he’s saying “I got Obama to love my idea.”
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p>There’s a distinct difference there, don’t you think?
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p>Rather than “Obama: Change even Republicans can believe in!” I think the conclusion of your post should’ve been “Smith: Bipartisanship even Obama believes in!”
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p>Still counters the McCain line you cited, but let’s not take it too far. You know, in the interest of fairness.
Call me when the GOP starts playing fair, lol.
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p>Plus, it’s clear that Smith is attaching his name to the rising Obama star trying to forge a connection between himself and the Dem nominee in the minds of the Oregon voters. Obviously, Smith doesn’t see McCain helping his campaign at all or else the add would tout how maverick-y, patriotic, and McCain-like the Oregon Senator is. It’s as if Smith is running against McCain.
Arlen Specter was a popular moderate conservative who because of Kerry’s 2004 coattails was nearly beaten by a second tier opponent who wasn’t well funded.
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p>This is even worse for Smith for several reasons.
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p>1)GOP is toxic its 2008
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p>Any Republican incumbent even in Red States will be lucky to survive
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p>2)Coattails much broader
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p>Oregon was nearly a red state in 2000 and 2004 within a percentage point or two both years. This year Obama has held a solid lead and he could even get close to 10%. Those coat-tails could be devastating for Smith.
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p>3)Merkely is better
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p>Merkely is the State Speaker, is a state wide name, and is definitely going to have a funraising advantage over Smith. Unlike Specters opponent Merkely is top tier is there ever was one so Smith at this point is doing whatever he can to stay alive.
Why is it a cause for derision when a candidate for a national office embraces bipartisanship?
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p>If your view is that senators should represent their states, then he is catering to the (apparently large) proportion of his state that likes Obama, and if your view is that senators should focus on a national perspective, isn’t bipartisanship necessary to solve the collective problems of 300 million people with a dizzying array of conflicting viewpoints?
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p>Of course, Smith’s real problem here is he also should’ve mentioned, “And John McCain likes me too!” (or maybe he did in another ad and no one thought this newsworthy). Then his message would be clear: no matter who wins, Oregon can win if you vote for me, since I personally know and have the respect of both candidates.
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p>That said, this isn’t the first time he’s alienated a significant portion of the state with a simple oversight
(http://www.blueoregon.com/2008/06/a-gordon-smith.html), so maybe it’s time to start looking for a new campaign manager?