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Today, Senator Gordon Smith released a new TV ad illustrating what he loves most about Oregon - its remarkable natural beauty, its small towns, and its unique way of life. Born and raised in Eastern Oregon, Gordon Smith pledges to make sure no part of our economy or state is ever left behind.
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SMITH RESPONDS TO MISLEADING ATTACK AD
Lake Oswego – Today, partisan out-of-state special interest group Majority Action launched another attack ad against Gordon Smith, distorting his long record of bipartisanship.
“Leading Democrats from Governor Kulongoski to Hillary Clinton have praised working with Senator Smith and his bipartisanship,” Smith spokesperson Lindsay Gilbride said. “Once again, these special interests have their facts wrong – Gordon Smith not only teamed-up with Barack Obama to increase car mileage standards, they both voted for the energy bill that promoted renewable energy in Oregon.”
Reality Check:
The 2005 Energy Bill contained billions of dollars in tax incentives for renewable energy, energy efficiency investments and hybrid and advanced technology vehicles (Source: Dept. of Energy). Who else voted in favor of this bill? Twenty-five Senate Democrats, including Barack Obama. (Roll Call Vote 109-213)
Fuel Standards? Gordon Smith has an undeniable record of supporting increases to fuel standards, including authoring a plan with Barack Obama that led to the first increase in fuel standards in two decades. FLAT OUT DISTORTION: In order to save the $1700 claimed in the misleading ad, the "average" Oregon family would have to drive from Portland to the headquarters of Majority Action in Washington D.C. and back again 108 times.
Who Says Gordon Smith is bipartisan? His record speaks for itself:
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Broke with George Bush and voted 14 times to end the Iraq War
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Supports stem cell research in opposition to George Bush
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In the face of a veto threat, Gordon Smith and Ted Kennedy introduced legislation to expand federal hate crime laws for gays and lesbians.
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Blocked Bush’s proposed cuts to Medicaid
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Opposed Bush and helped craft legislation to expand children’s health insurance
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Broke with the Republican party in voting to advance the first major piece of legislation aimed at addressing global warming
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Senator Gordon Smith responded to the false attacks from Jeff Merkley’s special interest allies today, releasing a new ad setting the record straight on Smith’s energy record. Smith teamed with Senator Barack Obama to craft a new and innovative approach to increase fuel mileage standards, reduce foreign oil consumption and protect the environment. Visit this link to learn more about Gordon Smith's work on fuel standards and his fight for a cleaner environment.
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In a new television ad running now, former Democratic Congresswoman Elizabeth Furse and Democratic State Senator Avel Gordly praise Senator Gordon Smith's independent and bipartisan leadership. Both women have endorsed the Senator's re-election as Democrats for Smith and have worked with Smith over the past decade on issues ranging from health care to civil rights.
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While Gordon Smith has a proven record of finding common ground on health care Jeff Merkley failed to pass a children’s health care plan as Speaker of the Oregon House.
Last year, Smith broke with Party leaders and President Bush to broker a bipartisan extension of the federal children’s health plan known as SCHIP -- a program Smith helped create in 1997 with Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. Smith’s leadership helped win the support of 17 additional Republicans who also supported the plan.
This isn’t the only example of Merkley’s excessive partisan failures. Following the February special session of the state legislature, Merkley was criticized by the Salem Statesman Journal for his “needless partisanship” (Source: Editorial, Statesman Journal, “Special session didn't prove what it meant to,” March 2, 2008.) and failure to demonstrate bipartisan cooperation. And just recently, in an interview with The Oregonian, Merkley was unable to cite a single time in ten years as a legislator he has demonstrated independence and deviated from his Party ideology (Source: Harry Esteve, Oregonian: “All bets are off in Senate race,” May 25, 2008).
Senator Smith has a long record of finding bipartisan common ground on health care, including:
- In 1993 and 1995, as a State Senator and Senate President, Smith worked with Democratic Governor’s to create the first dedicated funding source for the Oregon Health Plan.
- In 1997, Senator Smith worked with Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy to create the federal children’s health plan known as SCHIP.
- In 2005, Smith joined with Democrats to block unfair cuts to Medicaid being proposed by the Bush Administration.
- Broke with GOP in 2005 and 2006 to advance federal funding for stem cell research; sponsor of legislation in 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007 to promote embryonic stem cell research
- In 2004, Smith won passage of bipartisan legislation to address mental health issue and help prevent teen suicide.
- And in 2007, Smith joined Governor Ted Kulongoski at the State Capitol to endorse the state Health Kids Plan and helped broker a bipartisan extension of SCHIP, the federal children’s health care program.
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| Volunteers are gearing up for the campaign.... |
but first, let's fuel up on some food! |
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TV Ad: Middle Ground
Script:Moderate. Independent. Bipartisan. That is Gordon Smith, working with Republicans and Democrats - for Stem Cell Research, health care for working families, renewable energy and a cleaner environment. The Oregonian says “Smith stands for beliefs on middle ground.” The News-Review, “A tradition of independence” and the National Journal ranks Smith at the center of the Senate. I am Gordon Smith and I approve working together across party lines and this ad.
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| Newspaper Advertsing: Democrats for Smith |
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Script: Portland politicians like Jeff Merkely just never seem to get it - failing to understand our rural economy and our way of life. Instead of bridging the rural-urban divide – they make it worse.
When the legislature passed a bipartisan plan to allow more sustainable timber harvests, Jeff Merkley voted no (Source: House Joint Memorial 28, 2005). That’s right Merkley opposed a balanced plan that would have created 4,000 new timber jobs. (Source: Brad Cain, AP, “House GOP leaders eye new Tillamook logging bill,” December 21, 2004.)
In rural areas where access to health care is a challenge Merkely even opposed a tax credit for volunteer doctors. (Source: HB 3087, 2005). And when Salem finally created an office in state government -- too look out for rural Oregon - our health care, jobs, and schools -- Merkely closed it. (Source: Budget Report and Measure Summary for HB 5026-A, Approved on June 20, 2007)
The East Oregonian said Merkley has snubbed the region and called his statements "ignorant" and his attitude "all too familiar” (Source: Editorial, East Oregonian, “Merkley snubs Eastern Oregon,” October 20, 2007.)
Jeff Merkely - when it's time to be united, Merkley keeps us divided.
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Script: Jeff Merkley banned fundraising while the legislature is in session. But when he needed money for his faltering campaign he broke his rule and took thousands from special interests, from lobbyists.
Jeff Merkley more of the same, when it is time for a change.
Disclaimer: I am Gordon Smith and I approved this ad.
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Gordon unveiled his first campaign television advertisement today. We know there is one candidate in the race who is capable of breaking Washington's gridlock, who can work with Republicans and Democrats - that's Oregon's Gordon Smith.
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Common Ground broke through the cloudy skies of Washington this week – and the winner was Oregon’s solar industry.
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