Gordon Smith Flip-Flop Alert: Barack Obama

With just five days to go Jeff Merkley's campaign is issuing another Gordon Smith Flip Flop Alert to warn Oregonians that Gordon Smith has flip flopped on Barack Obama. 

In his closing argument to voters this week, Smith is telling Oregonians that he will block Barack Obama's agenda by using the filibuster in the U.S. Senate. 

The Oregonian's Jeff Mapes has the story.

After desperately trying to link himself to the Democratic nominee, Gordon Smith wants his Republican base to forgive him because he is the candidate who will stop Barack Obama from making change. 

On right-wing talk shows and in front of partisan Republican crowds, Smith is using Karl Rove-style scare tactics, suggesting that a President Obama will raise taxes, weaken the military, and eliminate affordable, renewable power.

According to The Oregonian:

Smith said that when it comes to such issues as taxes, "keeping our military strong," and protecting hydropower, "those are the issues that will ultimately go by the board if a President Obama has no brakes, if there is no checks and balances. And I just hope people understand that."

Remember Gordon Smith grabbed national headlines for clinging to Obama in his television ads and desperately trying to pretend he wasn't a Republican at all.  Nevermind the fact that Smith's ties to Obama relied on cosponsoring a single bill that Smith previously voted against three times.

GOP Senator Banks on Obama in Oregon Race, read the headline in The Washington Post.

An Oregon Republican Reaches for Coattails -- Obama's, read The New York Times.

But in the final week of the campaign Gordon Smith is promising that he will block Obama's agenda and ensure gridlock in Washington.

That's not what America needs and that is not want Oregon voters are demanding.

Posted October 30, 2008
Press