Smith, Bradbury differ on most issues.Byline: GREG BOLT The Register-Guard From Iraq to Idanha, a gulf always seems to separate Gordon Smith
Gordon Harold Smith (born May 25, 1952) is Oregon's junior United States Senator, currently serving his second term. He is a member of the Republican Party. and Bill Bradbury Bill Bradbury (born 1949) is the Secretary of State for the U.S. state of Oregon. Bradbury, a Democrat, previously served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly, and ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Senator Gordon Smith in 2002. . The two are vying to represent Oregon in the U.S. Senate in the Nov. 5 general election. Smith, the one-term incumbent, is branded as "a conservative in moderate's clothing" by his opponent; Bradbury, in the middle of a term as Oregon's secretary of state, is painted as a tax-and-spend liberal by the incumbent. Bradbury, the Democrat, is from Bandon on the south coast; Smith, the Republican, is from the Eastern Oregon Eastern Oregon is a geographical term that is generally taken to mean the area of the state of Oregon east of the Cascade Range, save the region around The Dalles and sometimes Klamath County. The area around Bend is considered to be Central Oregon rather than Eastern Oregon. city of Pendleton. Smith favors tax cuts and the resolution authorizing war against Iraq and opposes abortion and assisted suicide assisted suicide: see euthanasia. ; Bradbury thinks the Bush tax cuts were a bad idea and opposes the Iraq resolution Not to be confused with Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists. "Iraq Resolution" and "Iraq War Resolution" are popular names for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002,[1] , and he supports abortion rights and the state's Death with Dignity Act. What do they have in common? Both are white males. Both have dark hair. And both want to be Oregon's next senator. "I'm in Oregon's interest," Smith said in a recent interview. "I'm a problem solver and not a partisan polemicist po·lem·i·cist also po·lem·ist n. A person skilled or involved in polemics. polemicist, polemist a skilled debater in speech or writing. — polemical, adj. , and I think I've showed that. I represent diversity." Later in the day, Bradbury responded, "I have a real faith in Oregonians that they really do want somebody who wants a sustainable environment and someone who wants the federal government to keep its promises and someone who wants the federal government to stay out of our personal lives as much as possible. Bill Bradbury will represent the people of Oregon and the values of Oregon." If nothing else, the Senate race offers Oregon voters two candidates with distinctly differing views. Bradbury is clearly a liberal Democrat Liberal Democrat Noun a member or supporter of the Liberal Democrats, a British centrist political party that advocates proportional representation Liberal Democrat n (BRIT) → , and while Smith sometimes sides with moderates in the Republican party, he's not shy about standing with conservatives on some social and fiscal issues. Their differences stand out on the two hottest issues of the day, the possibility of war against Iraq and the struggling U.S. economy. Bradbury said he would have voted against the resolution giving President Bush authority to use force to disarm Iraq. While he agrees that Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein (born April 28, 1937, Tikrit, Iraq—died Dec. 30, 2006, Baghdad) President of Iraq (1979–2003). He joined the Ba'th Party in 1957. Following participation in a failed attempt to assassinate Iraqi Pres. is a ruthless dictator with little regard for human life, he said absent a clear and immediate threat to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , our sending in troops would destroy the international coalition against terrorism that arose after Sept. 11. "The reality is that we need to work with our allies, we need to work with the international community because Saddam Hussein is a world problem and we need a world solution to a world problem," he said. "If we go pre-emptively, unilaterally into Iraq, we blow apart a coalition that has a hundred nations working together to stop or prevent terrorism... . I don't believe that increases the security of the American public." He also said that a war in Iraq will be much different than the war in Afghanistan, a country that had been through 20 years of war and had little fighting power left. "I don't think that street warfare in Baghdad would be very pretty, and we should have a very clear picture of what we're doing before we commit our sons and daughters to go fight in the streets of Baghdad," he said. Smith, on the other hand, voted for the Iraq resolution, along with many prominent Democrats. He said the best chance for depriving Saddam of weapons of mass destruction Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction and/or of being used in such a manner as to destroy large numbers of people. Weapons of mass destruction can be high explosives or nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons, but exclude the means of transporting or , short of war, is by demonstrating resolve. "I voted for it because I believe, like Tom Daschle, Joe Lieberman Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman (born February 24, 1942) is an American politician from Connecticut. Lieberman was first elected to the United States Senate in 1988, and was elected to his fourth term on November 7, 2006. In the 2000 U.S. and Hillary Clinton, that peace has the best chance if we're united behind the president," he said. "I think that to equivocate e·quiv·o·cate intr.v. e·quiv·o·cat·ed, e·quiv·o·cat·ing, e·quiv·o·cates 1. To use equivocal language intentionally. 2. To avoid making an explicit statement. See Synonyms at lie2. now is to weaken the potential for an effective inspections regime." Smith said he doesn't believe that a strike against Iraq would be a pre-emptive pre·emp·tive or pre-emp·tive adj. 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of preemption. 2. Having or granted by the right of preemption. 3. a. attack because the fighting never really stopped after the Persian Gulf war Persian Gulf War or Gulf War (1990–91) International conflict triggered by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. Though justified by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on grounds that Kuwait was historically part of Iraq, the invasion was presumed to be and Saddam has never lived up to the agreements ending that war. He also believes Saddam is a major source of funding for terrorists, including Hamas and Hezbolah, and that removing him will aid the war on terrorism Terrorist acts and the threat of Terrorism have occupied the various law enforcement agencies in the U.S. government for many years. The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, as amended by the usa patriot act . "I do think Baghdad and this butcher are a big problem for the civilized world," Smith said. "I don't think that there's any question that Saddam Hussein foments terrorism all over the Middle East and he uses Islam for selfish political purposes." On the economy, Smith said the Bush tax credits were the right measure at the right time and suggested that Bill Clinton is more to blame than Bush for the recession, or at least that it began during Clinton's term in the White House. He wants to make the tax cuts, which expire after 10 years, permanent. "When President Bush won the tax cuts, we were at the highest level of peacetime taxation in the history of the United States “American history” redirects here. For the history of the continents, see History of the Americas. The United States of America is located in the middle of the North American continent, with Canada to the north and the United Mexican States to the south. , and I honestly believe it was appropriate and timely for us to put money back into the hands of workers, investors, Americans," he said. Smith also believes that the corporate accountability act There are a number of piece of legislation known as the Accountability Act:
Bradbury said he would not have voted for the tax cuts because they benefited mainly the wealthy and because he believes that taxes shouldn't be cut when the government is running a deficit. He said he would not vote to repeal the cuts now that they've been enacted but would vote to link future cuts to the budget so they would only be granted if there were a surplus to pay for them. He also faulted Republicans for not taking advantage of the surpluses of the 1990s to shore up Social Security and Medicare, as well as to live up to funding promises the federal government made to the states. He noted that when the government required states to provide special education programs for disabled children, it promised to provide 40 percent of the funding but the most Oregon has ever received is 9 percent. "Two hundred and fifty million dollars a biennium bi·en·ni·um n. pl. bi·en·ni·ums or bi·en·ni·a A two-year period. [Latin : bi-, two; see bi-1 + annus, year; see at- would come to Oregon in support of Oregon schools if they met their 40 percent promise," Bradbury said. "I think we've got to do things like that to keep the promises the federal government made to the people rather than giving back money to the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans." He also said the federal government needs to help boost Oregon's economy not only through public works public works pl.n. Construction projects, such as highways or dams, financed by public funds and constructed by a government for the benefit or use of the general public. Noun 1. spending but also by supporting research and development in areas where the state already has a head start. Those include renewable energy Renewable energy utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, and hydroelectricity to biomass and biofuels for transportation. generation and environmental clean-up technology, he said. One area where there is some agreement between the candidates is on trade. Both said they support free trade agreements, on the condition that U.S. labor and environmental standards are upheld. Smith said the nation needs to protect its industrial base and Bradbury said other nations shouldn't be able to dictate which environmental laws the United States enforces. Both men support thinning to reduce the threat of wildfires, and both said they would support excluding old growth timber from logging. But Smith said there needs to be a consistent standard for what constitutes old growth. "I need something that's an objective standard of old growth and not subjective and ever-moving," he said. Smith also said he would support a compromise that helps speed timber sales while leaving logging opponents some access to the courts. Bradbury said there's no need to override environmental laws to accomplish thinning and accused Republicans of using this summer's devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. forest fires This is a list of notorious forest fires: North America Year Size Name Area Notes 1825 3,000,000 acres (12,000 km²) Miramichi Fire New Brunswick Killed 160 people. as a smoke screen to log trees that otherwise are off-limits. "I think it's critically important that we thin our forests, for two reasons: one is to thin our fuel loads and the other is forest health," he said. But he said he believes "it's a travesty if you try to use something that's a real concern to violate environmental laws and increase the harvesting of old growth." The Senate race hasn't been without some sniping. They traded jabs over Oregon's assisted suicide law, with Bradbury accusing Smith of working to scuttle it and Smith saying that although he personally opposes the law, he's willing to let the courts decide whether it's valid. Smith said he's never been asked to cast a vote on the law in the Senate and denied that he encouraged Attorney General John Ashcroft John David Ashcroft (born May 9 1942) is an American politician who was the 79th United States Attorney General. He served during the first term of President George W. Bush from 2001 until 2005. Ashcroft was previously the Governor of Missouri (1985 – 1993) and a U.S. to file a federal lawsuit aimed at giving the Justice Department authority to prosecute doctors who write drug prescriptions under the law. Bradbury shot back with newspaper articles quoting Smith as hailing Ashcroft's move and supporting a pain-relief bill that would have nullified nul·li·fy tr.v. nul·li·fied, nul·li·fy·ing, nul·li·fies 1. To make null; invalidate. 2. To counteract the force or effectiveness of. the Oregon law. Smith also described himself as a bipartisan moderate, pointing to his support for hate crimes legislation protecting homosexuals, his willingness to compromise on environmental issues and his stand on abortion - while he opposes it, he said, he's willing to make exceptions in cases of rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother. But Bradbury called his opponent a dyed-in-the-wool conservative whose stand on social issues is out of step with the majority of Oregonians. He accused Smith of siding with moderates only when his vote isn't needed by his party's conservative wing. "Just ask, how many things did he vote for that wouldn't have passed if he voted no," Bradbury said. "Show me what he has accomplished when it runs counter to his caucus' views. Show me the results for Oregon in terms of our economy. I can show you the results in things that Oregonians care about, like death with dignity: We're getting sued." CANDIDATES Q&A Do you support going to war to disarm Iraq? Gordon Smith: "Obviously I do, because I so voted, and I voted that way because I felt it gave peace the best chance, that peace will come through our strength and not our indecision." Bill Bradbury: "I do not support the resolution authorizing use of force and oppose a pre-emptive, unilateral strike on Iraq until a real case is made that there is an immediate threat to the security of American citizens." What needs to be done to bring peace to the Middle East? Smith: "Stay engaged, root out terrorism, help our friends and oppose our foes. It's a long-term process that may take our lifetimes and a few more, but 9-11 has made clear that we're involved. We can either live up to history's call or we can decline into the shadow of history." Bradbury: "I believe very strongly in the right of Israel to exist, but I also have a fundamental belief that in order to get to any kind of long-term, peaceful solution, you have to recognize the right of the Palestinian people to have a homeland, too. You can't just impose a solution on either the Israelis or the Palestinians. You've got to work with both sides, call on both sides not to commit acts of terrorism on each other and negotiate toward an agreement that respects both sides." What needs to be done to restore vitality to the U.S. and Oregon economies? Smith: "Make the Bush tax cuts permanent, pursue a better balance in natural resource policies, continue to provide incentives for people to invest, pass terrorism insurance and promote trade on a fair basis to American producers. Also, bring infrastructure dollars back to Oregon for roads, bridges, ports and other public works projects that sustain and improve the quality of life." Bradbury: "Negotiate free trade agreements that also protect labor and environmental standards, keep promises the federal government made to fund education, Social Security, Medicare and other programs, and invest in infrastructure projects to help put people back to work, rather than giving money back to the wealthiest 1 percent through tax cuts. In Oregon, the federal government should encourage and invest in higher education, renewable energy technology, wood products technology and agriculture through research and development assistance, tax credits and economic development." BILL BRADBURY, DEMOCRAT Age: 53 Family: Wife, Katy Eymann; two grown children from previous marriage. Civic experience: State representative 1981-85, state senator 1985-95, Senate majority leader 1986-93, Senate president 1993, secretary of state 1999-present. Occupation: Oregon secretary of state. Education: Antioch College, Ohio, no degree. Residence: Bandon. Endorsements: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is the second- or third-largest labor union in the United States and one of the fastest-growing, representing over 1. Joint Council 75, American Federation of Teachers American Federation of Teachers (AFT), an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. It was formed (1916) out of the belief that the organizing of teachers should follow the model of a labor union, rather than that of a professional association. , Communication Workers of America, Oregon Education Association The Oregon Education Association (OEA) is the largest public education employees' union in the U.S. state of Oregon, representing more than 46,000 teachers and classified personnel. and 18 other labor groups; National Organization for Women, National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, Sierra Club Sierra Club, national organization in the United States dedicated to the preservation and expansion of the world's parks, wildlife, and wilderness areas. Founded (1892) in California by a group led by the Scottish-American conservationist John Muir, the Sierra Club , Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood A service mark used for an organization that provides family planning services. Federation of America, Brady Campaign for Handgun Control, Oregon Assembly for Black Political Affairs, Oregon League of Conservation Voters The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is an independent, nonpartisan political advocacy organization that was founded in 1969 by the noted American environmentalist David Brower. . Contact info: (503) 232-3113; Bradbury for Senate, P.O. Box 4107, Portland, OR 97208; info@bradbury2002.com. Person/event who most influenced your politics: Martin Luther King Jr. Bradbury attended King's "I Have a Dream" speech as a 14-year-old and it changed the way he viewed the world and continues to shape his vision today. Proudest accomplishment in civic life: The Salmon Trout Enhancement Program, which arose from the first piece of legislation Bradbury introduced as a newly elected state representative in 1980. GORDON SMITH, REPUBLICAN Age: 50 Family: Wife, Sharon; three children. Civic experience: State senator 1992-96, state Senate president 1994, U.S. senator 1996-present. Occupation: U.S. senator. Education: Brigham Young University Brigham Young University, at Provo, Utah; Latter-Day Saints; coeducational; opened as an academy in 1875 and became a university in 1903. It is noted for its law and business schools. , bachelor of arts, 1976; Southwestern University School of Law, 1979. Residence: Pendleton. Endorsements: Associated Oregon Industries; Human Rights Campaign; National Rifle Association National Rifle Association (NRA) Governing organization for the sport of shooting with rifles and pistols. It was founded in Britain in 1860. The U.S. organization, formed in 1871, has a membership of some four million. Both the British and the U.S. ; Oregon Medical Association; Oregon Farm Bureau; Oregon Right To Life; Oregon State Sheriffs Association; Oregonians for Food and Shelter; Oregon Veterans Association; Oregon State Fire Fighters Association; Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council; United Transportation Union; Papermill Local 1171. Contact info: Gordon Smith for U.S. Senate 2002; (503) 227-1462; 5005 S.W. Meadows Road, Suite 310, Portland, OR 97305; info@gordonsmith.com. Person/event who most influenced your politics: "My father. When I was 2 years old, he became the assistant secretary of agriculture under President Eisenhower. I really admired him and his example in public service. I talked with him every election night as we watched returns and counseled with him many times." Proudest accomplishment in civic life: "At the state level, it was the creation of the Oregon Education Endowment Fund. As a U.S. senator, I think the creation of the State Children's Health Children's Health Definition Children's health encompasses the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being of children from infancy through adolescence. Insurance Program. It provided for a tobacco tax and expanded health coverage to 40,000 Oregon children. I provided the pivotal vote on the Republican side to win authority for the program." DAN FITZGERALD, LIBERTARIAN Age: 45 Family: Wife, Kara Kara (kär`ə), river, c.140 mi (230 km) long, NE European and NW Siberian Russia. It flows N from the N Urals into the Kara Sea, forming part of the traditional border between European and Asian Russia. It is navigable in its lower course. . Civic experience: Ran for state Senate in 1998. Occupation: Database consultant. Education: Bachelor's degree in philosophy from Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa., 1982. Residence: Portland. Contact info: (503) 274-2954; 820 N.W. 21st Ave., Portland, OR 97207; danfitz2002@hotmail.com, danfitzgerald.org. LON LON Longitude LON League of Nations LON Local Operating Network LON Labyrinth of Nightmare (Yu-Gi-Oh cards) LON Launch on Need (International Space Station) LON London - All Airports MABON, CONSTITUTION PARTY Age: 55 Family: Wife, Bonnie; three children. Civic experience: Republican party precinct committeeperson, state executive committee Fifth District, delegate to state central committee. Occupation: Chairman, Oregon Citizens Alliance The Oregon Citizens Alliance (OCA) is a conservative Christian political activist organization, founded by Lon Mabon in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was founded in 1986 as a vehicle to challenge then-Senator Bob Packwood,[1] ; Bible teacher. Education: Attended College of the Redwoods
College of the Redwoods , Eureka, Calif., no degree. Residence: Brooks. Contact info: (503) 463-8089; P.O. Box 20307, Keizer, OR 97307-0307; lon@mabonforussenate.com. CAPTION(S): "We've got to ... keep the promises the federal government made to the people rather than giving back money to the wealthiest 1 percent." - BILL BRADBURY, Democrat "I honestly believe it was appropriate and timely for us to put money back into the hands of workers, investors, Americans." - GORDON SMITH, Republican INSIDE MORE CANDIDATES: Lon Mabon and Dan Fitzgerald are hoping to upset the major candidates / 9A HOW THEY STAND: The candidates answer questions about major issues / 9A HOUSE DISTRICT 4: Peter DeFazio and Liz VanLeeuwen are the leading candidates / 1B |
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