That wikipedia entry doesn't touch on the whole pitcure either. In 2004, Smith lent his name and endorsement to the Oreogn ballot measure 36, which was an Oreogn "mini-DOMA" easure, which passed. So Smith is flip-flopping all over this issue in crass and hypocritical ways.

So he voted for Federal level bans on giving equal rights to non-heterosexual couples, claiming he thinks it should be a states rights thing, but then campaigns against equal rights for gay people in 2004, then says that the recently passed domestic-partnership law which gives the same rights/protections under Oregon law as married couples, which Speaker Jeff Merkley got through the razor thin majority state legislature is a "fair compromise".

Smith is all over the map chasing his tail trying to appear "moderate" in order to get elected. But look at what the guy actually DOES as opposed to what rhetoric and obfuscation he vomits out.

By the way, this is one of the key races to improving the Democrats (and progressives) position in the United States Senate is the race here in Oregon. We had a wealth of riches in the primary with both Steve Novick and Jeff Merkley as being rock-solid progressives. Oregon Speaker of the House Jeff Merkley won the primary battle, and is exactly the sort of progressive we need in the Senate.

Here in the Oregon legislature last session, with a razor thin one seat majority, Jeff Merkley was able to get things done and lead the most productive session in decades, passing anti-predatory lending laws, giving equal rights under Oregon law to gay couples as straight married couples, creating a rainy-day fund to stabilize school funding, strengthening conservation laws and regulations to protect the environment, the list goes on and on.

Jeff Merkley can take out Bush rubber-stamper Gordon Smith, who is polling under 50%. Speaker Merkley just launched a 100 town tour of the state to invest the sweat equity in smaller rural communities, but one of the biggest hurdles will be visibility through television ads and the need for netroots support.

The thing that will make this a viable key pick-up opportunity of a GOP held Senate seat will money because we have the right kind of Democratic nominee, we just need to get him elected. Bush rubber-stamper Gordon Smith has a sizable war-chest (some $10 million) and Jeff Merkley needs the help of the grassroots/netroots to be competitive.

So everyone here who gripes about not having a solid majority in the Senate, or that we don't have progressive or strong enough Democrats in the Senate, it is time to put your money where your mouth is. So if you want to replace Bush/McCain lackey Gordon Smith with a true progressive Democrat then donate now. For the cost of a night out at the movies on a weekly basis, we together can get Jeff Merkley the resources to win this seat. We have a great candidate, a weak and very vulnerable GOP incumbent to run against, and a 'change election' environment, but it is up to us to make change happen because it won't happen without us doing our part, and will happen if we donate.

That is why you, me, and everyone here needs to step up to the plate and help elect Jeff Merkley win his race here in Oregon. Unseating Gordon Smith, who votes with Bush/McCain 90%+ of the time is reason enough, but beyond that, Jeff Merkley is a rock-solid progressive and is a Democrat in ACTION not just in name. His leadership here in Oregon with FuturePac flipped our state leg. and got it back in Democratic control, and then lead the one of the most productive and progressive sessions in decades, all with a razor thin majority.

Jeff Merkley is exactly the strong Democrat (and progressive) we need in the U.S. Senate. That is why you, me, and everyone here needs to help out and support Jeff Merkley.

Here is a blog post from 2004 about that Measure 36 mailer that Gordon Smith lent his name and photograph too.

So Smith was all for voting in favor of discriminating against non-heterosexuals in 2004, by lending his name to a mailer that claimed if we didn't outlaw same-gender marriages, gay sex would be taught in schools.

Now he claims in a desperate bid for re-election that giving the same rights to same-gender couples under Oregon law as marriage, is a fair compromise. The SMith myth of being a fair-minded moderate is just that... a myth.

I think it's clear that he can't support marriage but can support various legal arrangements for gay folk. It's also seems to me that he used his anti-marriage position to convince voters he was generally anti-gay - which he obviously is not. Of course that is not very honest - to mislead people that way. So it seems he has several personal integrity issues.