Yesterday’s Register Guard newspaper in Eugene had a story about whether or not Congressman Peter DeFazio (the only former bike mechanic in Congress) would run for the Senate.
at the 2006 Alice Awards.
File photo: 3/5/06
The article brought up whether or not DeFazio (or any other Oregon Democrat) would have a shot at unseating Senator Gordon Smith. One of the “other Democrats” mentioned was Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who’s love of bicycles is well-known.
What caught my attention was a quote from Portland-based political analyst Jim Moore. In trying to make the point that Blumenauer would have a tough time in a state-wide election, Moore said,
“The quirky, bow-tied Congressman Blumenauer of Portland would be on the short list, but down-state his appeal would be weak…Explaining why we need the head of the Bicycle Caucus as our U.S. senator would be tough.”
Is it just me or does this sound like Moore is belittling the Congressional Bike Caucus (which Blumenauer founded in 1996)?
Or am I just being overly sensitive?
Off topic a little, but either of these two fine congressmen are in a great position to unseat Smith, who’s a vulnerable as Chaffee was in Rhode Island in the last election. He’s doomed. He makes pretty speeches every once in a while, agreeing with the vast majority of Oregonians that it’s time for the stupid war to end, but then he still votes the Bush party line every time it counts. He knows that if he doesn’t, the winger base will desert him.
I know this isn’t about bikes, but, hey, plenty of bicyclists, and sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers & sisters of cyclists are right now dying in Iraq because of people who share a party affiliation with Senator Gordon Smith, the alleged “moderate” from Oregon.
It does seem that way to me as well. I can almost see his point in theway Blumenauer might have a little more trouble appealing to the entire state… But i certainly can’t imagine anyone thinking he was unqualified because he his work with bicycles. I think the attitude toward bikes in oregon is improving and the statement was rather close minded and was most certainly belittling toward the caucus. Grr.
Hmmm. Troublesome indeed. I can’t say that I know how Blumy would do in the rural areas, but I’d be interested to see how cycling plays as an issue. Less bikes as transportation may mean it could swing either way. Perhaps Cycle Oregon has done good things in this regard…?
Stupid comment! Blumenauer probably wouldn’t get a whole lot (if any) support in rural Oregon, but it has nothing to do with bicycles. Rural Oregon is primarily moderate to conservative politicly and is in perpetual conflict with the “big cities” Portland and Salem and there mostly liberal agenda. I don’t think this anything to worry about.
BTW, why would we listen to a political analyst anyway?
It’s called “spin”, and it’s what people do who want to influence other people. That’s all I see this as. I agree with Jim (#4)!
I love Blumy and think he does an outstanding job representing the district. He is a real asset to the community. Keep up the good work Earl!
Whatever. Jim Oberstar (D-MN), friend of cyclists, represents Northeastern Minnesota. The economy there? Mining, forestry, some agriculture, and tourism – not all that different than outstate Oregon. If cycling were a political liability, Oberstar would have been kicked out a long time ago.
Defazio is a better suited state-wide candidate, IMHO. His district (mostly Lane County) is very diverse. He could not win his current seat by catering to Eugene’s liberal base alone.
Both men would make excellent replacements to Smith and promote cycling.
Blumenauer’s liability isn’t bikes, it is being from Portland. That is a liability downstate and east of the Cascades. De Fazio? Too liberal for the aforementioned voters and now has some serious clout in the House.
Look for a “Blue Dog” Democrat like Ben Westlund of Bend to get the nod. The party owes him a big “Thanks” for not running as an indy against Governor Kulongowski.
I have been to some town hall meeting with my state legislators in the past couple of months, and the minority party activists who are very vocal at those meetings seem to believe that all that is wrong with our state and with our country is caused by cyclists, Mexicans and public employees (in that order, apparently). I don’t see that the public at large agrees with them, and Rep. Blumenauer’s work with the Congressional Bike Caucus would not be an issue, should he decide to run for the US Senate.
John – your post made me laugh because it sounds like nearly every Lars Larson Show! The state is going to hell in a handbasket because of illegal aliens on bikes looking for free government services!
Isn’t “Blue Dog Democrat” just the flip side of “moderate Republican”? We don’t need another Lieberman in the Senate, thank you very much.
So, how does being a pea farmer make one senatorial material? Jim Moore, if I recall correctly, mostly works for Republican candidates, so his quote could, perhaps, be trying to pigeonhole Earl, despite Earl’s strong and courageous work on much more than bikes, including opposing the Iraq invasion from the start and trying to reform the horrible subsidies in the Federal Farm Bill.
I agree with rex burkholder. This is nothing more than a political hack (in the words of Jon Stewart) doing the bidding of his masters by trying to paint Earl as a one-dimensional, out-of-touch candidate. It smacks of desperation (and irony) considering that Gordon Smith has become the quintessential political liability. It’s time for that pandering fool to go, but you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind’s blowing here. Nice, try, Jim… Actually, bad try. Not even very believable.
I agree peejay. Having senators that can form their own opinions and vote their conscience is dangerous. We just need more compliant drones who say the right thing publically, bow to their special interest masters, and vote however the party chairman tells them to.
It is a black / white world with only two ideas to choose from on any and all topics, eh?
Earl is my rep and I am SO happy to have someone in DC who represents some of my viewpoints on transportation and livability issues.
Is there any way we can get him to sign a
Do-Not-Die clause?