Time to pester Gordon Smith

[eridani]

Dear MoveOn member,

In just 2 days, a few radical Republican leaders will move to break the rules of the Senate, seize absolute power over judicial appointments, and stack the courts with extreme judges. Whether they succeed could depend on Senator Gordon Smith from Oregon. If you know any Oregon residents, can you ask them to call Senator Smith and ask him to save our courts?

These judges would serve for life, threatening the protection of our environment, our right to privacy, and even basic workers' rights like minimum wage and the 40-hour work week. Senator Smith is under intense pressure from the Republican leadership and needs to hear from constituents right away.

Below is information to help Oregon residents make these crucial calls:
Sen. Gordon Smith
DC Phone: [phone]

You don't have to be an expert to call. Here's a simple script for Oregon residents to follow:
Hello. I live in Oregon, and I would like to urge Senator Smith to oppose the "nuclear option" to eliminate the right to filibuster judicial nominations. I believe in fair judges, and checks and balances. Thank you very much.

Then tell us you've called by clicking here: http://www.moveonpac.org/0408/?user_state=OR

After you report your call through the link above, please forward this e-mail on to friends and family in Oregon--an important way to spread the word and help convince Senator Smith to do the right thing for America.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid calls this "the most important issue I've ever dealt with," and it's not hard to see why.

The cover story of last week's New York Times Magazine described the real goal of many of these extreme judges: a world where basic environmental protections, labor rights, and privacy rights are struck down as unconstitutional. If radical Republicans are allowed to stack the federal courts and the Supreme Court, bedrock protections like the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, minimum wage laws, even the 40-hour work week could be eliminated forever.

This fight will begin over judges nominated to U.S. Courts of Appeals--but make no mistake--the radical Republicans' real prize is the four Supreme Court seats likely to open up in the next four years. If they succeed in using their "nuclear option" to eliminate the centuries-old right to filibuster extreme judges, the minority party will be completely silenced for the first time ever, and our most treasured rights will be on the line.

The good news is that with 2 days left, the tide is turning in our direction. After MoveOn members blanketed the nation with over 40,000 letters to the editor, tens of thousands of calls, hundreds of thousands of petition signatures, and hard-hitting messages on the airwaves, three moderate Republican Senators have come out on our side. We only need three more to win.

Calls made in the key state of Oregon could make or break this fight. Please take this crucial opportunity to show Senator Smith that his constituents are counting on him to stand up for our courts, and our most basic rights.

Please take a minute to call right now:
Sen. Gordon Smith
DC Phone: [phone]

Then let us know you've called, and track our progress, by clicking here: http://www.moveonpac.org/0408/?user_state=OR

[lupita]

1. Done! and while I was at it, I told him to take a stand...

against social security privatization.

[Robert Oak]

2. CALL he's now "on the fence"

Please call him 202-224-3753.

[coloradodem2005]

3. In a blue state like Oregon, how did he become senator?

[anitar1]

4. I want to add that the CAFTA vote is coming up

next Tuesday, June 14th. Both Wyden and Smith are waffling on how they will vote. I understand that Wyden has been holding meetings around the state and telling people how good CAFTA will be for everyone. NOT. Please call them and register your preference.

[funflower]

5. Gordon declared w/ the Fristians last time. No reason to believe he'll

cave into a bunch of little ol' CONSTITUENTS this time around.

Never hurts to try, though.