Sen. Smith's ad about the Matthew Shepard bill

[gratuitous]

Everyone seen it, I presume? How Mr. Smith and his good pal Sen. Kennedy got together in a bi-partisan fashion and bi-partisanly bi-partisaned a bill for tougher hate crime legislation? Anyone notice the background music in the ad? In case you hadn't, or hadn't identified the tune, it's "Amazing Grace."

I left a message at Mr. Smith's office today (503-326-3386) asking them to get back to me with an explanation for why Mr. Smith thinks that's an appropriate use of a hymn. I mean, for a political ad?

I'll let you know when or if I get a response. In the meantime, why don't you call the Senator and ask the same thing? It's not like this is a sacred song in the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, but it seems a cheapening of a very significant hymn to me, and maybe it is to other Christians, as well.

[sandnsea]

1. The religious fundies oppose hate crimes legislation

So I imagine he's going to alienate more of his voters with that portion of the bill then he'll gain with his sappy use of religious music and pandering to "centrists".

[gratuitous]

2. 24 hours and counting

No response from Mr. Smith's office.

[LWolf]

3. I saw it.

I didn't register the hymn. I was livid that Smith would use Shepherd to further his political ambitions. He's a republican. He represents the party that supports sexual bigotry. I wanted to smack him down. I didn't even noticed the music.

I like the song. It isn't sacred to me; it's irritating in the same way that hearing Bowie's "Space Odyssey" on a car commercial was the other night. Using good songs for political or commercial propaganda diminishes them.

Many may not consider Bowie's song "good." ;-) I was just a kid, though, and thought it was "cool."

[gratuitous]

4. Smith used Shepard's mother in 2002

So the fact that he's propping up Matthew Shepard's mutilated corpse in 2008 as a political prop doesn't surprise me. I'm guessing that his mother, after seeing Mr. Smith in action the last six years, decided not to do another commercial for him. Indeed, using "Amazing Grace" to sell anything cheapens it; but to sell a political campaign? For some reason, I find that even more repugnant. It's as if Mr. Smith is claiming divine endorsement for his candidacy.

Also, knowing the lyrics, I don't think it's a hymn that Mormons could or would sing. Which makes it a cynical ploy, as well. But I will be the first to acknowledge that I don't know everything, and my opinion on something may not be the 100% correct one in every case. I'd really, really, really like to hear Mr. Smith's justification. Perhaps he could persuade me that what he's doing is perfectly all right.

But I strongly doubt it.

[Left Brain]

5. I talked to my brother and his husband

about the ad yesterday. The words they used:
- cheap shot
- distasteful
- exploitation
- irreverant
- shameful

Not sure who Gordo thinks he's targeting by unleashing that disgusting ad in the Portland Metro area, but I highly doubt it will sway the gay vote in his favor.

Asshole.

[funflower]

10. It's the only "liberal" thing he's done in 12 years. Gotta do at least ONE thing the constituents

will approve of.

[Tom Kitten]

6. Gordo's a panderer of the highest order

I can't recall anything he's done except go for diverting the Klamath Basin water and killing millions of salmon smolts, but then most of the Klamath runs through California so the loss of the fish is their problem, I suppose...

Brings up Matthew Shepard but doesn't support equal rights for gays and lesbians, doesn't seem to know that the Church Of Latter Day Saints is considered a non-Christian cult by the very people who he counts on as his base and seem to shape most of the GOP's policies...

The guy's afraid to appear in person in Oregon west of the Cascades and north of Cottage Grove, which happens to be where most of his constituents happen to live...

That The Oregonian endorsed him shows me that they are also a dinosaur and for both of them it's the Late Cretacaceous, baby...

[funflower]

11. For several years, I worked right next to his Portland office, and I never, ever saw him.

Oregon isn't the kind of place where we never see our politicians. I see Earl Blumenauer and David Wu around town fairly often. Wyden, well....

[doubleplusgood]

7. where is this ad being played in Oregon?

Heard someone on the KPOJ morning show ask whether this ad is playing in eastern Oregon or only in the Portland metro area. Can't imagine he'd want to run this ad in the rural areas. Typical of Smith, though; pose as a "moderate" for the election & then revert to his right-wing roots afterwards.

[LWolf]

8. It's east of the cascades.

I'm in central oregon, and I saw it here.

[Left Brain]

9. It was playing in the Portland Metro area

but I haven't seen it on the airwaves in a few weeks. At this point, every other commercial is a Smith commercial, though.