Oregon GOP Candidate Endorses Obama

The Republican Party is famous for keeping members loyal. But in Oregon, at least, that no longer seems to be the case. First Oregon GOP Sen. Gordon Smith promoted his ties to Barack Obama in ads. Now a Republican candidate for the House is endorsing the Democratic candidate. The Politico reports:

A guy gets 70% of the Republican primary vote, and how does he repay his party? By endorsing Barack Obama for president and the Democratic challenger to an incumbent Republican for Senate. At least that's how Joel Haugen, challenging Oregon Rep. David Wu, decided to thank his party's leadership for their support.

Haugen, a businessman and Army veteran, is running an uphill campaign in a district Wu has held onto against good Republican challengers. So instead of embracing fellow Republicans in a state that's moving increasingly left, Haugen is falling in line with Obama, and he's is listed on State House Speaker Jeff Merkley's website as a backer; Merkley is the Democratic nominee against Senator Gordon Smith.

The endorsements aren't something Haugen is hiding. "We certainly understand why people are so surprised to see" Haugen backing Obama, the campaign writes on its website, citing the Democrat's positions on foreign policy and the economy over John McCain's.

But Haugen's is a position that causes the Oregon Republican Party some heartburn. The state party is continuing to offer tacit support for Haugen's candidacy (though they're not returning his phone calls) while local party officials have shut him out of some events, PolitickerOR reported over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the GOP's 2006 Senate candidate in Delaware says he's been booted out of his party position for supporting Obama.

Comments

[zann]

Wu is my congressperson. He's fairly liberal and progressive, an above average democrat. If Haugen supported Merkley and Obama, he'd become a Democrat and run against Wu honestly. Haugen is a pro-business Republican who's wearing his publicity-seeking dishonesty like egg all over his combative face.

[Sixtwo]

Senator, now go and tell other uninformed, misguided Republicans why you are supporting Obama.
Let them know that they must ask themselves what they can do for their country! If tis doesn't work, ask them if they are better off today than they were 8 years ago, and if they are prepared for worse days ahead if McCain is elected commander-in-chief.

[neesy08]

welcome to the club

[TommyMcCarthy]

No one in Oregon is surprised by Haugen's endorsement...just as no one is surprised by the TACIT endorsement implied by Sen. Gordon Smith's positive statements about Sen. O in his campaign advertising. People in other places may view this as a cynical ploy....but at least in Smith's case; it ain't necessarily so.

Merely checking to see whether there is an "R" or a "D" next to someone's name will not always tell you much in our state,..... where, .....by national standards.......EVERYONE is an independent.

Good for Joe!
tm

[lmrgreen]

Are you saying Smith is "independent" - are you kidding? No one here in Oregon is surprised about Smith - he is well known for drifting whichever way the wind blows.

[TommyMcCarthy]

Alot of people don't like Smith for this or that reason and that's fine.......

My point was that here in Oregon: Republicans are not generally in lock-step with the hard-right, gay-bashing, war loving National party.
The names Tom McCall, Mark Hatfield, Bob Packwood, and perhaps, Gordon Smith come immediately to mind.

Just a general observation:
If you like the guy he's "flexible" and "bi-partisan"
If you don't he's a "flip-flopper" or "blows in the wind"

If you like the guy he's "consistent" and "principled"
If you don't he's "intrasigent"

I'm a Dem. and would not at all mind seeing another "D" in the Oregon delegation. For that to happen, Mr. Merkely had better get on his horse and introduce himself to regular Oregonians sometime soon.....

In terms of Jeff Merkley: whether you like the guy or not (I have no idea)

He's INVISIBLE

Thanks for your response
Regards
tm

[moongal6]

In Oregon we all know that Smith is only an independent during election season. He's a righty alright.

[gladys46]

Can't wait for Dems to boot LIE berman out as well!! I strongly recommend that boot!!

[BCubedReg]

That's a train that has left the station and is heading Lieberman's way.

[FreezePop]

Way to go, Joel Haugen.! I'm impressed and inspired. Good on you!

[08politicaljunkie]

Well, just like Dems don't care for Lieberman for speaking against Obama...

Welcome to the party, Republican converts!

[norkas]

Lieberman is not important in this race and will fade away fast as he deserves.

[TotobiAyokoh23]

The truth shall set you free!

[TLV]

So intelligent. Get on board, GOPers!

[heal57]

Keep 'em comin for Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rose london]

Thank you Mr Gordon. God bless you, God bless all of US, God bless OBAMA and GOD PLEASE BLESS AMERICA AGAIN. THANK YOU GOD.

[BrianMac]

GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!

(Sorry. Couldn't help it.) :)

[gladys46]

Please GOD, we need a serious BLESSING! Thank you in advance.

[Shayrae]

That was nice, rose london. We are all of one accord on this. I hope and pray that America chooses Sen. Obama. We have a great nation and I prefer to believe that we, as a people, will prevail over the negativity that comes from McCain and his smear team. Obama is our best hope to come out of the dismal eight years we just experienced. Hope and change we can believe in. Yes we can.

[the964kid]

No a bad move if he wants to get elected this fall.

[Shayrae]

Got that right. Republicans for Obama, c'mon, get on board.

[Cynth]

True. I do wonder, though, if this is simple expediency just to hang on to a seat and that come next year, he'll fall right back in line with Republicans....

[Meggie]

He needs to quit the fence sitting for his own survival and CAMPAIGN for Obama.

[Davwbaird]

so sick of republicans and the snake in the grass dino rousabout rossi.

[iswideopen]

"Smiling Faces", sometimes, they don't tell the truth................

[TommyMcCarthy]

.....can you DIG IT?

[larmarch5]

There are other Republicans that are more liberal than blue dogs. There used to be a lot more before Newtie and DuhLay wasted them or washed them out of their seats. Perhaps this is a sign that those kinds of politicians, more independently minded and less dogmatic, will again flourish. Hopefully single issue (abortion, immigration, gay bashing) one-trick ponies will fall out of favor with "conservative" vs "republican" voters.

[syllepsis]

The two-party system only works when neither party is in lockstep.
One of the major reasons Republicans have dictated American policy for so long is that they vote in blocs.
It is rather disgusting, actually.