Gordon H. Smith

Gordon Smith
United States Senator
from Oregon
In office
January 3, 1997  January 3, 2009
Preceded by Mark Hatfield
Succeeded by Jeff Merkley
Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging
In office
January 3, 2005  January 3, 2007
Preceded by Larry Craig
Succeeded by Herb Kohl
52nd President of the Oregon State Senate
In office
1995–1997
Governor John Kitzhaber
Preceded by Bill Bradbury
Succeeded by Brady Adams
Member of the Oregon Senate
from the 29th district
In office
1993–1997
Preceded by Scott Duff
Succeeded by David Nelson
Personal details
Born Gordon Harold Smith
(1952-05-25) May 25, 1952
Pendleton, Oregon
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Sharon Smith
Residence

Pendleton, Oregon

Bethesda, Maryland[1]
Alma mater Brigham Young University
Religion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)

Gordon Harold Smith (born May 25, 1952) is an American politician, a former United States Senator and businessman from the state of Oregon. A Republican, he served two terms in the Senate. On September 18, 2009, he was appointed President of the National Association of Broadcasters.

Early life and family

Smith was born in Pendleton, Oregon, to Jessica (Udall) and Milan Dale Smith on May 25, 1952.[2] Smith's family moved to Bethesda, Maryland during his childhood, when his father became an Assistant United States Secretary of Agriculture. He was involved with the Boy Scouts of America and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.[3] After graduating from high school, Smith served for two years as a Mormon missionary to New Zealand. On March 31, 2012, Smith was called as an Area Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[4]

Smith then went to college at Brigham Young University, received his Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law, and became an attorney in New Mexico and Arizona. He moved back to Oregon in the 1980s to become director of the family owned Smith Frozen Foods company in Weston, Oregon.[5]

Smith and his wife Sharon adopted several children in the 1980s, including sons Morgan and Garrett and daughter Brittany. On September 8, 2003, Garrett, then a 21-year-old college student majoring in culinary arts, committed suicide. Smith wrote a book entitled Remembering Garrett, One Family’s Battle with a Child’s Depression.[6] In 2004, President George W. Bush signed the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, authorizing $82 million for suicide-prevention and awareness programs at colleges.[7]

Smith is also a member of the Udall political family. His mother was a cousin of the late Representatives Mo Udall (D-AZ) and Stewart Udall (D-AZ), and Smith is a second cousin of Senators Mark Udall (D-CO) and Tom Udall (D-NM). He is a double second cousin of both of them, as their great- grandparents were a pair of brothers and a pair of sisters who married. All three of them were candidates for Senate in the 2008 elections. Smith was the only Republican and incumbent senator of the group, and the only one of the three to lose his electoral bid. Smith's brother, Milan Dale Smith, Jr., is a federal judge appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006. Smith is a member of the board of directors of the International Republican Institute.[8] In 2010, another second cousin, fellow Republican Mike Lee of Utah, was elected to the Senate.[9]

Early political career

Smith entered politics with his election to the Oregon State Senate in 1992, and became president of that body in 1995. Later in 1995, he ran in a special election for a Senate seat vacated by the resignation of Bob Packwood, but was narrowly defeated in the January 1996 special election by then-Congressman Ron Wyden.

U.S. Senate

Smith during his first term in the Senate

Elections

United States Senator Mark Hatfield, a fellow Republican, announced his retirement later in 1996. Smith became the first person to run for the Senate twice in one year. This time he won, easily defeating Lon Mabon (whose organization, the Oregon Citizens Alliance, had previously endorsed Smith over Wyden) in the Republican primary[10] and Democrat Tom Bruggere in the general election by a close margin. Before his election, Oregon had not elected a Senator from the eastern part of the state since 1938.

Smith was re-elected in 2002, defeating Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury by 57% to 39%.

Smith's approval rating was 52 percent, with 38 percent disapproving.[11]

Political positions

In 1996 Smith was endorsed by the conservative political activist group the Oregon Citizens Alliance in his race against Wyden. After losing that initial race for Packwood's seat, Smith then renounced the OCA endorsement and won in his subsequent race for the seat being vacated by Senator Hatfield.

Smith has described himself as pro-life,[12] and in 2003 he voted in favor of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, legislation that prohibits the controversial intact dilation and extraction procedure.

In 2006, he voted to pass another controversial bill, this time crossing party lines to vote for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. The measure, which would have expanded federal funding of stem cell research to cell lines extracted from embryos discarded during fertility treatment, became the first bill to be vetoed by President George W. Bush. Smith is one of 19 Senate Republicans who voted for the measure.

In January 2006, Smith began circulating a draft of the Digital Content Protection Act of 2006.[13][14] The legislation would grant the Federal Communications Commission the authority to authorize a technology known as the broadcast flag. This technology would enable the producers of television programming to ensure the programs cannot be recorded by viewers in their homes, for instance using a digital video recorder or onto recordable DVDs.

Conservatism

Smith is often described as politically moderate, but has strong conservative credentials as well. In a 2007 web video, Smith refers to "the values that make us Republicans, that make us conservatives".[15]

Smith is a member of the moderate Republican Main Street Partnership, and a February 2006 National Journal congressional rating placed Smith in the exact ideological center of the Senate.[16]

However, Smith is described as a moderate Republican by GovTrack.us,[17] and throughout 2006 Smith voted with Republican leader Bill Frist (TN) 82 percent of the time.[18] Based on five senate votes in 2006, the abortion rights advocacy group NARAL gave Smith a score of 15 percent on abortion rights (100 percent being a completely pro-choice score.)[19] For votes cast in 2006, Smith received a 14 percent rating from the League of Conservation Voters (out of a possible 100 percent).[20] Smith's votes have run contrary to widespread public sentiment on several issues, notably minimum wage[21][22][23][24] and the Oregon Death with Dignity Act.[25]

Smith was also a key advocate for embattled conservative Trent Lott's return to a leadership post within the Republican Party in 2006. Lott had resigned his position as Senate Republican Leader in 2002, following controversy surrounding his perceived support of Sen. Strom Thurmond's (R-SC) segregationist politics. After the party lost control of the Senate in November 2006, Republicans elected Lott to the post of Minority Whip (the second-highest Republican position in the Senate.) During the closed-door election, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) nominated Lott for the position. Smith then seconded the nomination and delivered a supportive address before casting his vote.[26] Lott defeated Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) in a 25 to 24 vote.[27]

War in Iraq

In October 2002, Smith voted in favor of authorizing military force against Iraq, an important step in the run-up to the March 2003 invasion.[28] Smith was one of several Republican Senators for whom political concerns have clashed with party loyalty on the subject of the war in Iraq near an election year.[29]

In December 2006 Smith spoke out against the war for the first time, after having voted in support of it four years prior.[30] Smith said that to continue the current policy in Iraq "may even be criminal".[31]

Several weeks after stating his opposition to the occupation of Iraq, however, Smith declined to sign onto a bipartisan resolution to oppose Bush's plan to escalate troop levels in Iraq by 21,500,[32] prompting questions about the sincerity of his opposition to the continued US military presence in Iraq.[33] Smith cited the controversial nature of the word "escalate" in defending his choice. The bill's sponsors have since changed the word to "increase." Smith expressed support for the bill, but subsequently voted to prevent it from being debated by the full Senate.

In March 2007, Smith was one of only two Republicans to vote for a resolution aimed at withdrawing most American combat troops from Iraq in 2008, the other being Chuck Hagel of Nebraska. The vote was 50 for to 48 against.[34] Smith said in July 2007 that he would vote for a bill authorizing a timeline in which to leave Iraq. He was one of three Republican senators, the other two being Hagel and Olympia Snowe of Maine, to support the Levin Amendment (S.AMDT.2085) to the 2008 Defense Authorization bill (H.R.1585) that would begin a withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.[35] Smith was willing to cross party lines in support of bills for withdrawing troops from Iraq.[36]

In a private meeting with LDS church leaders in 2009, Smith said that he supported the Iraq War because he "felt the Lord’s hand in it".[37] He told the church leaders that he believed that the introduction of the "rule of law" would help the LDS church spread into the Middle East.[37][38][39]

Gay rights

Smith supported legislation expanding hate crime laws to encompass crimes against gays, and, with Senator Ted Kennedy, introduced such legislation in every Congress. As a result, he was one of a few Republican senators supported by gay rights groups in the United States, including the Human Rights Campaign. Smith also stood up in each Congress to talk about a separate hate crime as an illustration of why improved hate crime legislation was necessary, and had additional crimes published in the Congressional Record each day that Congress was in session.[40][41]

Gay rights groups have expressed disappointment at Smith's support for the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004, which would define marriage as between a man and a woman.[42]

Leading up to the 2006 midterm elections, Smith joined Senate Democrats to introduce legislation that would guarantee homosexual employees of the federal government domestic partnership benefits.[43]

Committee assignments

Smith chaired the Special Committee on Aging until Democrats took control of the Senate in 2007.

Smith served on the following Senate committees: Commerce, Science and Transportation, Energy and Natural Resources, Finance, and Indian Affairs.

He was the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade and Global Competitiveness.

Electoral history

2002 election

The 2002 Oregon United States Senate election was held on November 5, 2002 and was the first time Smith ran for re-election as Senator. Smith easily defeated underfunded Democratic challenger, Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury in the general election. He carried all but one county in the state, Multnomah County, home to Portland.

2008 election

In Smith's second bid for re-election he faced State House Speaker Jeff Merkley.[44] Smith earned 40% favorable and 20% unfavorable ratings in a December 2007 poll. Smith's office characterized the relatively low numbers as a reflection on Congress in general; a spokesman for Steve Novick's campaign (Novick lost to Merkley in the primary) suggested that the public was frustrated with elected officials and looking to outsiders to effect change, and Merkley's campaign highlighted Smith's shifts in position on the war in Iraq.[45] The result was too close to call for almost two days. Ultimately, Merkley was declared the winner by 49% to 46%, with 5% going to David Brownlow, a Constitution Party candidate. While Smith carried all but six counties, he could not overcome a 142,000-vote deficit in Multnomah County.

In 2008, Smith's double second cousins, Democrats Tom and Mark Udall (see above), also ran in U.S. Senate elections, in New Mexico and Colorado respectively, and both won their races.

Table

Senate elections in Oregon results: 1996 (special), 1996–2008 (general)[46][47]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
1996 Ron Wyden 571,739 48% Gordon Smith 553,519 47% Karen E. Shilling American Independent 25,597 2% Gene Nanni Libertarian 15,698 1% Vickie Valdez Socialist 7,872 1% Lou Gold Pacific 7,225 1%
1996 Tom Bruggere 624,370 46% Gordon Smith 677,336 50% Brent Thompson Reform 20,381 1% Gary Kutcher Pacific 14,193 1% Paul Mohn Libertarian 12,697 1% Christopher Phelps Socialist 5,426 <1% *
2002 Bill Bradbury 501,898 40% Gordon Smith 712,287 56% Dan Fitzgerald Libertarian 29,979 2% Lon Mabon Constitution 21,703 2% *
2008 Jeff Merkley 864,392 49% Gordon Smith 805,159 46% David Brownlow Constitution 92,565 5% *

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1996, Michael L. Hoyes of the Natural Law Party received 4,425 votes and other minor candidates received 1,402 votes. In 2002, minor candidates received 1,354 votes. In 2008, minor candidates received 5,388 votes.

Post-Senate career

In the aforementioned private meeting with LDS church leaders in 2009, Smith shared information he said "may be classified" about Iran's nuclear program. (Smith's spokesman has since stated that none of the information shared was, in fact, classified.) Smith also mentioned instances in which he had pushed officials of various international governments to allow an increased LDS missionary presence in their countries.[39]

Smith was named as president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters on September 18, 2009 and began his tenure with the trade association on November 1, 2009. Since then, Smith has led the association's lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill and at the Federal Communications Commission regarding issues affecting the television and radio broadcast industry. These issues include voluntary incentive auctions of broadcast TV spectrum, efforts by record labels to institute a performance fee on local radio stations for music airplay, and retransmission consent rules. Broadcast industry executives have credited Smith's leadership with improving NAB's lobbying clout and influence.[48] In October 2012, Smith was named as one of Washington's top lobbyists by The Hill.[49]

In April 2012 Smith was called as an Area Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an ecclesiastical leadership position.[50]

See also

References

  1. Esteve, Harry (July 15, 2008). "Sign in to OregonLive.com". The Oregonian.
  2. "Gordon Harold Smith". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
  3. "The Congress and Scouting". Fact sheet. Boy Scouts of America. Retrieved 2006-09-06.
  4. "Church calls leaders". Salt Lake Tribune. March 31, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  5. "Oregon's United States Senators". Oregon Blue Book (online edition). Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  6. George, Christy (April 21, 2006). "Senator Gordon Smith on his Son's Suicide". Oregon Territory. Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  7. Text of Senate Bill 2634, July 9, 2004
  8. International Republican Institute web site, accessed July 16, 2010.
  9. Lee Davidson (October 24, 2010). "Senate race: Mike Lee ready to ride Senate roller coaster". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  10. Kinsey-Hill, Gail (November 7, 1996). "After earlier defeat, Smith successfully moves toward center". The Oregonian.
  11. "Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #12956". SurveyUSA. 2007-11-20. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
  12. "CNN Crossfire transcript July 19, 2001". CNN.com. 2001-07-19. Retrieved 2007-02-13.
  13. "New Senate Broadcast Flag Bill Would Freeze Fair Use" (Press release). Electronic Frontier Foundation. January 20, 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  14. http://eff.org/broadcastflag/dcp_act_2006.pdf
  15. "Gordon Smith: I'm a conservative". Loaded Orygun. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
  16. "The Centrists" (PDF). The Oregonian. February 25, 2006. Retrieved 2007-02-09. Archived March 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  17. "GovTrack: Gordon Smith". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  18. Kosseff, Jeff (January 9, 2007). "Oregonians in Congress: not so independent". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  19. "Congressional Record on Choice by State: Oregon". NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation. Archived from the original on 2006-12-13. Retrieved 2007-02-13.
  20. "Gordon Smith: Environmentalist?".
  21. U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote
  22. "109th Congress, 2nd session, Senate vote 179 – Congress votes database – washingtonpost.com". The Washington Post.
  23. Bunster, Mark (July 10, 2006). "Gordon Smith's voting record". The Oregonian.
  24. Palmer, Susan (July 1, 2004). "Smith hears of challenges facing area's poor". The Register-Guard.
  25. Christie, Tim (January 18, 2006). "Assisted suicide upheld". The Register-Guard.
  26. Eve Fairbanks (December 18, 2006). "Whip it Good". The New Republic. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  27. Kosseff, Jeff (November 17, 2006). "Smith supported Lott's leadership bid". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  28. none (October 11, 2002). "Question: On the Joint Resolution (H.J.Res. 114)". United States Senate. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  29. Shailagh Murray and Jonathan Weisman (February 5, 2007). "Resolution will test GOP senators' mettle". The Concord Monitor. Retrieved 2007-02-08.
  30. Editorial (December 9, 2006). "Gordon Smith changes his mind". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  31. Judd (December 9, 2006). "Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR): Bush's Iraq Policy 'May Even Be Criminal'". thinkprogress.org. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  32. "GOP senator drafting alternative war resolution". CNN. January 18, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  33. BlueOregon: Smith: Senate Resolution Too Inflammatory
  34. Toner, Robin (March 15, 2007). "Senate Rejects Measure for Iraq Pullout". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-03-15.
  35. "Dems plan Senate all-nighter". CNN. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
  36. Zeleny, Jeff (28 March 2007). "SENATE SUPPORTS A PULLOUT DATE IN IRAQ WAR BILL". New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  37. 1 2 Reed, Brad (October 4, 2016). "Leaked video: Republican Senator supported Iraq War so he could spread Mormonism to the Middle East".
  38. Canham, Matt (2 October 2016 [last updated 4 October 2016]). "Leaked videos show Mormon apostles discussing political influence, gay marriage, marijuana and more". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 6 October 2016. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. 1 2 Goodstein, Laurie (6 October 2016). "Leaked Videos Pull Back Curtain on Mormon Leadership". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  40. "Matthew Shepard Act". Congressional Record. 153 (7). April 18, 2007.
  41. "Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001". Congressional Record. 149 (1). January 9, 2003.
  42. Barnett, Jim (July 10, 2004). "Smith will support same-sex marriage ban". The Oregonian.
  43. "Partner benefits proposed for federal workers". The Advocate. September 27, 2006.
  44. Walsh, Edward (2008-05-21). "Merkley scores chance to take on Smith". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  45. Esteve, Harry; Jeff Mapes (December 8, 2007). "Governor, lawmakers get their lumps in poll". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  46. "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Archived from the original on 2007-07-25. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  47. "Oregon Special Election Official Results". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  48. Kang, Cecilia (February 12, 2011). "Ex-senator Gordon Smith now represents broadcasters as voice for free, local TV". The Washington Post.
  49. http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/264987-2012-top-lobbyists
  50. "New Area Seventies", Church News, April 22, 2012.
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Gordon H. Smith
Political offices
Preceded by
Bill Bradbury
President of the Oregon State Senate
1995–1997
Succeeded by
Brady Adams
Preceded by
Larry Craig
Idaho
Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee
2005–2007
Succeeded by
Herb Kohl
Wisconsin
United States Senate
Preceded by
Mark Hatfield
U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Oregon
January 7, 1997 – January 3, 2009
Served alongside: Ron Wyden
Succeeded by
Jeff Merkley
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