The Democratic Party of Oregon has unleashed a brutal video attacking the 2nd District's own Greg Walden for voting against the federal timber payments bill earlier this month.
The measure would have provided $250 million to rural Oregon school districts and counties. Walden - who got THE BOOT from the Source last week for his vote - opposed the measure because he objected to the funding mechanism, which involved closing a loophole that allowed energy companies to dodge some of the payments due on federal oil and natural gas leases.
As end-of-the-world music plays in the background, the video displays stark white letters against a black background: "33 of Oregon's 36 counties rely on federal timber payments. But on June 5, Greg Walden sided with Big Oil to cut those payments to rural counties. ...
"Greg Walden's priorities? Big Oil profits before funding for teachers, sheriffs and libraries. ... At a time of record oil profits, Walden should stop favoring Big Oil over rural Oregon."
It's a powerful attack, but it probably would take nothing short of a political tsunami to knock Walden out of one of the safest Republican seats in the country. And the Democrats aren't helped by the fact that the guy running against him isn't exactly a household name. (Can you identify Walden's opponent? Hint: He lives in Bend. If you can't guess, click here to find out.)
As one visitor to the BlueOregon blog commented: "Too bad we couldn't get better than token opposition to Walden in this 'wave' election year, when he's most vulnerable, and at the very least make him sweat and deplete his war chest for the 2010 gubernatorial race. Chuck Butcher, where are you? (sigh)"
Chuck Butcher, one of the aspirants for the Democratic nomination to take on Walden two years ago, is alive and well and blogging in Baker City.
