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Defending Gordon on the environment

Gordon Smith was recently attacked by Jeff Merkley as playing election year politics by voting for the Lieberman-Warner Global Warming Bill. Merkley, in effect said "I agree with you, but I don't think you mean it":

"This was the right vote," Merkley said, "but Oregon needs a senator who will
fight global warming in Washington D.C. just like I've done in Oregon, not
becasue it is an election year but because I believe in it."


Smith responded by citing the many environment and energy-related bills he has supported, including higher mileage standards, tax breaks for alternative energy and funding for Portland light rail.

"The science on climate change has evolved dramatically in five years," Smith
spokeswoman Lindsay Gilbride said. "Sen. Smith is proud to be part of the
bipartisan coalition fighting for a cleaner environment and secure energy
sources."


The Elephant Take:
I examined Gordon Smith's environmental record at the ontheissues.com website. I paid particular attention to the votes and positions he took when he wasn't up for election or re-election. My conclusion? Smith is a moderate, just like he claims to be...not rabidly anti-environment, not far-out idelogically green either. He's a pragmatist who is willing to change his mind if available facts change. Where I come from, that's called perspective and wisdom. As a centrist Republican myself, I'm with him.
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