DPO:Is Smith with Oregon or with Karl Rove?

Here's an interesting little twist to the upcoming Karl Rove visit.

The Democratic Party of Oregon is asking Senator Gordon Smith to tell Rove to stay in DC. From the press release:

DPO calls on Smith to call off Rove
U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) should stand for Oregonians by standing up to Bush’s top henchman, Karl Rove.

Portland – Will U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) side with Bush’s Brain or Oregon’s interests?
Although Smith consistently votes with President Bush and proudly campaigns with him and for him, he has an opportunity this week to show rare independence from the White House.

Democratic Party of Oregon Chair Meredith Wood Smith emailed Senator Smith today, encouraging him to reject the slimy, divisive campaign tactics of Karl Rove and the Bush White House by calling Karl Rove and telling him not to bring his nasty campaign tactics to Oregon.

Here is the DPO Chair’s email to Senator Smith.

Dear Senator Smith,

You face an important choice.

White House political advisor Karl Rove’s scheduled Friday visit gives you the opportunity to stand up for Oregonians and tell Rove that his slimy, divisive campaign tactics aren’t welcome in Oregon.

I urge you to call the White House at 202-456-1414, ask for the most immoral, indecent, destructive political hack in American history, and when Karl Rove answers the phone, tell him to cancel his speech to the Washington County Republican Party.
Show that you stand for Oregon, not GOP smear tactics.

Show that you don’t support swift boating courageous veterans, outing a covert CIA operative’s identity for political payback and running campaigns based on division rather than progress.

Show that you are an independent leader, not a Bush acolyte.

Given your longstanding loyalty to Bush and Rove – after all you were the state chairman of Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign, have raised money for him and voted with Bush 94 percent of the time during his first term – I know this will be hard for you.

But leadership requires tough decisions.

Show that you support Oregonians and that you oppose the smear tactics of Rove and the Bush White House.
Make the call to the White House and then tell Oregonians what you said to Karl Rove.

Oregon is listening.

Do you stand with Bushies or for Oregonians?

-Meredith Wood Smith
Chair
DPO

FYI: I've heard Smith might make an appearance at this fundraiser--and I'm taking my camera, fully prepared to get juicy photos of Smith standing with Rove.