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Brent Barton’s support for Jefferson Smith is troubling

by In the news Monday, October 15. 2012

Promote Oregon Leadership PAC

“There’s never a justification for hitting a woman” - Treasurer Ted Wheeler

SALEM– Oregon House Republicans today challenged House District 40 Democrat Nominee Brent Barton to withdraw his support for Portland Mayoral Candidate Rep. Jefferson Smith (D-Portland) in wake of allegations Smith struck and injured a woman at a 1993 party.

Smith has lost support from a number of public safety unions, special interest groups and Democrat politicians, yet Barton remains prominently listed as a supporter.

“As Treasurer Ted Wheeler tweeted last week, there’s never a justification for hitting a woman,” said Nick Smith of Promote Oregon Leadership PAC. “We couldn’t agree more, which is why we’re puzzled Brent Barton remains such a strong supporter of Jefferson Smith. If Barton truly believes violence against women is a serious issue, he would follow the others in dropping his support. Better late than never.”

Republicans say Barton’s support for Smith is especially troubling, considering both also voted to pass 2009 legislation granting early release for violent offenders.

“Barton’s support for Jefferson Smith, along with his support for early release, raises serious questions about his record on public safety issues,” Smith said. “While Barton’s attack ads can’t conceal his record of letting violent criminals out of jail, he can still withdraw his support for Jefferson Smith just as Portland police and firefighters have done.”

Posted by at 02:48 | Posted in Oregon House | 10 Comments | Email This Post | Print This Post
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  • guest

    Geez Louise, Bill Clinton raped Juanita Broaddrick, Sam Adams is a pedophile, the rest of the Stump Town city council is a weird collection of Loonard tricks – so what the Hales is the hullabaloo all about?“` Charlie Hales, Eileen Brady and Steve Novic are just as strange – so, perhaps, Jefferson Smith and scrutiny he’ll receive, may well turn out to be a breath of fresh air compared the the jackass buttocks turning out political road apples by the score.

  • Rupert in Springfield

    Somebody said somebody else hit a woman at some party 20 years ago? Are you kidding me? Is there a police report on file? Because if not this is getting a little ridiculous.

    Hitting anyone at a party, male or female, is a serious thing. However if it is a mere allegation, with no police report, serious injury, or understanding of the situation involved then it is absolutely absurd to say someone is a social pariah for the rest of their life based on hearsay.

    There are plenty of excuses for hitting a woman. If I came home and found a woman abusing my children I would quite likely hit her. If a woman was attacking my wife I would also likely hit her. If she were attacking my wife with a broken bourbon bottle I would definitely hit her.

    Poor logic disguised as false bravado in saying it is never OK to hit a woman is one thing. That’s just poor reasoning. Trying to take that false bravado one step further, and saying any allegation one ever hit a woman is conclusive proof of the act is absurd.

    • DavidAppell

      The Oregonian says there are Eugene police reports and court records:
      http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/10/police_report_jefferson_smith.html

      • Rupert in Springfield

        OK, sounds like this was a genuine complaint. The report is interesting. I’m not defending this guy nor accusing him. All accounts of this story lead one to think both of these people acted like absolute idiots. Getting woken up during a party is no reason to go off on someone. Someone going off on you for waking them up is no reason to punch them, man or woman.

        Frankly the drivers license being suspended seven times is way more concerning to me. Not sure what one has to do to receive that kind of thing, but I have a feeling its a lot more serious than the drunken couch brawl.

        • DavidAppell

          These people were 20 years old. Everyone does a few stupid things in their youth — the question is, what did they learn from them?

          Perhaps not much, in Smith’s particular case. But expecting candidates for public office to be perfect is a lousy way to run a democracy.

  • Clackamette

    So Oregon Catalyst will defend Matt Wingard abusing his own child with a screwdriver, but now criticize Brent Barton who has never hit anyone? Ballsy.

    • POd Republican.

      Matt Wingard is a creep, I knew it the first time I met him. We never should have run him for office. How the hell did the R caucus not know about this. Is their PI so incompetent he couldn’t find a PUBLIC RECORD, or was the R leadership so stupid they knew and ran him anyway? The young lady who came forward about the sexual harassment is apparently one of several, and I KNOW R leadership knew about that in March 2010.

    • POd Republican.

      Oh, and Brett Barton is just another arrogant, spoiled, rich kid Harvard lawyer who thinks he could be President. No wonder he endorses Jeffy, they’re two of a kind.

  • Clackamette

    So you will defend Matt Wingard abusing his own child with a screwdriver, but now criticize Brent Barton who has never hit anyone? Ballsy.

  • conservatively speaking

    Why was the post referring to from OMGodshmidt to FanookAdams removed when it was, in fact, the truth? OC, have you know, what’s termed cojones?

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