Merkley Triumphs Overwhelmingly in Debate Against Novick
April 4, 2008
The Governor hotel’s wireless was was buggy preventing me from live blogging the debate, but that didn’t prevent Jeff Merkley putting on a dynamic and commanding performance that left Novick scrambling to explain his caustic style and attacks against the character of prominent progressives.
From the moment the debate started, with Jeff Merkley rolling out the endorsement of Basic Rights Oregon, the most important LGBTQ civil rights group in the state, Merkley had the upper hand and Novick was on the defensive. There were no significant policy differences but the main thrust of the debate centered around which candidates style of leadership would best be suited for getting progressive results as a United States Senator.
That ground was extremely fruitful for Speaker Merkley. Novick came out swinging blindly, attacking Merkley for a poll testing messaging against Novick, but Novick was forced to admit that he had put a similar poll in the field just a few weeks earlier. Novick’s negativity immediately out of the gate, a style that he has employed throughout the campaign, would be prove to be a huge blunder as during the question and answer section Novick was on the defensive trying to explain attacks on progressives. Novick was asked whether he stood by his his smear that Senator Obama was just a “captive-of-special-interests fraud who doesn’t really care about global warming and doesn’t deserve to be hailed as some great Kenya-Kansas hope?” Novick fumbled his response, claiming that it was an issue based criticism. When asked to defend insulting Hillary Clinton calling her a traitress and a coward, he said that his comments were undiplomatic but stood by them. Merkley followed by saying “I keep trying to see you going up to President Obama, I’m sorry I called you a fraud but could you help me get county payments passed? Or President Clinton, I’m sorry I called you a traitress and a coward but could you help me expand the Mount Hood Wilderness area?.” It was an absolutely devastating line of questioning.
It only got worse for Novick when Merkley pulled the humor club out of his bag asking Novick about his anti U2 singer and activist Bono remarks. Merkley’s question earned big laughs and Novick took the bait hook line and sinker, viciously attacking the antipoverty and anti AIDS activist, saying that he would vote for Smith over Bono. If the other questions didn’t fully convince viewers about Novick’s attack first mentality, Novick’s inability to laugh this off or even responded amicably to this question should put the nail in the coffin.
Merkley presented plenty of contrast citing example after example of how he had worked with legislators to focus on results rather than insults. Merkley talked about his ability to forge coalitions to get things done and how important relationships are in a legislative body like the United States Senate. Merkley was able to connect his type of politics with the great historical shift that we are currently experiencing right now the new politics of Senator Obama that have inspired thousands of Oregonians to register to vote and get involved in politics.
Merkley overwhelmingly won in front of one of the most influential audiences of the state, the Portland City Club. The debate will get more exposure than just the opinion leaders of the City Club, as the debate will be aired all over the state on Oregon Public Broadcasting. Merkley was able to successfully indict Novick’s caustic and nasty style of politics while staying above the fray. Merkley, in front of the biggest audience of the campaign, carried the day as the only candidate to persuasively make his case that he has the experience and the temperament to be a dynamic and successful United States Senator.
UPDATE: City Club posted the audio listen and decide for yourself!
Entry Filed under: OR-Sen, bdunn. Tags: Jeff Merkley, OR-Sen, Portland City Club, Steve Novick.
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bdunn
atleastimhonest
1.
Kevin | April 4, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Good post, Bradley. I wish I could have been there!
2.
torridjoe | April 4, 2008 at 7:45 pm
bdunn funny!
The people in press row were shaking their heads ruefully when Merkley brought up Bono. They were like, WTF does this have to do with the Senate? And you think it was the crowning moment of the debate. Nice!
3.
bdunn | April 4, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Dont worry Torridjoe. The press gave Merkley great coverage (Ill probably be doing a round up for tomorrow) but I watched the Katu 2 and their coverage was Merkley saying “I keep trying to see you going up to President Obama, I’m sorry I called you a fraud but could you help me get county payments passed?” followed by Novick saying that he was undiplomatic about attacking Obama. Priceless!
4.
torridjoe | April 4, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Didn’t I just tell you I wasn’t worried?
5.
Nerd Burger | April 4, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Bradley, I think you’re a great person, but this blog–including this post–is only destroying whatever shred of credibility political blogging may have ever had. Same goes for you, TJ.
Just admit that you’re the propaganda wings of the campaigns you support and be done with it. The blogs on both sides of the Senate campaign have become an utter embarrassment.
6.
bdunn | April 4, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Torridjoe
Considering that the only person associated with this campaign more negative than Novick is you, it is not surprising that neither of you can see your negativity blow up in your faces like it did today.
7.
bdunn | April 4, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Nerd, Im assuming thats not your real name, did you have a differing opinion of the debate? If so I would love to hear about how it differs from my account.
8.
torridjoe | April 4, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Nerd, perhaps you should read my analysis before pissing on the fire. I think you’ll find I was pretty fair. Did you think you were going to get objective from bdunn with a headline like that? And I might point out that I provided a quick and dirty transcript, largely without overt editorializing, as part of a service to the community. Bdunn can think what he wants, but that doesn’t mean anyone else has to take him seriously. Or me, for that matter–but mine doesn’t read like I set out to write a “Novick Kicks Merkley Ass” story no matter how the debate went. Do you see any highlights from Novick here? I describe where both men did well and fell short.
9.
bdunn | April 4, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Im sorry but its hard to say Novick Kicks Merkley’s Ass when your candidate comes away with this quote in the Oregonian::
Novick was reeling in the interview just like he was in the debate. There are no ifs ands or buts about it TJ your candidate not only lost but couldn’t defend himself against the notion that Novick at his core does not have the temperament to be a successful United States Senator.
10.
torridjoe | April 4, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Call me when the shuttle, lands, Brad. Sure looks to me like he’s defusing what Merkley wants to make his primary issue. Maybe he can get Bono to endorse him. I think Steve will do OK in the sensitive artist community; youi’ll see.
The louder you beat your chest vicariously for Jeff, the less sure you look that Merkley really made any headway, or that “my opponent is mean” is ever a winning strategy. Did it ever occur to you that people might WANT someone who is combative to take on Smith?
11.
bdunn | April 4, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Yeah and combative is the word that you would describe Barack Obama with or Hillary Clinton? And who is polling better in Oregon, again? Hmmm.
People want a Senator that can get things done. Novick is stuck defending the strategy of biting the hand that feeds gets more food, whereas Merkley made an uncontested case that he is a skilled coalition builder that can get progressive policies passed.
12.
John-Mark Gilhousen | April 4, 2008 at 11:52 pm
For those who might wish to listen to the debate and decide for themselves which account is the more accurate, the audio is available as an .mp3 on the City Club’s site (link).
It didn’t stream on my broadband connection, so prepare to wait for it to download before you can play it.
After reading both the LO and FO narratives, I have an opinion as to relative objectivity, understanding that both sources are partisans in this race. I’m one myself, so I’ll spare you my take.
And as always, I need to mention that I serve as Communications Coordinator for Progressive Democrats of Oregon, which has not endorsed either candidate, neither of whom fully support our Progressive Challenge 2008.
My personal support of Jeff Merkley is based on my own assessment that his policies comes closer, and his proven record of passing progressive legislation, and yes, ability to engage those with differing views without berating or demeaning them, makes him more likely to actually deliver on those policies.
13.
John-Mark Gilhousen | April 4, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Hmmm. The Progressive Challenge link didn’t take, so here’s another stab at it:
http://progresive2008.org/
14.
torridjoe | April 5, 2008 at 12:19 pm
“People want a Senator that can get things done. Novick is stuck defending the strategy of biting the hand that feeds gets more food,”
Or alternatively, Novick has a strong record of getting things done when the traditional politicians can’t or won’t, as people believe about Jeff Merkley. When the going gets tough, the tough punt!
What might happen if Jeff Merkley goes to Peter Courtney and says “I know I threw a temper tantrum and threatened your agenda, but I need your help?” The sad thing is that Merkley is far nastier and far more personal in his attacks, particularly when he is losing. And we’re seeing that again with the ridiculous personal attacks that Merkley is forced to make because he knows he can’t make the argument that he’s the better progressive.
Merkley is yesterday’s failed approach. Good luck selling your stewardship of a body almost 3 of 4 Oregonians think is useless.
15.
bdunn | April 5, 2008 at 1:06 pm
The facts are the facts TJ, Merkley led the most progressive and productive legislative session in thirty years. When you tell people about what Merkley has accomplished fighting for the environment, civil rights, workers rights, and education, people overwhelmingly want to see that kind of work in the United States Senate. Im sorry that you and your candidate have chosen to try to tear down an stalwart progressive leader, but I guess the attacks from you and Novick will continue even if people prefer leaders like Jeff Merkley and Barack Obama who put uniting people ahead of bitter attacks.
16.
Kevin | April 5, 2008 at 2:43 pm
That’s pretty funny, torridjoe.
Of course the glaring flaw in your truly lame attempt at a smear is that Peter Courtney has endorsed Jeff Merkley for Senate and, by every conceivable way of measuring these things, stands by it. That coupled with Occam’s Razor guts and fillets your hysterically funny arguement.
17.
Lauren Dillard | April 6, 2008 at 12:53 am
The Oregonian Opinion blog is discussing this topic. Click here to join the conversation.
18.
Runtmg | April 6, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I will speak from that very tiny percent of the electorate who are U2 fans, consider themselves liberal. I was a Novick supporter until I read that remark. I pulled his yard sign from my yard.
For the record, I am not a pro-Merkley guy. I think Merkley is a rather tame and vanilla candidate and being associated with the DLC makes me cringe.
At the same time, I felt that Novick did come off badly in that debate. It wasn’t anything that Steve said or Merkley said necessairly. It was that Merkley made himself seem much more statesman like, which isn’t something that I care for….except Steve came off really bad in my opinion.
I then read his comments on Blue Oregon about Bono and became livid. His “Bono is after your tax money to countries that won’t pay it back” is fear baiting at worst at a time when 25 of the 38 million people who are infected with HIV. Before Bono started his campaign maybe 11 percent of that 25 million would get medication. Because of the US that number is up to 31 percent. So yeah, I am happy that for once my tax money wasn’t bombing someone recklessly.
Him being trapped in a declarative statement about Bono is silly and I am having much difficulty in supporting him right now.
19.
bdunn | April 6, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Runtmg does this sound like a DLC candidate to you?
In 2005 when Merkley and the Democrats were in the minority. Karen Minnis use an underhanded rule change to keep Merkley from bringing a Civil Unions bill to the floor and passing it less than a year after the state banned gay marriage. Merkley wouldn’t take Minnis’ flack and refused to stop questioning the rule change. Karen Minnis cut off his mic on the House floor and threatened to have state troopers remove him. But Merkley kept right on fighting and in 2007 won passage of historic legislation for basic rights and domestic partnerships.
That doesn’t sound like the DLC (of which Merkley is far far to the left of) to me. That sounds like the man I want to be my next US Senator.
20.
Runtmg | April 7, 2008 at 10:43 am
Steve and Merkley would both be good candidates. No that doesn’t sound like a DLC type of move but I am troubled by Washington D.C getting involved in Oregon’s primary. Nevertheless, I could give two shakes really about Merkley before the debate but now I must give him serious consideration.
21.
carla | April 7, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Runtmg: I’d love to meet with you and talk more about Jeff and his candidacy for U.S. Senate. Please drop me a note at carla (at)jeffmerkley (dot) com.
Carla–Netroots Outreach, Jeff Merkley for Oregon