[October 15th, 2008]

Earl Blumenauer

Earl Blumenauer has been a professional politician since age 23, when he joined the Oregon Legislature. And yet in the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet, the 60-year-old Democrat lists “administrator” as his occupational background.

Arguably, that’s true. Blumenauer operates as bloodlessly as an administrator. He’s all Dr. Spock, no Captain Kirk. Which might be troubling, if Blumenauer were incompetent or treacherous. But despite a personality that makes Spock seem charismatic, he’s effective, having won recognition (and funding) for alternative transportation and livability issues. As a member of the House Ways and Means committee, he has real power in a Democratic Congress. And he has even demonstrated an occasional profile in courage—voting against this summer’s warrantless spying bill that even Obama caved to. He’s earned our vote.

He does have two opponents. Michael Meo, the Pacific Green candidate, is the radical in the race. During Vietnam, he spent two years in federal prison for refusing the draft. Now he teaches math at Benson High. The Republican nominee, real-estate investor Delia Lopez, is a Ron Paul devotee with more houses—14 (double-counting duplexes)—than John McCain.

Video of WW endorsement interview (thanks to Portland Community Media)