Political News That’s Always Credit-Worthy

[October 1st, 2008]

^Puma Patrol

Oregon businesswoman Gayle Atkins knows what it’s like to compete in a man’s world—carving a niche as an independent real-estate agent and developer in Grants Pass, making more than $150,000 a year.

A registered Democrat with moderate views, she’s never been overly political. But Atkins, 59, was so inspired by Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign that she gave all she could, maxing out at $2,300.

“It’s important to have women in positions of power,” Atkins says. “I know there’s this big thing about Barack Obama helping black men. But black men in this country got the vote 50 years before women.”

Obama’s victory over Clinton convinced Atkins that a conspiracy in her own party brought down Clinton. Atkins wrestled with anxiety and depression before turning to the Web for solace. There she found common cause with the PUMAs (“Party Unity My Ass”) —a movement of Democrats refusing to back Obama as their party’s nominee.

Atkins’ research online convinced her Obama is a Marxist and former Muslim who now attends a “hate church” and would push for slavery reparations as president. His supporters have been duped, Atkins says, because Obama will say anything to get elected.

Last month she backed up her convictions with cash, giving $500 to John McCain. A WW search of campaign records turned up seven such Oregonians who once donated to Clinton and have since slung money at the GOP candidate through Aug. 31, the most recent records available.

Together they’ve given McCain $3,683—just 0.4 percent of the $920,444 he’s raised in Oregon. But the fact that they’re now on McCain’s Straight Talk Express points to a persistent problem for the Obama campaign that runs deeper than a handful of bitter donors in one blue West Coast state.

In an Associated Press-Yahoo News poll last week, just 58 percent of Clinton’s supporters said they plan to vote for Obama. That’s the same percentage that said so in June, when Clinton suspended her campaign to rally behind Obama.

Clinton’s endorsement of Obama apparently wasn’t enough for Rick Stone, a 63-year-old business lawyer with Ball Janik in Portland. He started out giving the maximum $2,300 to Clinton. Last month he gave $500 to McCain. If that’s not puzzling enough, he also gave $500 to Obama on Aug. 28.

“There are lots of relationships out there,” Stone says, “And one contributes to charities and campaigns because of relationships that one has.”

Other Oregon PUMAs include Sandy truck driver Matthew Huff, Portland historian Michael Petticord; Michael Pratt, a Portland retiree; Donald Washburn, a self-employed investor from Portland; and David Fryefield, a Eugene oncologist. They could not be reached for comment.

Atkins says her biggest barrier to supporting McCain was his anti-abortion stance. But with a Democratic Congress, she’s convinced McCain would do minimal damage as a Republican president. Now she’s ready to volunteer for his campaign, calling voters in swing states before the election.

“Character is more important than positions and policy, because all that stuff gets negotiated and flopped around anyway,” she says. “It’s a trust thing. Obama, I just don’t trust him.”

News intern Katie Gilbert contributed to this report.

^Trail Mix

Politics in Small Bites

Portland trial lawyer Greg Kafoury won’t give money to Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Merkley because of a six-month dispute involving Merkley’s position on Israel and Palestine. The flap dates to this spring when Merkley returned a $2,300 donation from Palestinian activist Hala Gores in the middle of his heated Democratic primary. He raised concerns about a comment Gores was alleged to have made equating Israel with support for terrorism. Gores said she was misquoted and accused Merkley of backpedaling on his support for Palestinian human rights. On Sept. 2, Kafoury wrote Merkley that he’d be “more than pleased” to donate $1,000 “once you have accepted the $2,300 offered by Hala Gores.” Merkley’s spokesman says that won’t happen and notes Merkley backs a two-state solution.

We’ve all got opinions about the election. Well unless you’ve been too busy playing Spore. But that’s beside the point. The thing about presidential elections is that most of us never meet the candidates, and we must rely on reporters to tell us who these pols are. But who’s covering the coverage? The good folks at the University of Oregon’s George S. Turnbull Center of the School of Journalism and Communication (70 NW Couch St.), that’s who. They’re hosting a free discussion at 4 pm this Thursday, Oct. 2 called “Covering the Coverage: A Report Card for Presidential Campaign Reporting.” What better way to spend an hour before Sarah Palin and Joe Biden debate?

City Council candidates. Storm Large. Candidates for the Multnomah County Commission. Storm Large. Statewide candidates. Storm Large. They’re all coming to Candidates Gone Wild on Monday, Oct. 13, at the Roseland Theater. So should you. Tickets for Portland’s premier political-palooza—produced by WW and the Bus Project—are available for $5 apiece at WW, 2220 NW Quimby St.

^Face Off

Veep Debate = Comedy Gold

Now that the first presidential debate of 2008 passed with neither candidate making a major gaffe, the commentariat turns with great anticipation to the vice presidential debate Thursday, Oct. 2, between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin.

No, Palin doesn’t have enough candlepower to light a broom closet. And yes, Biden is a blowhard. But considering Dan Quayle made it to the vice presidency after freezing in his 1988 debate like a possum on the Banfield, the veep debates have but one outcome that’s of real concern to the public: The potential for comedy.

So, what are the chances that Biden and Palin will give Tina Fey and the rest of us stupid lines to quote for the rest of the week?