A Political Rant

Walden’s Votes Speak: Thank-You Sir, May I Have Another?

By Dan Richardson, 10-03-06

If only my Congressman, Greg Walden (R-Hood River), made as strong a stand for the Constitution as he has for trees and mountains. If only he’d fight for 800-year-old limited government ideals as he will for Mount Hood.

Despite his consistent Republican Party voting record — or, if you prefer, his rubber-stamping — Walden’s bipartisan push to protect a modest 77,500 acres of Mount Hood wilderness with the Legacy Act (along with Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland)) has run into hurdles from the Bush Administration. Loyalty with Bush and friends apparently runs along a one-way street.

Walden, though being stymied on a signature piece of conservation, continues to toe the party line — even voting in support of historically bad legislation. Twice in recent weeks, he’s sold out Oregonians in favor of GOP bills with unmissably gross flaws.

First, he cast his vote for torture.

On Sept. 27, Walden and other Representatives voted aye for a bill which ranks not far behind the executive order to intern Japanese Americans during World War II. Innocuously called the “Military Commissions Act,” the bill establishes military tribunals to try alleged terrorists that fall into U.S. hands. Which is just fine. But it also allows the President and his underlings to decide for themselves what torture is when they interrogate these bad guys — despite the already well-known corrosive effects that the torture policy has had at places like Abu Ghraib. Waterboarding as torture? Nah! It’s just an, um, alternative interrogation technique.

As if that weren’t trouble enough, the bill also suspends the ancient cornerstone right of habeas corpus for prisoners — you know, that little ol’ idea that government cannot sweep people up without just cause, without court review, without some legal basis.

“Friends, we had to destroy the Constitution in order to save it.”

No, Walden didn’t say that. He didn’t have to. He (and a pack of fellow rats) voted for it.

Second, Walden’s voted for a national law requiring voters to show identification; by 2008, voters have to show photo ID, and by 2010, voters have to show citizenship documents. This sounds rather commonsensical, but doesn’t hold up to any sustained thought. Remember that we Oregonians vote by mail. So if this bill becomes law, we’ll be sending photocopies of driver’s licenses and birth certificates through the mail — an identity thief’s best news since hospitals began losing patient records by the carload.

Thanks, Walden. You were the only Oregon delegate to vote for bill, with its attack on vote-by-mail. You’ve helped erect a high hurdle for Oregonians to exercise a basic right. Remember us? Oregonians? From Oregon? The place you’re supposed to represent in Congress?

I’ve written a number of times about Walden and Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s Legacy Act to protect Mt. Hood wilderness. But what’s the point in getting happy about that, if Walden doesn’t have the clout to pass it — and meanwhile votes to erode our liberties?

Shouldn’t we be able to find a representative who will stand for both conservation and liberty?

There’s an election in November. Walden is on the ballot again. So is this lady. I suspect she’d have voted against some of the Congress’ most profligate spending; against the torture bill; against the voter ID bill; and for wilderness protection.

So, why exactly do we need Walden?

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