It's an old story, but Oregon Democrats are still hoping to score political points with it: Gordon Smith once paid more than a million dollars for four golf clubs.
Smith, who is a very wealthy man thanks to his family's frozen food processing business in Pendleton, paid $1.25 million for the four antique clubs, including a 16th century putter once owned by King James IV.
The Democratic Senate Campaign Committee has put out a video in which working Oregonians are asked what they'd do with $1.25 million. (None of them think it would be a good idea to spend it on golf clubs.)
Then, for comparison, the video points out that $1.25 million would buy more than 350,000 gallons of milk, fill up your gas tank (at $4 a gallon) for 625 years or pay for 50 students to get educated at the University of Oregon.
"Why does Gordon Smith pay $1.25 million for four golf clubs and think $5,000 for a round of golf is a good deal?" the Stop Gordon Smith website asks. "Because he spends his time with well heeled donors and lobbyists who shape his values and priorities. ...
"Smith will spend the cost of four upscale homes on golf antiques, vote to freeze the minimum wage and raise tax breaks for corporations because the country club atmosphere he lives in is far removed from the needs of Oregon's working families. The latest example of his country club world view is Smith's $5,000 per person fundraiser at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort next weekend.
"Smith, who hits the links with lobbyists more often than he holds Ron Wyden style town halls with Oregonians, can't relate to Oregon's working families."
Ah, good old-fashioned class warfare. We love it.
