TELL THE TRUTH, MIKE: ENDORSEMENTS
For Immediate Release Contact: Marc Siegel
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
TELL THE TRUTH, MIKE: ENDORSEMENTS
The second in a series on Mike Erickson's misrepresentations. For two decades, Erickson has fabricated support from politicians and organizations.
Portland - If Mike Erickson tells you a group or individual has endorsed him, it means only one thing.
They probably haven't.
In 2008 alone, Erickson has added to his two decades of false campaign claims by stating that Republican U.S. Congressman Greg Walden held a fundraiser for him and sending out mailers suggesting support from Oregon Right to Life.
The truth?
Walden denied holding a fundraiser for Erickson and Oregon Right to Life endorsed his primary opponent, Kevin Mannix.
"Mike Erickson's campaigns always runs into the same problem - Mike Erickson," DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. "His habitual falsehoods have made it impossible for Republicans, Democrats, Independents and anyone else to trust what he says. In my lifetime I have never seen a candidate brazenly fabricate so many different stories debunked by so many different people. No wonder his own party's leaders have abandoned him in his latest untruthful bid for office."
The Walden Truth:
"Actually, there may be more than one interpretation of that story. A source with Congressman Greg Walden's office told OPB that Walden did not in fact do a fundraiser for Erickson, but merely tagged along with Congressman Blunt to a small event at Erickson's house. The source says Walden has no plans to attend Erickson fundraisers in the future."
(OPB, 5-29-08)
The Oregon Right to Life Truth:
"'I was very unhappy about' this new mailing, said Gayle Atteberry, executive director of Oregon Right to Life, the anti-abortion group. ‘Just the spirit of the card has him implying that we're supporting him this time,' she added."
(Mapes on politics, 3-4-08)
Click here to read the full story about Oregon Right to Life.
Now Walden and Atteberry know how former Democratic Governor Neil Goldschmidt and former Republican U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield feel. Erickson falsely claimed support from both politicians in previous bids for public office.
The Goldschmidt Truth:
"Erickson said he solicited a letter of introduction from then-Gov. Neil Goldschmidt to use when he lobbied for student-aid issues in Washington, D.C.
According to archived copies of the PSU's student newspaper, the Vanguard, Erickson got in trouble for selectively editing the letter, for adding a new salutation designed to show that the letter was addressed to PSU students, and for using it as an implied endorsement from the Democratic governor.
The student Constitution Committee ruled that Erickson violated campaign rules and handed the student body presidency to Tod Northland, who finished a close second in the race."
(Statesman Journal, 9-1-06)
"He used a letter of introduction, written by Gov. Neil Goldschmidt for a lobbying trip to Washington concerning student aid, in a way that implied endorsement, an action disowned by the governor."
(The Oregonian, 10-31-1988)
The Hatfield Truth:
"Erickson also has been criticized by some in his district, including fellow Republican Jean Young, mayor of King City, for using a quote from a Sept. 10 letter to him from Hatfield. Erickson had asked for the senator's endorsement but received instead a routine letter of encouragement.
The senator is quoted in a pamphlet and a newspaper advertisement as saying Erickson's ‘`drive, determination and past record of success will yield positive results. . . . .''
Gerry Frank, Hatfield's chief of staff, said he had had several dozen calls about the use of the Hatfield quote but declined comment on the propriety of Erickson's actions. He said some had criticized Erickson after learning Hatfield had not endorsed him."
(The Oregonian, 10-31-1988)
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