Merkley's leadership leaves his opponents in the dust

Carla Axtman

You guys, I love my Senator.

Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian:

Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley on Thursday guided U.S. Senate passage of a landmark bill that would prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The bipartisan 64-32 vote in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act marked the first time the Senate voted to include gays and transgendered people under the protection of the nation's civil rights laws.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is what leadership looks like. And yes, there's an uphill battle in the House. But Merkley is going to keep working it. This is why we sent Jeff Merkley to DC. He's not afraid to take on stuff like this--stuff that's hard to do--and grind it out until he's successful.

So where do his Republican opponents Jason Conger and Monica Wehby stand on this?

Mapes again:

Merkley, who faces re-election next year, also didn't face criticism on the issue from his would-be Republican challengers back in Oregon. His two major GOP rivals in the race, state Rep. Jason Conger of Bend and Portland neurosurgeon Monica Wehby, both said they were not familiar enough with the bill to say whether they would support it.

Seriously?

This is a US Senate race. It's prime time. These candidates need to tell Oregonians where they stand. Are you with Jeff Merkley and John McCain for ENDA? Or are you with Rand Paul and Ted Cruz against it? "Not familiar enough with the bill" is a cowardly cop out way to get out of taking a stand.

So here it is, Conger and Wehby. Go out there and get your spines installed--and tell Oregonians how you would have voted on this bill to extend civil rights protections for gays and lesbians. You sought this spotlight and now you have it. Do you really expect to win an election by chickening out on telling us what you think?

By Carla Axtman Nov. 08, 2013