Freedom’s Watch: Round 2 of robo calls in OR-5

Freedom’s Watch, the conservative policy advocacy group, targeted residents in the 5th Congressional District again on Wednesday with robo calls accusing the Democratic candidate, state Sen. Kurt Schrader of not doing anything to alleviate high gas prices in Oregon.

The automated voice at the other end of the line accuses liberals in Congress of not doing anything to alleviate the price of fuel by refusing to allow for offshore drilling, and then brings the accusations closer to home by accusing liberal state lawmakers, including Schrader, of not supporting a gas tax holiday for state fuel taxes.

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“[House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi refuses to allow American companies to drill offshore for American oil,” the voice says, before continuing: “You’re still paying 25 cents a gallon in Oregon gas taxes. Call State Sen. Kurt Schrader, tell him that even though he’s got a liberal record, you expect him to fight for lower gas prices.”

Freedom’s Watch, the conservative policy advocacy group, targeted residents in the 5th Congressional District again on Wednesday with robo calls accusing the Democratic candidate, state Sen. Kurt Schrader of not doing anything to alleviate high gas prices in Oregon.

The automated voice at the other end of the line accuses liberals in Congress of not doing anything to alleviate the price of fuel by refusing to allow for offshore drilling, and then brings the accusations closer to home by accusing liberal state lawmakers, including Schrader, of not supporting a gas tax holiday for state fuel taxes.

“[House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi refuses to allow American companies to drill offshore for American oil,” the voice says, before continuing: “You’re still paying 25 cents a gallon in Oregon gas taxes. Call State Sen. Kurt Schrader, tell him that even though he’s got a liberal record, you expect him to fight for lower gas prices.”

The 5th district, which includes Salem and parts of the Willamette Valley and the state's Pacific coast, is just one of 16 across the country that Freedom’s Watch’s has targeted with this round of robo calls. The scripts vary slightly from district to district, but they all have the same message of Democratic lawmakers blocking important legislation to increase domestic oil production by opening up offshore drilling.

It’s potentially a risky message to send out to Oregon voters, where environmental issues often resonate with both liberals and conservatives. A poll released last week showed that 50 percent of Oregon voters believe that protecting the environment is more important than lowering the cost of fuel.

And, according to the Schrader campaign, the calls don’t seem to be affecting their constituents or their campaign strategy.

“This is not really unexpected, having out of state groups come in trying to get their message across,” said Paul Gage, Schrader’s campaign manager. “But Oregon voters are smarter than that, and they know how to listen to the candidates and make up their own mind.”

Despite the fact that the call focuses on offshore drilling, to focus on offshore drilling is to miss the point, Freedom’s Watch spokesman Tim Pearson believes. The call also wants voters to focus on Schrader’s decision not to try and implement a state gas tax holiday. Oregonians pay 25 cents per gallon of gas when they fill up their vehicles.

“It’s not just about drilling, it’s about lowering the price of gas,” Pearson said. “At the state level, it’s a temporary holiday on the gas tax. That’s what we’re talking about, and Schrader has not done a thing about it.”

This is the second time Freedom’s Watch has targeted the 5th district, where Republicans see an opportunity to pick up the seat of retiring Democrat Darleen Hooley. They first made calls two weeks ago which also accused Schrader of not doing anything to alleviate gas taxes in Oregon. According to Pearson, this round of calls will continue through the end of the week.