Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) has represented New Jersey's 4th Congressional District since 1980. He is one of the most powerful Republicans in the House. Now he is becoming one of the most dangerously fanatic as well.
Smith has won re-election repeatedly by huge margins. His vote-getting power has always rested on two factors.
First is his truly outstanding consitituent service. Like a former Senate counterpart, you could call Chris Smith "Congressman Pothole", and you wouldn't be far off. Second is his acceptance as a moderate by labor unions, veterans and even environmentalists. For the issues important to these groups, Smith seems to be a "stand-up guy".
But no issue matters - or has EVER mattered - to Chris Smith as his crusade to eliminate reproductive rights for everyone. Smith is well-known for inserteing anti-abortion riders in almost every piece of legislation he can find. He is LESS well-known for his support of legislation that would criminalize the dispensation and use of birth control pills and IUDs as well.
He has made no attempt to hide his determination to end reproductive freedom for everyone, everywhere. Josh Zeitz, Smith's first viable challenger, has challenged him to debate this and other issues. As he has since first elected, Smith has refused.
The Zeitz campaign has not, like previous campaigns, stopped with useless calls for debates. Instead, they have produced a commercial that is a real eye-opener for New Jerseyans who do not yet know that Chris Smith has morphed into a Christian Taliban.
The commercial is available at http://www.youtube.com/...
Making this video go viral can be more effective than any campaign strategy against Chris Smith since 1980.
