The Oregon Bus Project represents a cross between MTV’s “Road Rules” and “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington” — it’s a bus full of politicians and students traveling around Oregon in support of progressive candidates in swing districts where the vote can go either way.
The project is now in its second year of increasing youth participation in politics, and supporters say it has been incredibly successful. The brainchild of Portland lawyer Jefferson Smith, the project has been championed by Democrats all over the state.
“I was the person to say ‘We need to get on the damn bus,’” Smith said, adding the project would not be possible without the support of others — such as Gov. Ted Kulongoski, former Gov. John Kitzhaber and Sen. Ron Wyden, and many high school and university students.
Kulongoski said the project gave a renewed energy to campaigns in 2002.
“(The project) brought a fresh new way for young people to have an immediate impact on the political process,” he said in an e-mail interview.
Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury said he also supports the project because he is worried that youth participation in politics is declining.
“That’s a real concern,” he said. “I support anything involving getting young people to vote.” Bradbury has given four speeches in support of the program and of its leader.
Smith said he has several goals for the project: Bridge the urban-rural divide that separates liberals in metropolitan areas and conservatives in agricultural towns, engage people — especially youths — in politics, and get them to vote for progressive candidates. All of the candidates the project has supported to date have been Democrats.
“We’re not adverse with supporting progressive Republicans — as long as they are truly progressive,” said Portland attorney Anne Martens, Smith’s coworker.
Project members bought a 1978 touring coach in May and “filled it with crazed loons,” Smith said.
“Riders” travel to cities and towns where progressive candidates have a chance to win elections, hold community conversations and go door-to-door to support these candidates.
Project members select the candidate they want to support by judging his or her attention to the “six E’s” — education, election reform, environment, economic fairness, equal rights and ‘ealth care.
Martens said she joined the project to counteract cynicism in politics, adding that many people complain about the effect politics has on their lives without doing anything about it.
Smith said riders knocked on about 70,000 doors during the last Oregon election cycle.
“This is the most exciting thing in Oregon politics in the last 20 years,” he said. “Oregon should be a state that sets an example to the nation of what a state can be like.”
Smith, a 1996 University graduate, said too many people think politics is boring — something he is trying to change.
About two-thirds of riders have been students, Smith said. University students, such as ASUO President Rachel Pilliod and College Democrats Co-Chairman Mike Linman, have gone on several trips.
University freshman Eathan Firpo, who rode on 10 trips and interned for the project, said Jefferson’s dream has been successful so far. Firpo said he got involved in the project because he was tired of voicing his opinions but not reinforcing them with actions.
“I had been an armchair philosopher too long without doing something,” he said. “I needed to be a part of it.”