Lies and the Lying Liars

Gordon Smith edition.

WALLA WALLA, Wash.—U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) reacted quickly last week when WW quoted multiple sources inside and outside Smith’s vegetable-packing plant in Eastern Oregon saying his company has long hired illegal immigrants.

The senator called the cover story, “Señor Smith” (WW, Sept. 10, 2008), completely “false.”

“I have never had such a hit-piece hatchet-job slimeball done to me before in my 16 years in public life,” Smith told KXL radio host Lars Larson the same day WW published “Señor Smith”. “The policy of that company is to obey the law and document every worker.”

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WW returned to Eastern Oregon and Washington last week and found five workers who are—or were—undocumented when they worked for Smith Frozen Foods or a second related business owned by Smith, who’s running for re-election against Democrat Jeff Merkley in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.