Steve Novick calls it honesty, but others are questioning what they see as the candidate’s disregard for the consequences of his words. And with Democratic front-runner Sen. Barack Obama coming to town, Novick’s opponents are trying to throw his words back at him. 

Last month Jeff Merkley, latched on to a comment Novick made on Super Tuesday, when he told the Willamette Week : "I go back and forth [between Sens. Obama and Clinton.] I suspect I'll be disappointed with either one of them, but I'd rather be disappointed in new ways than old ways." 

It seems that Novick has been disappointed in Obama before. In a December 2006 post on Blue Oregon recently unearthed by the Willamette Week, Novick censured the Senator when discussing sugar tariffs and the sugar-ethanol-fuel industry. 

“I am not against all tariffs per se, but this one is insane. And, according to a recent New Yorker article, Barack Obama of Illinois has stood with other Midwesterners in supporting the sugar industry,” Novick wrote. 

“Doesn't this prove that Obama is just another captive-of-special-interests fraud who doesn't really care about global warming and doesn't deserve to be hailed as some great Kenya-Kansas hope?” 

The lines were included in a series of tongue-in-cheek questions Novick was posing in anticipation of Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s appearance at the Eugene City Club. 

Novick’s campaign manager Jake Weigler says that the criticism is consistent with how Novick operates and what he believes.

 “He consistently offers an honest assessment of people and issues,” Weigler said. 

In that regard, Weigler sees a similarity between Novick and the presidential hopeful: “Obama’s candidacy is based on idea of having an honest and candid conversation about where we need to go in this country.” 

Global warming and sustainable energy are key issues for Novick, who has spent years discussing renewable energy and capping carbon emissions in order to combat global warming.

According to Weigler, Novick is willing to stand on his principles, even when that means questioning people within his own party. 

Novick’s willingness to criticize fellow party members or to tell the truth or both (depending on your point of view), not unexpectedly, riles some. 

A press release today from the Merkley campaign which led with the Speaker’s welcoming Obama to Oregon proceeded to comment on Novick’s past writings.

“I'm disappointed that Steve Novick thinks Obama is a 'special interest fraud'.  And although I have endorsed Obama, I am also disappointed that in his writing Steve, has referred to Hillary Clinton as a 'coward' and a 'traitress'," Merkley said in the release. 

“The only ones throwing these quotes around are the Merkley campaign people. These are comments he made in past and he stands behind them, but he has made it clear that he is supporting Obama, and thinks he is better choice for president,” Weigler said. 

“The Merkley campaign is trying to turn this into a debate about who supports Obama more,” he continued.

Joe Baessler, political coordinator of the AFSCME, which broke with its national union in order to endorse Obama, chided Novick for his pronouncements. 

Baessler noted that although the union endorsed Merkley in November, it was “nothing against Steve” and that the release had said as much. 

“It is this kind of disregard for consequences of what he is saying that makes it harder and harder for us to even be friendly anymore,” Baessler lamented. “It’s hurtful when things like this get thrown around.”