His campaign attempted to reverse course last week after multiple environmental groups condemned Carrick Flynn’s comments in which he expressed sympathy for Timber Unity and criticised the impact of listing northern spotted owls as endangered. His spokespeople claimed Flynn had misspoken.
In his own comments WW Flynn disassociated himself from Timber Unity on May 1st, but claimed that his comments were misunderstood.
Five groups issued a lengthy condemnation of Flynn’s remarks on the April 13 episode. The BridgeDuring which he expressed rural hostility to spotted owls (it is an owl that looks like other owls) while also expressing his emotional sympathy for Timber Unity.
We are deeply saddened that Carrick Flynn, a Democratic candidate for Congress, mocks critical environmental protections and sympathizes with a far right group that has ties the January 6th Insurrection. He also refers to Oregon’s iconic land use system and calls it insane. The statement was released by the Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV), Oregon Wild Conservation Leaders Fund Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, RiverPAC of Oregon and RiverPAC of Oregon Action Fund and RiverPAC of Oregon Action Fund and RiverPAC of Oregon Action Fund and RiverPAC of Oregon Action Fund and RiverPAC of Oregon Action Fund.
Flynn has attacked what makes Oregon the state that we love, as that statement also states. Living here goes hand in hand with caring for the natural environment around you. Flynn should not be representing us in Congress if he doesn’t get that.
(OLCV and PCUN endorsed Flynns opponent Andrea Salinas.
Flynn’s campaign replied that Carrick unambiguously condemned the politics of Timber Unity, and that Flynn incorrectly cited an organization that was antithetical to our shared Democratic priorities.
Avital Balwit, Flynn campaign manager told WW that he was not condemning Timber Unity and meant to show sympathy for families whose livelihoods have suffered. Evidently, that was an incorrect reference.
Opponent Matt West, who condemned Flynns comments and brought them to light publicly, dismissed the reverse.
I was glad to hear Carrick answer my call for him condemn Timber Unity, West said. It is unacceptable that a Democratic candidate would support a group with such deep ties the far right. Im a true progressive. I don’t know what Carrick is.
In an interview with WW, he asked people to listen to the interview on May 1. podcast.
Flynn stated to WW that I am not a Timber Unity supporter. If I had a request for something to be included in this article, it would have been me encouraging people listen to that podcast. I did not say that. My politics shows that I am concerned about the economic effects conservation has on timber communities. But I am concerned about the economic effects of large economic trends on communities and any government regulation.