Former Sen. Gordon Smith Gets A New Job

Former U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) has been chosen as the new president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters.

Smith, who lost his re-election bid last year for a third term to Democrat Jeff Merkley, is scheduled to start his new gig on Nov. 1. Until now, Smith had been working as a lobbyist in Washington, DC for Covington & Burling. No word on salary for Smith, not that cash would be a major issue for him given his wealth from Smith Frozen Foods in Eastern Oregon.

And apparently the association's hiring of a former U.S. senator has some "Wow factor" among industry insiders. Here's what Josh Kardon — chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore), Smith's long-time Senate colleague — thinks of the move: