by David Bedey
Since last October, almost 30 mailers attacking my voting record have landed in your mailboxes. I suspect more will arrive in the coming week. Taken together with streaming TV ads, radio spots, and paid door knockers, over a quarter million dollars from out-of-state funded PACs, like “Accountability in State Government” and Virginia-based “Americans for Prosperity” and “Make Liberty Win,” are being spent to buy my opponent a seat in the Montana Senate. What all these efforts have in common is their disregard for the truth. Amoral political operatives believe that if they tell enough lies enough times to enough people, they can win elections. This primary election will test their theory.
Their latest attack accuses me of “working with progressive out-of-state billionaires” and of “willful and continual alignment with the Democrat Party . . . to undermine Republican values and principles.” The cabal now heading the Montana Republican Party (MTGOP) has made these assertions without a shred of credible proof. Their approach is in line with that of the head of the Soviet secret police: “Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime.”
MTGOP chairmen Art Wittich and his comrades are intent on redefining what it means to be a conservative Republican and—again taking a cue from Joseph Stalin—on purging from the party those who won’t convert to their narrow ideology and obey their directives. Because I refuse to comply, I am in their eyes no longer a Republican. I reject their judgement.
The people I’ve spoken to at the doors since early January recognize that both major political parties are increasingly dominated by extreme factions intent on accumulating power and enforcing ideological purity at the expense of serving the interests of all Montanans. They expect good government from legislators who do the hard work necessary to solve problems instead of obediently toeing the party line. That is what I have delivered over my time in the Montana House of Representatives. I’ll continue to do so in the Senate.
Montana is at a political crossroads. Across the state, independent-minded Republican candidates like me are under attack by a MTGOP establishment that is no longer recognizable as being Republican. The results of the primary election will be telling. We can either deal a blow to extremists like Art Wittich, or we can submit to the hyper-partisanship that is destroying our country.
It is a time to choose.
Art Wittich says
Enough cheap shots.
Joseph Stalin? Really?
Why do people think character assassination is acceptable? Or even what voters want to know?
Why do they say they belong to a group, and then constantly and publicly attack the members (and leaders) of that same group?
If the group is so awful, why wouldn’t they quit the group and belong to a group that they prefer?
Why do they harbor such hostility and negativity?
Why are they sowing chaos in the group to which they claim to belong?
Got self-respect?
About a year ago, about 300 grass roots Republicans from every corner of Montana convened, and voted (overwhelmingly) for their leaders. The same people now attacking the Party had a vote, and either chose not to vote, or lost.
Most people wanted honest representation, and conservative governance. The elected officers accepted the challenge, including calling out the harmful policies of our opponents…Democrats. Little did we know that Democrats, instead of defending their terrible policies (or just changing), would run phony “independent” candidates. Or try to take over the Republican party by promoting self-identified Republicans with phony PACs, millions of dollars and paid staff.
When the duplicity was called out, the personal attacks began.
With a week to go before the Montana primary election, I am hopeful that people will choose honesty, and freedom.
Patty Franklin says
Mr. Wittich, your unethical and dishonest interference in our primaries has been a disgrace to our Republican Party. I am ashamed that you are in a position of leadership of the GOP.
Stephen Leuchtman says
Art:
It’s rich that you and your minions would accuse other people of character assassination. We’ve all been reading the crap coming out of you and your friends.
Col. Bedey is no Democrat, as you well know. Whoever wins the GOP primary, Rep. Love or Rep. Bedey will face an actual Democrat (me) in the general election, and we will have a substantive debate over the role of elected officials, such as whether it is responsible for a Senator in Ravalli County to be a slave to their party leadership.
The fact that you insist on exercising elected officials judgment from your unaccountable position as leader of the GOP says everything, doesn’t it? So, no, Col. Bedey’s reference to your Stalinist tactics isn’t a cheap shot, it’s a factual examination of the record of the Montana Republican Party.
The fact that you rise to spout lies any time anyone challenges your crap shows your hand. In November, we’ll have a referendum on your vision of the State, and at least in Ravalli County, we’re going to reject it.
As for me, I’ll be talking about being accountable to my constituents, listening to them, and why they should make a generational change in how Ravalli County votes for who represents them. For protection of local control, for protection of rural health care and our Bitterroot way of life, instead of the small minded dystopian vision folks like you have.