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HATE!  

May 20, 2026 by Guest Post 1 Comment

by Sonny LaSalle Hamilton

As an 84 year old Christian, that word really bothers me, but that’s where my mind goes every election year with the attack ads that flood our mailboxes and dominate our TV viewing, except for PBS. When a person or organization deliberately lies to you, do you ever trust them again?  There were two opinion letters in the May 13 issue of the Star that pointed out the lies in the political slick mailers we are getting. Paul Stanton and Klint Cleveland did their homework and proved the statements in the mailers were outright lies.    

Some of the mailers are coming from a group called Accountability In State Government, which proves the title of any group can be misleading. I am curious about how people vote. Does the R or D letter associated with the person’s name determine your selection?  Do you look at the candidate’s voting record, if they have previously held office? Do you believe everything they say in their ads? I have a simple filter I use in casting my vote for people that have held office.  Does the candidate’s record reflect their pride in how many bills they voted against or does their record reflect their willingness to work with people to get things accomplished for the betterment of all Montanan’s?  Our Nation, State and County are divided and the division is driven by the extreme minority in both Republican and Democratic Parties.  

The extremes consider the other party as the enemy and, in their view, you can never have any agreement or association with the enemy. Why do you think the approval rating of our National Congress is approaching single digits? They spend more time fighting each other and not working together for the benefit of all citizens. Again, this is driven by the extremes, and now the division is evident within the parties. This is front page right here in “River City,” and our Treasure State, within the Republican Party!

Don’t you think it’s time for us average party members to stand up and elect intelligent, responsible people that are willing to work with others for the benefit of all of us?  Those people are Bedey, Rusk and Binkley!

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  1. helen sabin says

    May 21, 2026 at 9:08 AM

    Sonny – the Accoountability in the State Legislature (AISG) is a NEW group started in 2025 – to be an attack middle man pass through. It is run by Dan Bartel a former state senator turned middle man for a group who wants Kathy Love in office rather than David Bedey.

    They have spent over $76,000.00 to run disgusting streaming ads and sending out mailers on Bedy lying about him. the question is why? He has a fabulous reputation in the legislature, can work across the aisle as legislators should and he is respected by most in the legislature. So why support kathy LOVE’s campaign by attacking Bedey? She is another “useful tool” for Koch Industries to put into the state legislature to assist them in getting hold of SHEEP CREEK MINE. Avote for LOVE or DAILEY is a vote for KOCH who wants the rare earth mnerals at the mine. AFP has spent over $40,000. on these two and must ask why? I think you can draw your own conclusions. I have and want Bedey as my senator for 43. I am tired of electing weak people who work for dark outside money.

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