Montana DemoDigest: June 20, 2007

Montana GOP Mired In Bitter Infighting As Convention Approaches

Rep. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred, summed up the current state of the Montana Republican Party this way:
"I've heard of piranhas.  I've heard how they tear people apart. But I never thought I'd see this in this caucus.” But that’s exactly what’s happing.

A story in the Helena Independent Record this week explored current Republican bloodletting and “fratricide” between extremists and moderate Republicans, who are about to gather in Helena to elect new leaders and try to revive the party for 2008.  They’ve got a big mountain to climb.

Former Senator Conrad Burns, long the Montana GOP’s top leader, lost his bid for a fourth term to Democrat Jon Tester in November.  Then, on the last day of the special legislative session, House Republicans ousted their own Majority Leader, Rep. Michael Lange of Billings, following his bizarre, obscenity-laced tirade that made national news and has become a You Tube legend. Next, a dozen House GOP moderates broke away from their leadership, Republican extremists all, and met outside of Helena and negotiated a budget-and-tax compromise with Governor Schweitzer’s staff – only to be bullied afterwards into reneging on the deal by their own extremist leadership.

And to top it off, voters in the former Republican stronghold of Ravalli County soundly rejected all three Republican candidates for the County Commission in elections held earlier this month.  The State Republican Party managed the losing campaigns. Republicans lost across the board.  It’s easy to see why Montana Republicans are at each other’s throats.

Rehberg Challenged to Prevent GOP Campaign Contributions from Influencing Policy Decisions 

The Montana Democratic Party called on Rep. Dennis Rehberg to direct his Chief of Staff, Erik Iverson, to avoid a potential and obvious conflict of interest by promising not to raise campaign funds from anyone who might be influenced by favorable decisions of Rehberg’s office. Iverson is expected to be elected Chair of the Montana Republican Party this week at the GOP’s annual convention. One of his chief duties as chair will be to raise money from wealthy donors.

“Montanans have a right to know whether or not campaign contributions are influencing policy decisions in Rep. Rehberg’s office,” says State Party Chair Dennis McDonald.  “Folks need to know that their Congressman is working for them regardless of whether or not they’re writing checks to the Republican Party.”

While the Federal Election Commission (FEC) ruled that Iverson may continue to serve as Rehberg’s chief of staff if he is elected chairman of the Montana Republican Party, it expressed concern over the appearance of impropriety and influence peddling. Iverson dismissed the whole issue as “not a big deal.” [Billings Gazette 5-4-07]

Lange Trying to Live Down His Macaca Moment: Plans Run for Higher Office

It was reported today in the Great Falls Tribune that Rep. Mike Lange (R-Billings,) whose obscenity-laced screed against Gov. Brian Schweitzer during the legislative session is now a You Tube favorite, has apologized once again for his outburst, coincidentally just before the state Republican Party convention where he expects to announce that he's running either for Governor of Montana or U.S. Senate.

Hence, Lange's opinion piece in the Great Falls Tribune on Tuesday, when he awkwardly attempted to explain away his infamous "stick it" comment about Gov. Schweitzer.

Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics said Lange’s rant could “cost him dearly. Think macaca.”

That word, a racial insult, has since become part of the phrase "macaca moment" in reference to remarks made by unsuccessful Republican U.S. Senate candidate and one-time presidential hopeful George Allen of Virginia.

Lange’s desperate attempt to try and run for statewide office really underscores the division and lack of direction of the Montana Republican Party, which has so far refused to comment on Lange’s immanent candidacy. More.

Speaking of Macaca Moments: Montana GOP Bringing George Allen Campaign Manager Dick Wadhams as Convention Keynoter

We were not surprised to learn that Montana Republicans are bringing in notorious smear artist, Republican hitman and campaign bungler Dick Wadhams as their convention’s keynote speaker.  Sounds like Wadhams can teach them about ineptitude.

A National Journal survey of political professionals found that George Allen, i.e., Wadhams, Allen’s manager, was "running the worst campaign in the country".

Fifty-three percent of Republican and 66 percent of Democratic "insiders" thought George Allen's campaign was the sloppiest of the 2006 season, according to the survey of 138 political experts with campaign experience, insider knowledge and ties to key voting blocs.

As The Washington Post reported last summer, Wadhams, in response to questions raised over Allen's use of the term ‘macaca,’ "dismissed the issue with an expletive and insisted the senator has 'nothing to apologize for.' "Welcome to Montana."

Guess who's not coming to dinner at the state Republican Party convention?

It was reported today that  Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger, a true moderate Republican, is not welcome at the 2007 Republican Party Convention and dinner.  Bohlinger was snubbed by GOP officials Tuesday when he attempted to buy two dinner tickets to the convention.

Chris Wilcox, the Republican Party's youthful executive director, called back to tell the Lt. Governor that tickets to the event were no longer available, and that he would not be invited to the convention, nor welcome.

Bohlinger says the Republican Party in Montana no longer has a place at the table for moderates. "We were the party of the big tent to accommodate elephants," he said. "Now it's a pup tent." More. Read the Helena Independent Record's opinion, Bohlinger snub says alot, here.