Bob Brown's former running mate picks a different path now

I go way back with Bob Brown and have great respect for his years of service to Montana. However, I strongly disagree with his recent analysis of the philosophical differences currently seen in the Republican Party.

Bob counsels the party to compromise and build coalitions. He endorses the actions of a small group of Republican legislators who have chosen to vote with the Democrats to enact much of the programs put forward by the past two Democratic governors. True compromise is worth considering, but simply accepting the Democrat Party platform is not in any way a compromise.

I served in seven sessions of the Legislature starting in 2001. A few times early in my legislative career I bent over backwards to attempt to get compromises on an important issue. It is so easy to vote yes that it is amazing anyone ever votes no. Want to be honored as a bipartisan hero? Vote for spending increases.

Then the longer I served, the more committed I became to not compromising. Understanding that if you were going to have any self-respect, you had to hold firm to your basic values. Compromising the things you believe strongly in is wrong. Defeat when fighting for your principles is honorable. The people who voted for you expect no less.

I believe that Republican voters are more interested in electing candidates who have values and stand up for those values. I believe that is more important than compromise and building coalitions. What is the point of building a bipartisan coalition if everything is for sale and can be traded off? We must stand for the things Republicans believe in, and not be willing to compromise those values.

Dave Lewis of Helena is a former Montana legislator who ran on ticket with Bob Brown in 2004 gubernatorial campaign