Your voice, your vote

Republican campaign is laughable

It’s been one laugh after the other in the race between Democrat Rob Quist and Republican millionaire Greg Gianforte.

First, newspapers said Quist would face opponents with “greater name recognition.” LOL! Like who, Santa Claus? More people in Montana know Rob Quist than can name the governor.

Then when Democrats nominated Quist, national GOP spokesman Jack Pandol sent this email to reporters: “Think the far-left Quist has a shot in this red state after Montanans have rejected House Democrats in eleven straight elections? … Look us in the eye and tell us with a straight face.” LOL! If Pandol ever leaves his Internet hidey-hole and actually comes to Montana, he will meet thousands of Quist supporters (myself included) who will gladly “look him in the eye.”

And then Republican Gianforte said Rob Quist is “out of touch.” It was like “Saturday Night Live,” with Gianforte playing the self-absorbed dimwit telling a joke that everyone gets except him. The joke is, of course, that billionaire Gianforte is again trying to buy his way into Montana politics. Quist, however, is a real Montanan: lifelong resident, graduated from University of Montana, his entire adult life spent performing his original Montana music in every Montana county for decades. He’s practically a household name in Montana — yet Gianforte says he’s “out of touch”? What a hoot!

And then a Republican ad said Rob Quist is “out of tune” with Montana. Ha ha! Get it? The “musician” is “out of tune”! They must have slaved all night over that brilliant pun. If they continue this oh-so-un-Republican comedy, they may unwittingly chip away the layers of anger, hatred and fear they have so earnestly applied to their party brand over the last eight years. —David F. Latham, Libby

Quist is not the right person

It may interest the voters of Montana to know that Rob Quist, the Democratic nominee for the special election to the U.S. House of Representatives, is a supporter of sanctuary cities.

He recently stated such on the statewide radio program “Voices of Montana.”

The practices of sanctuary cities are in direct violation of the rule of law and U.S. immigration policy. Why would any candidate for any office support a blatantly illegal practice? If Mr. Quist doesn’t respect the rule of law, how can he uphold the Constitution? If he should be elected, he would have to swear to uphold said Constitution. Either he doesn’t understand the basic precepts of law and order, OR he has no intention of fulfilling the oath of office … to uphold the Constitution.

Quist is a great musician and we attend his concerts and even buy his CD’s. However, artistic talent does not qualify him to be a U.S. congressman. Quist’s opponent, Greg Gianforte, has a strong, successful business record, employed many people in jobs paying good wages, knows about finance and budgets, and government regulations, etc., which business owners face on a daily basis.

Gianforte has been branded an “out of stater.” So what? He came here and was successful — should we hold that against him? Are we so “xenophobic” that we can’t/won’t recognize the talents of folks ... no matter their “place of origin”?

In a nation that’s now $20 TRILLION in debt, we need someone who knows how to balance a budget. Most importantly, we need someone who believes in the rule of law and will uphold the Constitution. Nice though he may be, Rob Quist is not that person. —Cathleen Disney, Libby

Vote for the ‘Montana guy’

I attended an event where I heard Rob Quist speak in Helena and I learned a lot about him. Unlike his opponent running for congress, Quist champions public education tax money going to fund our local public schools. Before putting his hat in the ring to represent Montana in D.C., Quist was known for helping people put on fundraisers to help pay their medical bills. Quist believes in affordable and accessible health care for every Montanan. Unlike his opponent, Quist has never sued Montana people in an effort to block access to public land or water. Rather, Quist will fight to keep public land public for future generations. Unlike his opponent, Quist believes women’s health-care decisions should be made by women, not by the government. And, as a rancher and hunter, Quist believes in Second Amendment gun rights.

Also unlike his opponent, Quist is not a billionaire with millions of dollars from outside organizations to run an aggressive media campaign. So, you won’t see a slick multimillion-dollar commercial advertising campaign from Quist. And, consequently, Quist has no allegiance to protecting the outside interests of special-interest donor groups. Rather, he is driving around Montana in a friend’s borrowed RV trying to meet as many Montana people as he possibly can so that he can be a voice of the people. This race is beyond partisan values; it is about American values. It is the story of a big-money candidate with a proven desire to buy Montana running against a Montana musician and rancher with a desire to represent and protect Montana. Which side are you on? Big-money special interests? Or Montana’s? I’m voting for the Montana guy. If you want to keep Montana wild, independent, and free, vote for Rob Quist for Congress on May 25. —Katie Clarke, Whitefish

Libertarian introduction

I’d like to introduce myself to Montana. I am Mark L. Wicks, your Libertarian candidate for Congress. I’m a rancher and writer from Inverness, Montana. My wife and I raise cattle and kids in the Milk River breaks. I studied history and technology education at MSU and have a degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology from Lane Community College. I’ve spent a semester abroad living in Sweden and have a very diverse education. I’ve worked on a drilling rig in the Bakken, delivered propane and even worked at a funeral home in college giving me a wide range of work experience. I’m also an entrepreneur. I’ve successfully planned and operated Christmas stores, and I deliver and sell fresh produce across the state in season. I also wrote the book “Wrath of the Dodo,” a post apocalyptic story about living in Montana after the bird flu decimates the population. I’ve been involved in a lot of different ventures and have a wide variety of experience to give me the experience to be a knowledgeable congressman.

I’m a constitutional libertarian, which means I am going to go to the Constitution as my guiding principal. I believe in the 10th Amendment as being a cornerstone of this nation. I will support and defend everyone’s rights under the law. I will defend your rights even when I don’t agree with your actions or position. I took an oath when I joined the Army Reserves to defend the Constitution and I don’t believe that oath had an expiration date, and I look forward to renewing my oath once again to represent the people of Montana. —Mark L Wicks, Inverness, Libertarian candidate for Congress