Letters to the editor July 11
Women’s rights
On July 4, 1776 the Second Continental Congress adopted the declaration of independence declaring, “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving their powers from the consent of the governed.”
On June 21, 2024 Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights submitted 117,000 good signatures in support of CI 128. This is the largest number of signatures ever gathered for a citizens initiative in Montana. Every county was represented and all 100 House districts qualified.
Montana women and men, Democrats, Republicans and independents believe that a woman’s choice about how to care for her body and pregnancy without government interference is an essential freedom in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness for her and her family.
The new Republican party is deeply out of step with Montanans on this issue. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Restrictions on contraception, in vitro fertilization and no-fault divorce – all of which have benefited women and families – are on the table.
I’m sure there are women reading this opinion who can remember when they needed their husbands or male family member’s signatures to open a bank account, get a credit card or get a car loan. It wasn’t that long ago.
If you care about these issues, how you vote this fall matters. There is not a single Republican candidate who will stand up for women’s reproductive choice, or for women’s freedoms in Montana, or in Congress and especially not in the face of Donald Trump.
Vote for freedom this fall. Vote for candidates who will support women’s choices. Vote for candidates who will stand up for all families and will seek to derive their power from the consent of the governed rather than strive to be kings and dictators. Vote for your life, your liberty and your pursuit of happiness.
— Steve Martinez, Kalispell
Open border
I want to implore all Montanans to think twice and please do your research before voting for Sen. Jon Tester.
I want each voter in Montana to look for themselves at Tester’s voting record. I beg each Montanan to not fall for the political gamesmanship and lies that Tester is now playing.
I am so annoyed with the senator’s radio ads, which constantly attack Republican candidate Tim Sheehy’s character, while promoting Tester as a good guy.
Tester’s own ad is proud to say Tester wants to secure our southern border. Of course, Tester wants the southern border secure now, there is an election right around the corner. If Tester truly wanted a secure border, he never would have agreed to open it in the first place. Our southern border was 100% secure before President Biden took office, but Tester stood side-by-side with his Democrat colleagues and Biden to open the border, thus putting his constituents last.
Tester in his own words says, “The border should have been secured a long time ago.” This is absolutely true. Tester is playing political games and gaslighting Montanans. This ad by Tester should make every single voter in Montana furious. Does Tester believe his constituents are really this dumb?
In closing, since Tester is so fond of creating catchy nicknames for his opponents, I want to give Tester his own nickname: two-faced Tester.
— Mike Baenan, Libby