Calling on Sheehy to reject hatred, antisemitism and bigotry

As representatives of Montana’s diverse and pluralistic Jewish communities, we are disappointed and offended to see hateful messaging in a recent Tim Sheehy for Senate political ad and in public comments by one of Sheehy’s staffers.

Hate has no home in Montana, and we call on candidate Sheehy and all politicians to reject hatred, antisemitism and bigotry. It’s time to make that a reality every day, and we need all of our leaders to do their part to maintain this great state’s values.  

Sheehy’s campaign ad presents Jewish Sen. Chuck Schumer’s face above a pair of hands manipulating puppet strings over the words “radio, TV and money.” The imagery in this ad is blatantly antisemitic. It invokes very old, false conspiracy theories about Jewish people controlling the media and international banking.

This image and its messages are dangerous and only threaten Montana’s Jewish citizens in a time of rising antisemitism. We are horrified that anyone seeking public office would promote such material, and the ad should be stopped and renounced immediately.

Moreover, we recently learned that one of Tim Sheehy’s paid staffers circulated hate speech and supported (by reposting) white supremacist, racist and anti-LGBTQ views on social media.

Caleb Oriet, the paid staffer, has said on social media that Black people are “the most criminal, dependent and socially destructive part of the population.” He also leads the Montana chapter of the American Populist Union, which promotes a white supremacist and neo-nazi platform, including antisemitic, racist and anti-LGBTQ messaging. 

Montana is bigger and better than these messages. We believe that all Montanans want to live in a state that values the safety and well-being of all its citizens, whatever their faith tradition, race, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Our leaders have united to denounce antisemitism and hatred in the past and we hope they will do so again. 

In December 2016 Montana’s elected officials — both Republicans and Democrats — united to issue a statement against hate in our state. What follows are portions of a statement signed by U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester, Rep. Ryan Zinke, former Gov. Steve Bullock and former Attorney General Tim Fox.

“...[W]e as Montana’s elected leaders are focused on the values that reflect our true character. Therefore, we condemn attacks on our religious freedom manifesting in a group of anti-Semites. We stand firmly together to send a clear message that ignorance, hatred, and threats of violence are unacceptable and have no place in the town of Whitefish, or in any other community in Montana or across this nation. We say to those few who seek to publicize anti-Semitic views that they shall find no safe haven here.

“. . .We will address these threats directly and forcefully, putting our political differences aside to stand up for what’s right. That’s the Montana way, and the American way…”

Tim Sheehy can learn from this example and we call on him to (1) immediately discontinue the political ad (2) apologize to Montana’s Jewish citizens and (3) remove Mr. Oriet from the Sheehy campaign staff. 

All politicians in Montana should join in rejecting hatred, antisemitism, and bigotry. 

We need our leaders, and all of Montana’s citizens, to join with us as we all work to uphold this great state’s values and keep Montana free from bigotry.

The Montana Association of Rabbis is an organization of rabbis with congregations in Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, and the Flathead Valley. Montana Jewish Project is a statewide Jewish cultural center based in Helena. Its mission includes opposing all forms of bigotry and antisemitism.