Republicans need to unite for Gianforte’s agenda

We’re confident the Montana Republican Party is deeply familiar with the Ten Commandments, but it seems that they’ve forgotten another commandment foundational to Republicans: President Ronald Reagan’s “Eleventh Commandment.”

Coined when Reagan ran for governor of California, this commandment states that Republicans “shalt not speak ill of another Republican.” Reagan’s commitment to uniting a divided Republican Party in his home state paved the way for him to defeat a Democratic incumbent governor and rise to president of the United States.

Sadly, many leaders in Montana’s Republican Party have forgotten this commandment. The GOP has instead prioritized infighting, divisiveness and an attempt to regulate elected officials’ behaviors and votes this legislative session over defending conservative values like individual freedom, lower taxes and government accountability.