We recently posted an article on the Montana Republican Party Platform. Yikes. It was creepy and disturbing. Today, I figured we could take a look at the Montana Democratic Party Platform and see what the Vote Blue crowd supported during their Party Convention in July 2022. The meeting came a few weeks after the Montana Republicans and, unlike their Republican counterparts, the Democrats had near unanimous agreement to their platform.
The party added new language around Democrats’ support for the right to abortion in Montana: “Protecting a person’s right to abortion, contraception, and other reproductive healthcare.” Delegates didn’t fixate on the issue, unlike at the Montana Republican convention. As noted by Democratic Representative Laurie Bishop of Livingston, Montana Democrats have long focused on defending the right to abortion.
What about the other issues that we highlighted in our article about the Montana GOP platform? Here is a side-by-side comparison of the relevant quotes from each party’s platform.
Issue of Concern
Montana Democratic Positions
Montana Republican Positions
LGBTQ+ Rights
“We support equal treatment of all individuals before the law, regardless of race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, physical or intellectual ability, physical or mental health status, language of origin, national origin, or marital status.”
“We believe the ideal traditional family structure is a father and a mother….” “We support policies and services that preserve and strengthen the traditional family units as well as promoting the wellbeing and innocence of children and youth.”
Public Education
“We are…committed to a continuum of high-quality, equitable public education opportunities with adequate state funding to develop the potential of every Montanan.”
“Adopt school choice policies.” “Facilitating programs that allow money to follow the child for education opportunities…inside or outside the public school system.”
Climate Change
“Montana Democrats believe we must reduce our reliance on fossil fuels through a combination of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and the development of clean, renewable energy sources.” “We believe we can achieve this goal and create – or provide transitions into – good Montana jobs.
“We…oppose any regulation on domestic energy production or consumption. We oppose any and all parts of the Green New Deal, the ‘War on Fossil Fuels’, the Paris Climate Accord…”
Workers’ Rights
“We support the right of workers to establish democracy in the workplace by forming or joining independent unions for purposes of bargaining and advocating collectively.
“We believe that membership in labor bargaining units should be optional.”
Affordable housing: “We support increased state investment in affordable, quality housing for all Montanans.”
Property tax relief: “A fair and equitable property tax system that provides funding for necessary local government services, requires wealthy property owners to pay their fair share.”
Mental health: “expansion of affordable access to crisis support, substance use disorder treatment…and other mental health care.”
Child care: “Ensure access to affordable, high quality child care…reducing out-of-pocket costs for working and middle-class families.”
Montana constitution: “We support Montana’s constitution…and we’ll resist any partisan effort to repeal and replace Montana’s constitution.”
Well, what the funk! I have to say that sounds pretty appealing to me. What future vision are Montana voters going to select in November?
Republican Darling JD Hall’s Fall From Grace Exposes Allegations of Serious Crimes
Great Falls Republicans were quick to embrace far-right extremist Jordan Hall. On February 17, 2022, Hall was the featured speaker for the Republican “Pachyderm Club.” Public Service Commissioner Randy Pinocci is a vocal supporter of disgraced pastor Jordan Hall. Pinocci went so far as to be featured in a newspaper advertisement supporting Hall. Yet Republicans throughout Great Falls have been utterly silent amid Hall’s extreme fall from grace. Who the funk is Jordan Hall?
Hall found infamy after defaming a prominent Indigenous, Two-Spirit lobbyist, Adrian Jawort. Jawort sued Hall, and after a scary and prolonged trial, Jawort prevailed. Hall eventually admitted his entire story was a lie. However, before losing the lawsuit against him, Hall went on a statewide tour, spreading hate, homophobia, and transphobia. This included several stops in Great Falls, rubbing shoulders with our own local right-wing extremist politicians.
Hall’s dangerous behavior escalated, and he threatened to kill Raph Graybill, attorney for Jawort. Hall also made disparaging comments about Great Falls’ own Judge Best who presided over the case. Shortly after losing against Jawort, Hall faced yet another accusation of defamation.
Despite Hall’s clear lack of character and extreme bigotry, there’s been not a peep from the Great Falls’ politicians that welcomed Hall with open arms. Perhaps this is not a surprise, given the pervasive culture of homophobia within the Republican Party. (Remember, Great Falls received a mere 6 out of 100 points in the 2021 Municipal Equality Index Scorecard.) However, Hall’s most recent offenses seem entirely at odds with the “family centered” façade Republicans cling to.
Previous hatemongering notwithstanding, Hall’s downward spiral has only gained momentum since his court losses. Hall’s newest hits include:
– Arrest for suspicion of DUI and weapons charges – Admission of drug abuse and a felony charge for drug possession – Investigation into potential bankruptcy fraud – Investigation into claims Hall embezzled around $10,000 from his church – Investigation into a serious incident of spouse and child abuse including strangulation and assault with a deadly weapon
Clearly Hall’s disgusting and hateful rhetoric towards the LGBTQ+ community and his threats towards attorneys didn’t dissuade Pinocci from offering his full support. Nor did it prevent the local Pachyderm Club from inviting this bigot to speak to their group. GF Republicans have clearly been infiltrated by far-right conspiracy nuts…like the rest of the Republican Party across the state.
Hall tweets a warning to Greybill and transphobic message to Jawort
Pride Month is upon us and rainbow capitalism is at its finest. For 30 sunny days every June stores are suddenly swathed in rainbow. Companies are inundating our socials with messages or equality and love. Visibility is incredibly important, but remember dear readers that Pride was a riot. In the spirit of love, equality, and Queer joy, consider ditching that overpriced rainbow hoodie from Walmart and supporting your local LGBTQ+ community instead.
Here’s your guide to Pride happenings in Great Falls:
June 11- Pride Picnic! 11am at Gibson Park. BYOP (Bring your own picnic basket!) June 12- Pride Worship 7pm Gibson Park. Join the opening and affirming GF churches to celebrate Pride. Hosted by Central Christian Church June 19- Pride Night at Centene Stadium. 4:00pm. Join the Great Falls LGBTQ+ Center for the city’s very FIRST Pride Night with the Great Falls Voyagers. Tickets available at the GF LGBTQ+ Center for $10. June 24- TOTALLY GAY! 80s Prom. Hosted by the GF LGBTQ+ Center, the annual gala is a crucial fundraising event for the Center, helping keep the doors open for another year. Featuring local catering, local performers, a dj, and plenty of dancing! Tickets available here: June 25- Pride Patio Party 8pm at the Kellergeist. Featuring music by DJ Nosight. No cover charge!
We read your rather curious demand for a correction from the Tribune regarding recent distribution of hate flyers in Great Falls. Specifically, your assertion that the error is:
“The attempt by the Tribune to invent a false flag, manufacture a bigoted anti-trans smear where none exists, and then try to falsely piggyback it on an actual, dangerous distribution of hate literature serves no one.”
Assuming there was a factual error in the Tribune’s coverage, we are curious to know what facts you have that the Tribune is part of a “false flag” conspiracy. If you don’t have any basis to make the charge that the Tribune’s error was intentional (or even existed), maybe you should correct your article on E-City Beat.
It’s a good thing that you recognize that “dangerous distribution of hate literature serves no one.” Unfortunately, you and E-City Beat seem selective about your editorial choices, most often parroting talking points from far-right media sources and accusing local officials of corruption and self-dealing. Not surprisingly, these articles are long on rhetoric and short on facts.
What E-City Beat and you decide to publish is up to you. But, as a local elected official, we encourage you to be more accurate in your public comments and less vitriolic in your rhetoric about those you disagree with in the community.
