Page 31 - Flathead Beacon // 10.22.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM
OPINION
OCTOBER 22, 2014 | 31 personalities, as one can tell from their
TV ads, are very different. The serious political choice for each of us is this: which candidate has the qualities that would be most effective in the Congress. John Lewis is a bit of a rarity as a political candidate. Calm and curious, Lewis is good listener. However, he is not without a proper measure of both aggressiveness and intensity, thus his decision to run for Congress. He is essentially a person who cares deeply about and understands the issues. He tempers that with the knowledge that listening and cooperation are essential ingredients in public life and most particularly in today’s dangerously dysfunctional Congress.
Ryan Zinke’s hard-hitting and disparaging TV ads, reveal a person who is quick to show his understandable pride in his Navy accomplishments ... chest medals and all. We take it that his career was indeed remarkable while also knowing that most veterans and particularly Navy Seals, do not talk about, let alone promote their duties in action. Zinke’s television statement that he “is Montana” is certainly remarkable.
Who these guys are is very important; not only to us but to the nation. Without malice toward my former congressional colleagues, I believe that presumption, self- importance, and absolutism have made the Legislative branch dangerously impotent. Montanans can help change this problem by electing a person who is thoughtful, smart, cooperative, and self effacing. We and the Congress need a good listener – remember Mike Mansfield?
I believe those are the attributes of John Lewis and so ... I’m for him.
Pat Williams, former U.S. congressman Missoula
VOTE NO ON LR-126
Montana is special. We have clear skies, unlocked doors and the nicest people. We have two of the most wonderful spots on earth, Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, not to mention all those special out-of-the- way spots that we don’t tell the tourists about.
Montana is also special because we have one of the best-run elections in the country. Pew Charitable Trusts, a national, nonpartisan election monitor rated us highly for fair, honest and accurate elections.
Now, we have LR-126 on the ballot this year that is trying to fix something that isn’t broken. Over 28,000 Montanans have used election- day registration over the past decade to vote. Many of these folks merely needed to update their address after moving or change their name after marrying. Let’s not penalize folks going through life changes. Let’s show them that extra special Montana kindness.
Montana is a special place, let’s keep it that way. Vote NO on LR-126.
Nathan Kosted Kalispell
THE ZINKE CONUNDRUM
In this year’s Republican primary for Montana’s open U.S. congressional seat, 67 percent of the electorate voted for someone other than Commander Ryan Zinke. Many of whom voiced their antipathy regarding Zinke’s former voting record in the Montana state Legislature, which was not fully supporting the Second Amendment, and his liberal positions on a number of social issues. I, for one, called him out as “a Liberal in Seal clothing.”
Many conservatives, both Republican and Independent, have voiced ambivalence about their vote this November considering either not voting for a congressional candidate or voting a protest ballot by voting Libertarian. One vocal local pastor has called Zinke “the worst of two evils.”
To any conservative, the “worst of two evils” is the return of Nancy Pelosi to the Speaker’s position. Many conservative voters don’t realize that it only takes a shift of 18 votes in the House of Representatives to swing the majority back to the Democrats, a change of approximately 5 percent, and Montana could potentially be one of those damaging swing votes.
Ryan Zinke has learned a great deal while on the campaign trail about Montana’s voters’ needs, and has moved his spoken positions to be more consistent with Montana’s conservative views. He has toned down his arrogance, and morphed into a candidate showing the potential for leadership.
Voters on the fence should first look at the big picture. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid’s tenure will directly be affected by how Montana votes and Ryan Zinke is only being elected for a two-year term. A vote for Zinke will protect the Republican majority in the House, while conservatives have an opportunity to watch Zinke’s performance. If he is not consistent with his current positions, there are a number of conservative candidates waiting in the wings for 2016.
Freeman Robinson Big Arm
WHO’S THE EXTREMIST?
Big money from outside Montana is paying for scary TV ads telling us that Amanda Curtis is an “extremist.” But if you compare her actual positions on the issues with Steve Daines, you’ll realize Daines is the real extremist in this race.
Curtis says the minimum wage should be high enough so that full-time workers don’t live in poverty. Daines not only opposes that position — he wants to abolish the federal minimum wage altogether. Who’s the extremist?
Curtis says women’s health decisions, including abortion, should be between her and her doctor, and the government should stay out of it. Daines wants the government to ban a woman’s right to have an abortion even in cases of rape or incest. Who’s the extremist?
Curtis is a gun owner and second amendment advocate — and also says we should have background checks so felons and mentally ill people cannot
buy guns at gun shows. Daines says we should let anyone and everyone buy high-powered weapons at gun shows. Who’s the extremist?
Curtis says health care is a basic human right that should be provided to everyone. Daines wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act but refuses to say how he would then ensure we get health insurance for pre-existing conditions. Who’s the extremist?
Ignore the slick TV ads. Look up the facts. Steve Daines, a multi-millionaire who is one of the richest congressmen in Washington, is the real extremist. Amanda Curtis is a Montana school teacher, who will fight for what’s right and fair for all Montanans.
Caroline P. Myhre Charlo
ZINKE AND DAINES HAVE EARNED MY TRUST
This election should be about trust. On Nov. 4 it will be about which candidates will fight for Montana’s interests in Washington. Montana has an opportunity this cycle. We have two federal candidates who are uniquely prepared to solve some of our greatest challenges.
As the Middle East unravels without American leadership, we have a candidate who has actually served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel. Ryan Zinke knows first-hand the situation on the ground and more importantly he will use his experience to build a successful foreign policy. He understands Obama’s “lead from behind” strategy is a disaster. Ryan’s focus on energy independence is exactly what we need. It will grow Montana’s economy and keep our troops from fighting overseas for commodities we have here.
Jobs and the economy weigh heavily on our minds. Nobody believes the Obama economy is actually as robust as it’s being touted. Regulations and taxes continue to stifle American innovation. Who better to help fix the mess than Steve Daines, who has been a leader in business his whole life? He created hundreds of cutting-edge technology jobs in Montana.
Both Zinke and Daines have earned my trust because they have the experience we need to provide positive solutions. I’m irritated with their Democrat opponents who seem to be more focused on tearing people down than building a positive case for themselves. Montana deserves better. Thankfully we have two trustworthy candidates who are focused on positive solutions rather than political games. Vote Zinke and Daines!
Micah Chambers Whitefish
THE TRUTH ABOUT MY RECORD
One of my Democratic opponent’s friends has made some dishonest statements about my legislative history. She stated in her letter to the editor that I have “never introduced a bill that has passed” and that I am against the Columbia Falls Veterans Home. Here is
the record:
Bills I have got passed: While I am
far better at amending bills to make them better and at killing bad bills in committee and on the floor, several of the bills I have introduced have been passed, including bills to: Allow a Parental Advocate to be present when Family Protective Services are interviewing alleged abuse (SB308/2005); Clarify the duties and authority of the Mental Health Ombudsman (SB46/2005); Require the deletion of unsubstantiated allegations of child abuse from the records (SB191/2003); Request feasibility study for transfer of federal funds to state tribal programs (SJ24/2003); Revise penalty for late motor fuel tax returns (SB153/2001); Eliminate certificate of need laws for certain facilities (SB192/2003); Prohibit extraterritorial building codes in donut areas (SB242/2001 – overturned by MSC); and a resolution to strengthen the 10th Amendment and restore states’ rights by amending the U.S. Constitution regarding the commerce clause (HJ3/2013). I am still waiting for other states to climb on board with HJ3 to return some vestige of states’ sovereignty in our federalist system.
In regard to privatization of the veterans home at Columbia Falls, the 2011 session I successfully spoke, voted against and helped kill Rep. Lewis’ HB2 amendment to privatize the Columbia Falls Veterans Home. The competition from the privatized veterans homes at Butte and Glendive has been stiff and will be a challenge to our veterans home in the future. In the 2013 session I was a leader in the fight to defeat HB 263 and retain our full share of tobacco money for our Columbia Falls Veterans Home.
Rep. Jerry O’Neil Columbia Falls
CONGRESS NEEDS JOHN LEWIS
The two candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives are as different as day and night and they have been eagerly telling us so with their campaign advertisements.
According to those ads, Ryan Zinke spent his adult life in foreign countries as a member of the U.S. Navy. John Lewis lived here in Montana working for the U.S. Congress. Zinke’s political ads portray him as a decorated veteran and I am told that a few years ago his website posted a “kill list” – that is, the number of enemy combatants he apparently killed during his two decades in the Navy.
Lewis’ ads tell us the U.S. Congress employed him in Montana. His job was to find and work with Montanans to solve problems they may have. During those years he says he traveled to every county in the state to meet with those who were seeking congressional attention.
The ads show those as the work history of the two candidates. It is for Montanans to determine which of the experiences would better serve us in the U. S. House.
I have known both candidates for years and count them as friends. Their