The President in Montana
Obama’s Bozeman Visit Promises to be Lively
By Jonathan Weber , 8-13-09
Obama campaigning in Missoula last year. Photo by Anne Medley.
When candidate Obama made the rounds in Montana last year, he promised to come back sometime and maybe do some fly-fishing. He’s keeping that pledge, but even assuming he gets a few casts in during the First Family’s visit to Yellowstone Park late Friday and Saturday, the main event - a town hall meeting on health care reform Friday at the airport in Belgrade - promises to be the highlight of the trip, at least from the public’s perspective.
Presidential visits are always a big deal, especially in places where they hardly ever happen, like Montana. And this trip, coming in the midst of a raucus national debate on health care reform, is shaping up to be more important than most from a policy perspective. In part because of the central role being played by Senator Max Baucus in creating the health-care legislation, Montana is emerging as an important bellwether of public attitudes on the issue.
Tickets were distributed in Bozeman today on a first-come, first-served basis, with some folks apparently camping out overnight in line. One big question: will the well-organized opposition to healthcare reform in particular and all things Obama in general actually disrupt the Presidential forum? If they do, it won’t reflect very well on our fair state. My hope is that the inherent gravity of a Presidential visit, especially one in an out-of-the-way small town, will help keep the forum civil and respectful.
A second big question: will the rallies being planned by belligerently anti-Obama groups - and the counter-rallies being mounted by Obama supporters - create a huge, confrontational circus outside the confines of the forum itself? If it does, you can bet that will lead the national news. Montana is seen in much of the country as the home of various fringe elements, and this is a great chance for local agitators to confirm that stereotype for the visiting press corps.
I covered one presidential event before - a 1993 visit by President Bill Clinton to a technology company in Silicon Valley - and it was memorable in ways I didn’t expect. The sheer magnitude of the security and media operations was mind-blowing, even for a veteran journalist. And Bill Clinton making small talk with company employees, even complimenting one on his tie, while the cordoned-off press pool gawked and shouted unrelated questions was almost surreal.
I’m expecting similar unexpected drama tomorrow. Personally, I’m a fan of Obama, and a fan of health care reform. The President’s visit could be viewed as a calculated effort to cozy up to Baucus, or a good excuse to take the family to Yellowstone. But I think Obama really likes Montana, for all the right reasons: natural beauty, soulful small towns, honest family values and a fair-minded citizenry that’s more interested in practical solutions than ideological posturing. Let’s hope we can live up to that part of our reputation.
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I am from Bozeman, and I am fearful of the images the rest of the nation might see when the pres. holds his town hall meeting.
To all those his insist on being belligerent: yes you are exercising your first amendment rights, but you will reflect unfavorably on our great state.
Nothing is wrong with protests, OR protesting with civility.
From what I've seen on FOX news, these people pushing, shoving and shouting at these town hall meetings would get thrown out of just about anywhere with that kind of behavior, so it's hard to find much sympathy for them, much to the chagrin of FOX news. Frankly, the Country has been more patient with these people than they deserve.
PS: The Constitution was meant to change, it is a living, breathing doccument, and 'Oath Keeper Patriots' demonstate a fundamental lack of understanding of Govenerment when they claim otherwise. Maybe we should start on education reform next?
Good post Mickey, but I'm not sure if it was tounge in cheek? It's not like you to get all soft and lefty on us!
as for our reps and senators they deserve all the harassment we can dish out.
fundamental right equals entitlement
our founding fathers listed our fundamental rights which didnt include health care.
so just be prepared to pay a lot of money if not now then down the road.
Slick (Hanky Head) swings into Montana - wherever the action is, Lawnjockey, Monica ... whatever."
This is blatant racism.