U.S. Senate Candidates Tester and Burns to Face Off in Whitefish

Let the Games Begin

By Kate Downen, 6-22-06

Montana U.S. Senate candidates Jon Tester, Democrat, and Republican incumbent Conrad Burns will square off in their first debate Sunday morning at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish. The debate begins and 9:00 A.M. and will last an hour. It's the first of two possible debates in the senate race that has captured national attention both because of Burns's ties to scandal-ridden lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Tester's honest (organic) farmer appeal.

The Whitefish Pilot reports that C-Span and Time magazine will both be there to cover the action. At the end of the debate, the floor will open to questions from the audience. The debate is not open to the public but will be shown on television across the state.

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By Kate Downen, 6-22-06 | comments (6) | email story | print story

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By Jay Stevens, 6-22-06

So...if they're taking questions from the audience, but it's not open to the public...who exactly will be there?

By Craig Moore, 6-22-06

CQPolitics reports that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) has provided $173,000 to the Montana Democratic Party. I would assume coming from New York Senator Charles E. Schumer's committee that this may be intended for Jon Tester's senate campaign. Given the demand for "Pary" loyalty and discipline, how compatible are New York values and priorities with Montana's needs? This is the same Senator Schumer and his committee that bushwacked the candidacy of Paul Hackett, the Iraq war veteran who was seeking the Ohio senate seat as a democrat. See: http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2006/02/hackett_drops_out.html Makes me wonder just how independent Jon Tester would be to represent Montana's interests under a puppet master like Chuck Schumer.

By Jay Stevens, 6-23-06

Nice parading of the latest Burns' campaign rhetoric, Craig. Do you get a little treat whenever you comment somewhere?

Honestly, do you think Montanans are dumb enough to believe that Tester -- a true Montanan right off the farm -- would be more influenced by DC insiders than Boss Hogg Burns, who openly cavorts with them?

Certainly if given an option, who do you think folks will pick? An honest, competent legislator who might, just might, be corrupted by lobbyist money, or an incompetent incumbent who already and regularly sups at the lobbyist teat? And who lets them influence his vote?

By Craig Moore, 6-23-06

Jay, your imagination is running away with the dish and spoon. I haven't commented elsewhere as you suggest. What I wrote were my own thoughts. What I do know is that a political committee like the DSCC, that bushwacked Paul Hackett, does not invest $173,000 in a candidate just to let them run "maverick" away from the herd. No amount of Boss Hogg insults will change that. Nor will it change the fact that Mr. Tester impugned the character of Mr. Morrison while openly admitting to have broken Montana law with his telephonic fund raising. Rock chucking about ethics from a glass house is not advisable. http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060616/NEWS01/606160320/1002

In my opinion, the campaign should be about Montana interests, values, and its future. Mr. Tester is fairly "thin" on the issues. See: http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/Jon_Tester.htm
Mr. Tester has a choice whether to develop positions on those issues important to Montana and our country or continue to point at the ethics of others, smile, and take the strings attached cash from DC puppet masters. Montanans deserve more than trying to pick the beauty queen from a mud-wrestling contest. Just my opinion.

By Kate, 6-23-06

Jay, As far as I know, the debate will be heavily attended by members of the Montana Broadcasters Association (the Pilot reported around 150 attendees from the group). I also know that both Burns and Tester will have entourage members there (including family and staffers).

By Craig Moore, 6-23-06

Jay, it appears that Senator Burns and Governor Schweitzer are in sync on coal-to-liquid plants for Montana. Senator Burns is cosponor of the bill. Mr. Tester does not seem to support this industry from what I have gleened from his positions on the environment and alternate energy. But as yet I have not seen his specific stance on the coal development issue. Perhaps the media will get him to commit at the debate. Montanans need to know if Mr. Tester stands with Governor Schweitzer and Senator in moving Montana forward with this important industry. As you may know synthetic diesel shows much promise as a "green" fuel as it does not have the polluting aromatics of dino diesel.

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