Serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis. © James Conner.
Bowen Greenwood, executive director of Montana’s Republican Party, was in fine form earlier today, trying to spin the Stanford/Dartmouth mailer’s unauthorized use the Montana’s Great Seal as not that big a deal, phrasing his remarks in a way that invites readers to wonder whether McCulloch was abusing her office to harass conservative candidates.
Greenwood, the state GOP leader, agreed that state law appears to requires permission from the state for use of the seal, and seeking such permission would be the “respectful” thing to do.
“Many people end up pirating the seal for one reason or another, and it’s never really been objected to in the past,” he said. “I understand why the secretary might have her ego bruised about this, but I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.”
Greenwood, who is very good at his job, may have been unaware that on 3 June 2014, Secretary of State Linda McCulloch’s chief legal counsel, Jorge Quintana, sent Missoula’s Willis Curdy, winner of the Democrat primary in House District 98, a letter advising him to remove the Great Seal of Montana from his campaign’s website. Curdy complied.
The Great Seal of Montana belongs to the people of Montana who, through their constitution, have entrusted its custody to the Montana Secretary of State, who protects it from misuse from politicians of all parties. She was right to help Curdy honor law, and she’s right to demand the same honorable behavior from rogue researchers in California.
Republicans trying to make hay out of this scandal may earn a baleful response from Montana’s voters.