A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
This is as shameful as it gets. Fifty-five Montana legislators, all Republicans, have signed a letter to Gov. Steve Bullock demanding that he:
… block or resist any efforts by the Obama administration to relocate Syrian refugees to Montana until the federal government is able to properly conduct background checks and ensure with 100 percent certainty that any refugees settling in Montana does not put the safety and security of Montanans at risk.
Since 100 percent certainly is not possible, this is a weasely worded demand that Gov. Bullock — who does not have the power to tell the federal government what to do; no governor does — never allow Montana to provide refuge to Syrians fleeing a horrific war and seeking safety and a new life in the west.
President Obama has the facts on the admission of Syrian refugees to the United States.
Here are the 10 Flathead legislators who either don’t have the facts, or have them and don’t care what the facts are:
Dee Brown SD-2
Bruce Tutvedt SD-3
Mark Blasdel SD-4
Bob Keenan SD-5
Janna Taylor SD-6
Keith Regier HD-4
Carl Glimm HD-6
Frank Garner HD-7
Randy Blasdel HD-9
Al Olszewski HD-11
Republican Reps. Steve Lavin (HD-8) and Mark Noland (HD-10) are missing from the list. They may be on vacation or they may have had the good sense not to sign the letter.
This letter is exactly the kind of xenophobic reaction ISIS hoped to provoke the west into making. It’s also a political cheap shot, intended to portray Gov. Bullock as a man willing to risk the lives of Montanans by welcoming Muslims who hate ISIS into our midst. This is not something for which responsible, compassionate Montanans will be giving thanks on Thursday.