A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.

23 March 2016

Gotcha games that political parties love — and voters hate

Last week, the Republican scored, accusing Gov. Bullock of flying to campaign events in the taxpayers’ airplane and on the taxpayers’ dime. After reviewing all the costs of flying to an official state function and then staying a couple of extra hours for, say, a fundraiser, Bullock concluded his re-election campaign owed the state some money. He paid promptly. A bit embarrassing, and an unforced error, but not a big deal.

This week, the Democrats scored. Greg Gianforte, he of the no PAC money pledge, was caught — there’s video — in PACland in Washington, D.C. Montana Cowgirl has the story. GG does qualify for the hypocrite of the week award, but his backers won’t pack in their support because of that.

And, of course, the Montana Democratic Party continued its risible practice of calling Bozeman businessman Gianforte a New Jersey multimillionaire.

There’s no scandal here other than the scandal that some newspapers are taking this tit-for-tat seriously instead of spending time reporting on things that make a real difference in the lives of Montanans.