Montana Tradition at Risk: an Op-Ed by Senate Candidate John Bohlinger

Montana Tradition at Risk

An important Montana tradition is at risk – free and open elections.

In an unprecedented move, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Washington DC insiders chose the Montana Democratic candidate for the United States Senate.

In previous elections the DC power brokers, and our elected officials did not endorse or choose candidates in Primary Electons. They trusted Montanans to decide who will be on the ballot in our general elections.

Since November 5, 2013, when I received a phone call from the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, telling me to drop out of the race, and that the National Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee did not want a primary, and I refused… life has become an interesting case study in politics.

In 68 days, we not only broke tradition with endorsements, we had a decision for a new sitting Senator, without input from the people of Montana.

Do we really want our future elections decided by Washington DC insiders?

I decided to run to give Montanans a choice, and to stand up for our historic tradition of free and open primaries.

Our Constitutional freedoms have been threatened. I believe Montanans have a right to a voice and a vote in our elections.

A democracy is a government in which the people hold the power through elected representatives, built on the principle of equality of rights for all.

We have become a government by a few for a few.

Please join me and stand up for our Montana traditions.

As Desmond Tutu once said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

Is Montana’s Senate seat for sale?

Win or lose, I believe in Montanans right to choose their own elected officials.

****The above article was provided to KGVO News courtesy of John Bohlinger****