Letters to the editor Aug. 3

Let democracy play out

Recent letters to the editor reveal the passion Democrats have for our party and principles. However, the fact that Montana Democrats are losing national and even state and local elections should not become a cause for Democrats bashing Democrats who legitimately wonder why we aren’t winning. Attacking and name-calling is not helpful. Let’s leave that to Republicans.

A recent open letter to Democratic Senate candidate Alani Bankhead suggested that Carol Williams’ support for independent candidate Seth Bodnar displayed, “pompousness and self-righteousness.” Another recent letter under the heading “Republicans are laughing” prompts this independent Democrat to suggest that the “old white men” reportedly supporting Bodnar – Max Baucus and Jon Tester – both whom have a history of winning elections as Democrats, may know something.

It’s true Max (84) and Jon (69) are old. So is Carol Williams (76), the wife of former congressman and beloved Democrat Pat Williams. So it’s not necessarily a concern about white men but more about age. It’s certainly possible the old folks just don’t get it. Look at our 80-year-old president for example.

To this old white guy (72), the cause of so much angst in the party seems to come from the suggestion that Alani (43) should drop out, that Seth (47) has the better chance of defeating Republican candidate and Trump supporter Kurt Alme (59). Do we really know?

Being old has some advantages, such as a recollection of history. My first time voting was in 1972, the first election after passage of the 26th amendment changing the voting age from 21 to 18. I supported Democrat George McGovern against Richard Nixon.

That election was disastrous for Democrats. At least in partial reaction to that disappointing experience, the second time I voted in a presidential election I marked my ballot for Eugene McCarthy, a life-long Democrat who ran as an Independent against Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford in 1976. Democrat Carter won despite McCarthy’s Independent effort. My third presidential vote was for life-long Republican John Anderson who ran as an Independent in 1980. Republican Ronald Reagan defeated Carter for re-election.

These Independent candidates’ challenges had no impact upon the either the Democrat or Republican who won. Carter won despite former Democrat Eugene McCarthy entering the race as an Independent; Reagan beat Carter four years later despite former Republican John Andersen running as an Independent. Closer to home, in 1989 I ran for Mayor of Kalispell as an Independent. Despite the trend of Independents losing, I defeated both the Republican and Democrat.

Given this history, Alme loses. That is the goal. Bankhead either defeats both Bodnar and Alme, or Bodnar will defeat both Bankhead and Alme. Either way, Alme loses and Republican control of the Senate is closer to over.

So let’s not jump to conclusions. Let’s let the democratic process play out and allow all three candidates to make their best arguments for why they should represent Montana in the U.S. Senate. It’s about democracy after all, not party politics.

­— Roger Hopkins, Columbia Falls