Leter to the Editor: Quist is sample of Montana courage

Editor,

The biggest issue of the Montana special election is the Montana mail-in ballot. Risking defeat by doing the right thing is the very definition of courageous. And in this case what’s right was profoundly clear, unequivocal and laid squarely in the hands of one Republican candidate, Greg Gianforte — a failure in this test of courage.

Montana sawyers show courage when we fall that six ton widow maker. Montana farmers show courage when we lay down hard cash for fuel and seed and fertilizer on a bet that we’ll get a fair price for the crop. Montana truck drivers show courage when we take that mountainside switchback and feel another load of logs shift for the third time that day. Montana ranchers know courage when we doctor and tag the twentieth spring calf in front of three quarter tons of protective mama cow. Montana mothers show courage when they forego spring fashion to put a better meal on the table for their family or face the scorn of a deeply loved but errant teenager.

Rob Quist showed courage by doing the honest thing and calling for a mail-in ballot.

Rob Quist has the courage to drive all across our state dodging animals and potholes on slick two lane roads to ask for votes in counties that are openly hostile to Democrats. Those same counties that will now be taxed extra by a so-called conservative Montana Legislature gaming the system for their hand-picked candidate. Rob Quist has the guts to show up in front of neighbors and naysayers to explain how he worked his way back from financial embarrassment. An issue that has been exaggerated by dirty politics and a complicit newspaper.

And what do you see from Greg Gianforte? Threatening commercials bombarding the airwaves. Back-door electioneering with blacked out money. And now he hopes to win by going Mar-a-Lago on us and bring a Trump kid coming in to close a deal that Greg can’t manage by himself.

Politics has allot to do about money and power and promises of the future. But representing Montana is all about courage. In this campaign we got a good look at courage. On Election Day you can show some of that courage and vote for Rob Quist. Because what future do we have if we are represented by someone who’s failed a Montana-style test of courage.

Respectfully,

Jerry McDonald

Thompson Falls,