It’s getting worse…
February 2006
Small tidbit in the Great Falls Tribune about a campaign appearance attended by both John Morrison and Jon Tester:
Earlier, Tester commented on the restrained tone of the primary campaign: “If I win the primary, but lose the general election, I’ve lost.”
Morrison likewise refrained from potshots at Tester. “Montanans are a very civilized people,” he said later, saving his firepower for the policies of the Republican-dominated Congress and the administration of President Bush in general — and Burns in particular.
Let’s hope that the campaigns and candidates keep that tone throughout the primary. Look, there are differences between the candidates in this race, but as long as they can keep the discussion about issues, Democrats (and the winning campaign) will be well-served.
Anyone else remember when conservatives carefully cultivated an image of being tough? Sure, that was illusory–things like World War II movie ‘veteran’ Ronald Reagan, but you could reliably count on conservatives appealing to ‘manly’ values like stoicism and personal responsibility.
Of late, that seems to have changed, especially among social conservatives, who often seek to paint themselves as victims. Whether it is prayer in school or claims about victimization in the media, conservatives are increasingly relying on creating an image of martyrdom to get their message across.
This transformation is demonstrated pretty clearly by a letter to the editor in IR today about the Board of Public Education’s action on bullying. The author, Dallas Erickson, head of Montana Help Our Moral Environment, Inc. (worst name ever?) had this to say:
The bullying policy does include “sexual orientation” and does not include many other categories. Historically when that happens in America, the ones that receive the bullying are those who are opposed to homosexuality.
The board is going against their own lobbyists who opposed adding classifications in any policy because it gives a heads up to the students and teachers about who can legally be bullied. In an attempt to cover their favorite classification they have left many vulnerable.
Some good points, except for being entirely wrong. As a classroom teacher, I can’t say that I have ever noticed much ‘bullying’ of students for perceived heterosexuality. Bullying, harassment, and even violence associated with mere perception of homosexuality is still an all-too common experience in our schools, and for right-wing ideologues, consumed with hatred for gay people, playing the victim card when students are suffering is about as genuine and convincing as Ronald Reagan’s wartime effort.
Heather Bruce from Missoula had an outstanding letter to the editor about education today in the Missoulian. The key excerpt:
No way of teaching is ever innocent. Traditional educational methods provide a philosophical and historical foundation for a society that has always been deeply racist, sexist, homophobic and, despite the seemingly egalitarian ideology of our American forebears, far more committed to class privilege than to equality. Schools of education whose mission it is to liberate the American curriculum and traditional ways of teaching that hide rather than reveal these facts about American education ought to be celebrated not chastised for their work in attempting to realize the underlying promises of liberty and justice for all through free public education and the role it might play in American democratic life.
Remember Marc Racicot? I remember our former Chief of State every time that I open my energy bill.
It seems that every time we see Mr. Racicot in the headlines, he is proving that his interests have nothing to do with Montana but whoever pays him the most money.
The Missoula Independent has an interesting article about Racicot advocating against his hometown, Libby, Montana, in the continuing controversy over asbestos. Now that Racicot is the paid representative of insurance companies, he has forgotten home completely.
If you don’t know much about the situation, give it a read…
