Jonathan McNiven
Well, Folks, I’ve been trying to see both sides here, but I’ve got to comment and call out the BS when I see the hypocrisy (IMO). While watching some online videos, commercials and campaign propaganda from Jon Tester and his campaign the last couple weeks while I was watching the Republican National Convention online (which was the first time in my entire life), I’m dumbfounded that Jon Tester starts showing up this year as his campaign for re-election is underway and starts focusing on border security. But wait, his campaign ads now talk about border security as well. Is this because the top three issues among voters in the country are inflation, immigration and the economy? I imagine these issues are even more on Montana voters minds now.
This is typical and understandable at the same time as it’s re-election time for politicians but both sides do it. However, he touts the “Montana way of life” in his campaign commercials which is fair as he’s a “third generation Montana dirt farmer” and how he’s just like one of us and cares about the same big issues like securing the border, fiscal responsibility and illegal immigration, for example. But in his seventeen years in Congress, I find it interesting that he’s NOW focusing and voicing his support on the border issue, immigration and “demanding” it be a priority even January of this year as it feels like he’s transitioning into campaign mode and not the normal Jon Tester Democrat mode he’s been known for from his voting record. Yes, he might voice Montana values while verbally saying he’s pushing back on the Biden/Harris agenda now, but his voting record is different. He might be a good, nice guy but his voting record Is different.
Is it a coincidence that he’s “demanding” the southern border be secure this year? I’m curious how many times Jon Tester has gone to the southern border in his 17 years in Congress and talked about it and pushed back on the Biden/Harris/Mayorkas administration except recently? I’ve seen a lot of Montana representatives, governor, and elected officials physically go to the southern border and show videos of what is going on there. I’ve seen press releases sent out from them as well to show the issues from illegal immigration and drugs that are freely coming across our border (which some of them) end up in Montana. However, I have not seen any videos of Jon Tester at the southern border or even our Montana border with Canada “demanding” the border be secured unless it’s re-election time. Is it just a coincidence? He might be a nice guy in general but this voting record in DC seems unlike Montana.
This comparison analogy of Tester reminded me when MT State Representative Geraldine Custer, out of Forsyth, ran as a Republican for the State Senate against MT State Representative Barry Usher. As much as Geraldine Custer is a nice person that is very personable, her voting record was not reflective of her district and voters in general, and I believe people focused not on her nice personality but realized that she did not vote like them, especially when her district was a conservative district in general. I believe her voting record is why they voted against her, not her personality, and Barry Usher won the Senate seat.
In the same way, Jon Tester touts that he’s a Montanan and he’s your voice to protect the “Montana way of Life” and that he’s been fighting and “demanding” the border be secured in his recent campaign commercials as well as on his campaign website. However, his voting record shows differently.
Here’s what it says on his campaign website in January 25, 2024, and the emphasis on demand we secure our border. In fact, the word “demand” was highlighted, linked and featured. I’m including a screenshot of what is says on his campaign website which was linked online.
However, I did an online search about Jon Tester and his voting record in regards to border security (there is a lot but here’s some important votes). To be fair, his campaign website linked an article in regards to “What Montanans are Reading” and he “Demands to Put Politics Aside to Secure the Border”. Is it a coincidence now that he wants to put politics aside (as it’s time to campaign) where voters now have the chance to hold him accountable for his voting record? But wait, let’s put the politics aside until after the election and focus on the real issues at hand? Here’s some important votes (and I’m sure these are not all of them) I was able to find where his one vote in the US Senate made the difference.
- The US Senate defeated the Laken Riley Act by one vote which detained and deported illegal immigrants. Jon Tester was the deciding vote. (but to his credit, he flip-flopped later on it)
- The US Senate blocked funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by one vote which provided $500 million for ICE for narcotic and drug detection. Jon Tester was the deciding vote.
- The US Senate voted to continue migrant flights to communities across the county which would include Montana which passed by one vote. Jon Tester was the deciding vote.
- The US Senate voted down an amendment that would provide funding for the border fence construction which died by one vote. Jon Tester was the deciding vote.
- The US Senate also voted down an amendment that provided $500 million for barriers along the southern border which died by one vote. Jon Tester was that deciding vote.
- The US Senate voted to allow illegal immigrants to be counted for US Electoral College Apportionment for districts and that passed by one vote. The deciding vote was by Jon Tester.
These are just a few of Senator Jon Tester’s votes that came down to one deciding vote against securing the border or not which is also related to illegal immigration. These are just ones I could find some information on in the limited time I had. I’m sure there are more. Does it matter who Montana sends to the US Senate in reference to these votes I just mentioned?
Tester stated in another Montana newspaper this year, “It’s time to get the job done and secure our border.” Is it a coincidence that after 17 years in Congress that Jon Tester is now focused on issues like securing our southern border and immigration, or it is just campaign season again? I’m sure our northern border to Canada needs to be secured more as well to help protect who comes in and out of our country. However, he seems like a nice guy but he votes in DC differently than what reflects Montana’s sentiment about the border and illegal immigration (in my opinion).
Did you know the most important office the voters of the great state of Montana can contribute to the national level government per capita is our two US Senate seats? We have (2) US Congressmen from Montana that contribute 2 of 435 seats. However, our (2) US Senators contribute 2 of 100 seats in the US Senate.
As Billings and Yellowstone County is the biggest voting bloc in the state of Montana (with the biggest population of voters), the voters here have an opportunity to see this Senate election race for what it is.
If Montana, which is predominately a red state who voted for Trump in 2020 by 16 points (and 20 points in 2016), have any say this November, here’s your chance to be heard as it seems that voters are energized (in one way or another) from the assassination attempt on Trump two weeks ago. Regardless of party affiliation, the assassination attempt on Trump reset America’s perspective on what’s important and what’s political.
Will Yellowstone County and Montana put politics aside until after the election, or will the voters hold our elected officials accountable not because someone is nice but because of how they vote?
On another note, neither Jon Tester (Democrat) nor Tim Sheehy (Republican) have yet to step in our office. Who will be the first? And Jon Tester has yet to endorse Kamala Harris for President yet. Why? He endorsed her for her Senate Bid and as VP. Why the delayed endorsement now?
Only time will tell.
Until then, see you in the paper.
JDM
P.s. I’ll be watching the Democratic National Convention as well for the first time ever. It’s in a week.
