A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.

4 April 2016

Jury doesn’t buy Wittich’s story, but Hillary buys love of MT Dems

Art Wittich probably didn’t need to violate campaign finance laws to win Senate District 35 in 2010. I suspect he could have won simply by sticking to the straight and narrow and working hard at his campaign. He beat Democrat Diane Elliot 6,625–2,962. But, reported John Adams of the Montana Free Press, Friday evening a jury found Wittich guilty of running out of bounds, concluding that he:

  • Failed to maintain and preserve records of his campaign contributions from his 2010 primary election.
  • Illegally accepted and received corporate contributions from his 2010 primary election.
  • Failed to report all contributions, including coordinated in-kind contributions, in his 2010 primary election.

Today, Wittich probably is thinking, “I’ll appeal the jury’s verdict.” But what was he thinking in 2010 that made him believe there would not be adverse consequences for what he was doing?

Did Hillary Clinton buy the love of the Montana Democratic Party? Paradise Valley resident Margot Kidder thinks so. Writing in Counterpunch, she said:

Collusion between the Clinton campaign and the DNC allowed Hillary Clinton to buy the loyalty of 33 state Democratic parties last summer. Montana was one of those states. It sold itself for $64,100.

Yesterday at Reptile Dysfunction, William Skink discussed Kidder’s charges and the joint funding arrangement in detail, occasionally employing colorful language. Be sure to read today’s follow-up.

Clinton’s arrangement for shared fundraising is smart politics for her campaign. She’s sharing some wealth, which state Democratic parties appreciate; not a lot of wealth, but some, and all of it mighty welcome to those receiving it.

Bernie Sanders does not have a similar arrangement, which makes him look a bit like a cheapskate. But even were he sharing his wealth, it probably wouldn’t buy him love from establishment Democrats. They want jobs in her administration.