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

17 March 2018 — 1142 mdt

Are right wing mischief makers trying to hijack MT’s Green Party?

Updated at 1936 MDT to include Danielle Breck’s 14 March email to Gibney.

It certainly seems so. Tim Adams, a former data analyst for the Montana Republican Party, filed for the Montana Green Party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate. So did Steve Kelly, whose Green bonafides are rock solid. If Adams has truly embraced the Green Party’s platform — a proposition that raises my eyebrows — he’s made a long and remarkable ideological journey. Thus far, the Green Party has not denounced Adams.

But yesterday the Green Party did denounce John Gibney of Hamilton, who filed for the Green Party’s nomination for House District 85, as a “fraudulent candidate.” Here’s the full statement:

The Montana Green Party is officially denouncing the candidacy of John Gibney who filed to run on the Green ticket for HD 85. Montana Green Party Coordinator Danielle Breck issued this statement Friday morning:

“The Montana Green Party shares the concerns of those who have raised questions regarding the legitimacy of the candidates that have filed to run on our ticket. Ensuring that our candidates represent not only our party, but also the citizens of Montana, in a way that reflects Green values is of the utmost importance to the future of Green politics in Montana. We are however an inclusive grassroots movement and as such denouncing a candidate is something we do not take lightly. We feel it is our responsibility to make sure we have as complete an understanding as possible regarding the actions and motives of each individual before we come to a conclusion regarding their intentions in running in this, or any other, race.

As such, we have requested that each candidate issue a written statement committing to the Green Party’s values and declaring their intention to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects this. In addition to this statement we also asked Mr. Gibney to apologize for, and denounce, the statement he made during an anti-immigration rally in February of 2016. I spoke with Mr. Gibney last night when he called me in response to the email in which we made this request. Unfortunately, he has refused to adhere to this request, but rather defended his remarks. For this reason Party officials have determined that we must denounce this fraudulent candidate along with his bigoted actions and remarks.

We have received verbal commitments from each of our other candidates that they will adhere to this request. We will release as we receive them. If, after making these public commitments, they fail to follow through we will, as a party, reassess support for their candidacy. If however they stay true to their commitments, we will do everything we can to support them in their efforts.”

New. The denunciation occurred two days after the Green Party’s coordinator, Danielle Breck, asked Gibney to pledge allegiance to the Green Party’s platform and values, and to repudiate statements he had made on immigration.

From: Danielle Breck greenpartyofmissoula@gmail.com
Date: Wed, Mar 14, 2018 at 8:42 PM
Subject: Green Party Values
To: jdgibney@cybernet1.com

Greetings John,

I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me last night. Here is a link to the Green Party's four pillars and ten key values.

http://www.gp.org/four_pillars_ten_key_values

These are the ideals which we expect each of our candidates to publicly commit to.

There is one thing that has been brought to our attention that raises some concern with the party. It appears that you attended an anti-immigration rally in February of 2016. Although we hold a strong pro-immigration stance (see value #8) your attendance to this rally doesn't necessarily mean that you have not since changed your beliefs. However during this rally you made a bigoted comment to the press. (http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/anti-refugee-protesters-at-missoula-rally-decry-government-sponsored-invasion/article_d0f64ec7-8ac6-54a0-9863-b4067c24bb27.html). We cannot support a candidate who is either anti-immigration or who holds bigoted beliefs. As such we are going to have to ask you to publicly (we can distribute a signed press release to our media list) apologize for, and denounce, your comments and commit to the party’s values. If you are a legitimate Green candidate who is seeking a place to make change since leaving the Republican Party then doing this should not be a problem. If, however, you refuse to adhere to this request we will be forced to denounce your candidacy.

As you know politics happen very quickly so it is of the utmost importance that you make this public statement as quickly as possible. I will call you tomorrow evening to ensure you have received this email and verify that you are will to adhere to this request.

Thanks again for your time and have a great night!

Danielle Breck
Montana Green Party Coordinator

Now represented by Republican Theresa Manzella, HD-85 is a deeply conservative annulus around Hamilton. In 2016, she was re-elected with 73 percent of the vote. Two Democrats also have filed for the district.

Adams’ Green Party candidacy has infuriated Democratic activists. They don’t believe he’s undergone an ideological conversion. Instead, they believe he’s trying to defeat Jon Tester by creating a protest vote opportunity for progressives who are fed up with Tester’s sanctimonious paeans to bipartisanship, his sweetheart legislation for big banks, and his collaborative schemes to feed more national forest timber to Montana sawmills. They believe that if Adams isn’t already financially backed by deep pocketed conservatives, he will be; they may be right.

The dismal performance of Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein in Montana in 2016 suggests to me that neither Adams nor Kelly is likely to pose an existential threat to Tester’s senatorial career.

At Bigsky Words, Greg Strandberg, who filed for the Green Party’s nomination for Senate District 49 (Missoula), has posted commentary on the candidacies of Adams and Gibney.