Vote for the person, not party

Like many of my friends, I was raised a Montana Republican. I believe that I still hold most of the values of my youth and of a Montanan. Unfortunately, the Republican party of today does not. The Republican party of my youth would never have condoned and celebrated the behavior of a President who encourages divisiveness; threatens the security of our nation through his verbal attacks on our allies, our intelligence agencies, our free press, and on individual Americans; and holds innocent children in detention camps. The former Republican party would be disgusted with a President who throws tantrums like a child, lies incessantly and bullies anyone who doesn’t bow to his demands. The pre-Trump Republican party would not defend a President who has committed fraud, sexually assaulted multiple women, cheated on three wives, and shamed our country by embracing murderous autocrats like Putin, Un, and the Saudi Crown Prince. The Republican party I once favored has disappeared and the current figurehead of that party does not deserve even a modicum of respect.

I have voted as an Independent for years — which, in my view, is very “Montanan” — fiercely independent. As an Independent voter I research the candidates, ignore the attack ads and then vote for the person who I believe most represents my values — regardless of party affiliation. In this election I will NOT vote for Greg Gianforte who was convicted of assaulting a reporter. I will NOT vote for Matt Rosendale who lied about being a rancher and who pledged allegiance to our valueless President instead of pledging to fight for ALL Montanans and Americans. I WILL vote for Jon Tester who actively puts forth bipartisan bills, fights for Veterans, fights for affordable health care, and who regularly returns to his Montana farm to work his land as a third generation Montanan. I also WILL vote for Kathleen Williams who has pledged to work to fix our broken health care system and, most importantly to me, to restore civility and integrity to the U.S. Congress.

— Dr. Marla Hall, Polson