Please follow us on X and Telegram

Almost every Republican voter you talk to is, by definition, conservative. I don’t mean as a careless line in conversation. “Yeah, sure. I’m conservative.” I mean genuinely conservative. Just read the GOP State Platform if you have any doubt about what it means to be a Republican.

Conservatism is both a commitment to the Constitution’s system of limited government, and an abiding faith in the dynamics and goodness of a free society. It is a moral philosophy that places the sovereignty of the individual over the coercive, collective action of government itself. Our God-given rights as inviolate. Government as protector, not provider. As a minister of justice, not a pillager of our property, redistributed to others.

The philosophy of the Democrat Party is the diametric opposite. Big Government politically. Socialism economically. Scoffers and deniers of God’s teachings and the sanctity of life. This is why Republicans never vote for Democrats.

Or do we?

If Montana’s strongly Republican, strongly conservative electorate never votes for Democrats, then explain why every session of the legislature continues to grow government, spend more money, subsidize more tax takers, impose more regulations, beg and plead for more federal tax dollars, manipulate more of our economy, enact predatory property tax policies and concoct “government solutions” to problems government created? And explain why the highest priority conservative bills – like reining in judicial tyranny and returning tax surpluses – never reach the governor’s desk? That sounds like a Democrat Legislature to me, not one that is officially 90-60 Republican.

The problem is, we are electing “conservatives” who aren’t. “Republicans” who aren’t. I call them DIRCs – Democrats in Republican clothing. Pretenders who escape our notice. Right now, there are approximately 20 of these rogue elephants running for re-election, along with a collection of first-time candidates of similar liberal persuasion. Have we taken the time to know who they are? Do we understand the influence the DIRCs (or RINOs if you prefer) have exercised over the Legislature, shifting the balance of power to the Democrats on key issue after key issue?

One reliable way to identify the GOP’s Problem Children is to see if the radical, pro-abortion Fireweed staff is helping manage their campaigns. Another clear indicator is noticing which Republican candidates are receiving shocking amounts of out-of-state money, either directly from far-left billionaires and their groups, or indirectly through the laundering of dirty dollars by imposter organization Conservatives4Montana.

Hear me, Republicans! Your party is being stolen from you. Session after session, the DIRCs have corrupted the legislative process, and made it impossible to pass critically important conservative legislation. We can – and must – renew the conservative integrity of our own party, by VOTING in the June 2nd primary. It’s every bit as important as the general election in November. If we want to repair a broken Legislature, then get informed and get to the polls on Tuesday.

‘NO AD’ subscription for CDM! Sign up here and support real investigative journalism and help save the republic!

Author

Roger Koopman

Roger Koopman of Bozeman is the president of Montana Conservative Alliance. He was a two-term Montana state legislator, two-term Montana Public Service Commissioner, and 37-year small businessman. He and his wife Ann raised four children, all of whom were home-educated. Koopman also served on the congressional staff of Steve Symms (R-ID) and Ron Paul (R-TX) and was a field representative for the National Rifle Association.