Insurgent Dem. takes off in Montana Senate primary

Posted by Don Hazen at 9:00 AM on May 29, 2006.

Many people understand that to make progress in politics, you have to break some eggs. Conservative incumbents -- who play safe, and run to the middle of the road (where Jim Hightower is fond of saying there are only yellow stripes and dead armadillos) -- they have to be run at, have to be challenged and whacked. This is akin to what is going on in Connecticut, where the Republican's favorite Democrat, Joe Lieberman, is getting a heavy does of political reality 2006 style. Ned Lamont is nipping at King Joe's heels. The party Establishment, the Republicans, and the media are very aggressively tripping over each other trying to come to the rescue -- especially Hillary Clinton.

In Montana there is a shiny new governor, Brian Schweitzer, who is showing the smarts to be a popular populist, in similar ways that Bernie Sanders earned the respect of conservatives all over Vermont -- telling the truth and working his butt off for the little guy. Enter Jon Tester.

Very recent polls show Tester within one point of his primary opponent, John Morrison, and then beating the odious, scandal ridden Conrad Burns in the general. Burns, you may recall, received more contributions from Jack Abramoff and his clients than any other member of Congress. Tester, according to Matt Singer, a blogger at Left in the West, is a real progressive, supporting health care for all, opposed the energy bill, the bankruptcy bill, and CAFTA, in contrast to his opponent:

"Jon Tester got contraceptive equity done in Montana and has a 100% from MT NARAL the last 3 legislative sessions. John Morrison campaigned on contraceptive equity then refused to act, fearing being tied to 'radical' groups like NARAL."

"Jon Tester has called for a withdrawal from Iraq and refocusing on the real enemy. John Morrison waffles on withdrawal and says simply that our policy should be encouraging the Iraqis to start a national oil company."

If you are interested in this race, check out Act Blue. The time is now. This is the home stretch... And while AlterNet can make no political endorsements, I met and chatted up Tester at a party for him and Minnesota Secretary of State star candidate Mark Ritchie, at Annie Hess and Craig Kaplan's spring Manhattan event. He is a cool dude.

Don Hazen is the executive editor of AlterNet.