First off, let me apologize for not updating the site in the last 24-48 hours. We were down for some maintenance yesterday and I am out on the East Coast for some training- so I am left with updating “The Flint Report” at 5 AM or after my training day is done.
That being said, the fact that I am not wedded to my computer all day, I think, helps add to a perspective of seeing the big picture- what is the rest of the media missing?
Case in point: this story regarding a political practices complaint against Brad Molnar, who happens to be the Republican member of the Montana Public Service Commission.
As the Lee Newspaper’s Chuck Johnson writes:
The state’s political practices commissioner ruled Monday that Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar, R-Laurel, had violated state ethics laws and fined him a record $5,750.
Unsworth found that Molnar improperly solicited and illegally received money from energy companies to fund a Billings conservation event in 2007. The commissioner also ruled that Molnar used state government equipment for his 2008 re-election campaign.
So here you have Brad Molnar, a Republican, being grilled for accepting corporate contributions to what essentially amounted to an energy conservation event in the Billings area. Now, the Montana Democratic Party is hoping to capitalize on this pre-election day ruling by bashing Molnar.
But what about Democratic Attorney General Steve Bullock? He’s been accepting corporate contributions in support of an honorable endeavor to deal with the rising abuse of prescription drugs in Montana. Don’t take my word for it- read it for yourself at Bullock’s website.
The AG’s press release reads:
Financing for broadcast and placement of the radio, television and print ads comes from the generosity of corporations and private foundations, not public funds.
I guess it’s bad when Republican Molnar does it, but great when a Democratic AG and Governor do it.
Don’t expect the mainstream Montana media to question actual elected public officials on this though, they’re too busy hunting down private citizens and individual members of the Tea Party.
Seems the only thing Molnar is guilty of is doing exactly what Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) and Attorney General Steve Bullock (D-MT) have done. That, and the fact that his whole conservation campaign had the audacity to suggest the concept that individual citizens can reduce energy consumption on their own, without a new government mandate that raises their electricity rates. The audacity.
Mike Boyle
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 7:37 PM
As they say, “What good is power is you can’t abuse it?” If it’s illegal or unethical to fundraise for good causes, I can think of MANY elected officials who are guilty of misusing their authority. As this is conveniently directed at one, Molnar, and just prior to election-time, the “coincidence” doesn’t escape the discerning eye.