Montana voters are casting their ballots today. Many other Big Sky residents, though, have done so already.
At stake? The state’s at-large congressional seat once held by Ryan Zinke, who’s now interior secretary in the Trump administration.
If ever was there a caseĀ to be made against early voting, I present to you this one — involving a Republican candidate for the office.
Greg Gianforte just this week decided to take his anger at the media out on a reporter for the Guardian newspaper who had the nerve — the nerve, I tell ya — to ask Gianforte about the Republican alternative to the Affordable Care Act.
Gianforte responded to the question by allegedly body-slamming the reporter, Ben Jacobs, to the floor, while yelling “get the hell out of here!” at him.
Early voting in Montana had expired. The ballots were cast. Many voters perhaps at this very moment are regretting their decision to support a candidate for Congress who’s been charged with assault. To be candid, many other Montana voters well might be cheering the guy on.
This case provides the clearest example I have seen in some time of the hazards of casting one’s vote early. You know how I feel about it.
Gianforte’s opponent in this special election is Democrat Rob Quist, who’s been so very quiet about it all in the past 24 hours or so. Hey, there’s no need to say a thing, Mr. Quist.
Early voting carries enormous risk for those who cast their votes before Election Day — and who cannot take them back.
Dear reader, I rest my case.