Schweitzer's Groundhog Ag Day

In the 1993 movie, Goundhog Day, fictional weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) finds himself repeating an endless day over and over again. In what could only be termed an unfortunate sequel to a boring and predictable movie, Governor Schweitzer (played by himself.. since the actor who portrayed "Boss Hog", Sorrell Booke, is deceased) attempted to make National Ag Day last an entire month.

For those of you not in the know, National Ag Day occurs every year on the first day of Spring. National Ag Day encompasses National Ag Week. Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless others across America join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture. You'll notice that the week is supposed to be spent celebrating agriculture, not shamelessly changing the narrative to promote oneself.

Last month the Montana GOP filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Political Practices concerning Governor Schweitzer's foray into promoting "Ag Month." According to Helena's version of Leni Riefenstahl, Schweitzer spokesperson Sarah Elliot-Furey...

...reiterated a statement she made earlier this month when news of the complaint first made headlines. "A radio station asked us to make a statement promoting Ag Month to help promote Montana agriculture, and we prepared a free radio spot to honor the request. No state funds were used," Elliott said Wednesday. "Gov. Schweitzer is routinely asked to provide statements of support to commemorate events. The spot was in celebration of National Agriculture Month, which is now over."

The only problem for Ms. Elliot-Furey is explaining to the rest of us how Governor Schweitzer turned a PSA that was meant to celebrate National Ag Day (March 20th) into a month-long celebration of "National Agriculture Month," which is apparently celebrated no where else. In doing so, Schweitzer turned what was at most a one-week educational awareness celebration into a month long opportunity to air a PSA featuring his voice during the political season.

Without a proclamation or other device at his disposal why would Schweitzer, and his lackeys at the Department of Agriculture, attempt to make what is celebrated everywhere other than Montana a day long event (week-long at the most) into a month long opportunity to air a PSA?

This is what an e-mail sent from Ron Zellar, Information Specialist with the Department of Agriculture had to say:


"We broadened the concept a little..." I'll say.! It almost lives up to the Ketuvim in Ecclesiastes to "cast your bread upon the water and it will come back to you one-hundred fold." Except of course when it's political season in Montana and a declared candidate like Schweitzer can cast his PSA's upon the ag community in hopes of getting a hundred additional votes every time it airs.

In trying to explain himself out of his lack of judgement on this issue Schweitzer seems to be retreating into what Montana GOP Chairman Erik Iverson rightly calls "the worst sort of political legalese" over his contention that the use of state funds to produce the PSA's were "within the meaning of the law." Schweitzer has been described variously as either a "straight shooter," by Brian Schott at Montana Living Magazine, or praised as "governing like a Democrat" by Markos Moulitsas at Daily Kos.

In this case it appears Kos was right, Schweitzer is indeed governing like a Democrat...and speaking like one too! Can you imagine the teeth-knashing and hand wringing that would happen within the confines of the extreme left in Montana if a Republican governor had used state funds and manpower personpower to produce a PSA that airs following his or her declaration to file for re-election? The greenhouse gases expelled by that kind of concentrated and feigned outrage could well be responsible for melting a few glaciers.

Schweitzer simply needs to fess-up to the error. There was and is no "National Ag Month," as Schweitzer and his lawyers contend in their Motion to Dismiss. Schweitzer owes us all an explanation in the common-sense style we've been led to believe we can expect from his office and numerous national television apperances. In the end though, Schweitzer's epic ego will likely mean the people of Montana will be left without an explanation.

As Phil Connors explained to Rita in Goundhog Day, "they're all hicks, Rita."

Mike