big sky democrats

The controversial right-wing talk show host David Berg is well known in Montana for spewing anti-progressive, conservative rhetoric. We have come to expect ridiculous views, inaccurate statistic generation, and flat-out lies from the Northern Ag Network morning show host.

This time, however, he's gone too far.

Last Thursday, January 25, Dave Berg attempted to twist Governor Brian Schweitzer's State of the State address into something he could criticize. We're fine with that, as we believe in an individual's freedom to talk out loud about issues with which they disagree. (We're also fine with that because we find it difficult to believe that anyone who listens to both the State of the State Address and Dave Berg will have no problem figuring out which one is the delusional misanthrope.)

We paused, however, when Dave Berg chose to focus on Governor Schweitzer's praise of Rep. Julie French's Military Family Relief Fund, HB 179, which would provide financial assistance to family members of Montana National Guardsmen and women who were deployed to the Middle East.

David Berg compared Rep. French's bill to Saddam Hussein's payment to families of suicide mission terrorists.

No, you didn't misread that.

David Berg compared Rep. French's bill to Saddam Hussein's payment to families of suicide mission terrorists.

Please, listen for yourself. The comment comes about twelve minutes into the program, if you don't wish to listen to the drivel that precedes it.

Let's take a breath and examine which comparisons, exactly, stem from this comment (I almost typed that the comment was 'thoughtless', but I think that's letting Dave off a bit easy - I think he thought long and hard about that comment. I think he meant it.)

1. Dave Berg compares Governor Schweitzer to Saddam Hussein
2. Dave Berg compares our deployed troops to terrorists
3. Dave Berg compares the deployment of our troops to a suicide mission

Enough is Enough.

Please, forward this link to as many people as populate your address book. Write, call, and visit with advertisers for the Northern Ag Network. Urge them to pull their ad dollars if Berg does not apologize in mainstream media outlets with sincerity to our National Guardsmen and Women, their families, and the friends and families of those who have been injured or killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We're all for free speech. We're also all for decent individuals demanding that respect be paid to the men and women who have no choice but to serve overseas.

It's time for us to exercise our right to Free Speech. Don't let this vitriolic hate-monger stand unscathed for his actions.