Conrad Burns just has a different idea of what is appropriate, doesn't he? And while I have no love for his spokesweasel Jason Klindt, some days I just have to pity him. How do you defend a politician who utters the sentence:
"The other day, the little fella who does our maintenance work around the house, he’s from Guatemala, and I said, ‘Could I see your green card?' And Hugo says, ‘No.’ I said, ‘Oh gosh.'"
Well, if you're Klindt, you try this:
"He was telling an anecdotal story about a time he took the extra step to make sure a worker was legal."
I see! It's all clear to me now. Burns isn't a racist asshole who patronizes his domestic help, he's simply being thorough! He remembers all too well how Zoe Baird was drummed out of the running for Attorney General for her illegal nanny, and he's trying to avoid such treatment.
Klindt even had a full explanation for Connie's incredibly offensive use of the term "little fella" to describe his painter: He's just short.
He added that Burns’ description of Reyes as ‘‘little’’ was nothing more than a reference to his stature — he is 5-foot-3.
(Here's an interesting note. In the Great Falls Tribune version of that AP story, at least in their online content, that "short" explanation is left out. It appeared in the Bozeman Chronicle's wire story on the topic in today's edition.)
So here is a man who has now publicly belittled and stereotyped at least three ethnic groups in public, not to mention working women and now short people. How many more does he disparage behind closed doors? And how does that affect his ability to represent Montana--a generally lily-white state to be sure, but one with a significant Native American population and, like most U.S. states, a growing Latino community?
All I can say is that it must be a helluva challenge for him. Let's remove that challenge just as soon as we can, shall we, oh voters of Montana?
I'm working the phones tonight for Jon Tester. Anyone in the greater Livingston area (hah!) would be most welcome to join the Montana Democrats in trying to oust the "good" Senator. If you want more details leave your contact info in the comments.