In case you missed it, the Helena Independent Record’s editorial board posted an editorial Wednesday morning called, “Delegation ready to hear from you.”

Before reading the editorial, one must remember that the Helena Independent Record (IR) is more of a mouthpiece and cheerleading squad for the Montana Democratic Party (MDP) than most other papers in the state. One of their long-time reporters recently went to work for the MDP. Rah, Rah….

You can read the editorial by clicking HERE.

The IR board is sure giddy with their love for Senator Jon Tester. It won’t be long before Tester’s press team has the editorial posted on his websites because in the political world, this one is a keeper – like it was almost written or edited by one of Tester’s press people.

Update –at 10:38 a.m., Wednesday, Tester’s campaign team (or his senate team taking a coffee break) posted the editorial on his campaign website.

Most of us commoners really don’t care, but the IR thinks Tester “returns each weekend from the bustle of the nation’s capital to tend his Big Sandy organic wheat farm.” That’s not really true, but the truth has never stopped a one-sided story from the IR.

In all honesty, most of us don’t really care about his organic farm either– we care about his votes, his vision for Montana and jobs and what he will do since the unemployment rate is a lot higher since he’s been in office (not to mention our country’s debt).

That’s not to say I don’t have respect for farmers and ranchers – I do – they feed the world.

Maybe the New York Times can be fooled because they are so far away, but the Montana media shouldn’t be fooled into thinking that these “farmer Jon” photo ops are on the up and up. They are nothing but a political tool that Tester uses to get publicity. Governor Schweitzer has his dog and Senator Tester has his tractor.

The fact is Tester was elected to work as a U.S. Senator. It is not a part-time job. He gets paid $174,000 per year for the senate job. He can be brought down to earth from the “bustle of the nation’s capital” quickly by getting out and about in Montana meeting with and listening to constituents. You don’t need time on a tractor for that.

In regards to listening to constituents, the major reason Tester and Sen. Max Baucus are venturing out in Montana and visiting constituents is because their counterpart in the U.S. House, Denny Rehberg, has raised the bar so high in holding open listening sessions, that both Tester and Baucus looked as though they were dodging Montanans – and they were while the healthcare debate was happening. They couldn’t let Rehberg get all the publicity, so they have ventured out into the real world for a peek.

There’s a downside to being out and about in the public when you’re not use to it: Senator Baucus was recently caught talking in a very condescending voice to a constituent and telling her he did not read the healthcare bill. One has to wonder how long it will be before ‘farmer Jon” follows in Baucus’ footsteps.

One thing for sure, we know the IR will be there to soften the blow for farmer Jon.