LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Free Beach, GOP should not compromise

No more compromise

I strongly disagree with Bob Brown and his analysis of the philosophical differences currently seen in the Republican Party. Brown counsels the party to compromise and build coalitions. He endorses the actions of a small group of Republican legislators who have chosen to vote with the Democrats to enact much of the programs put forward by the past two Democratic governors. True compromise is worth considering, but simply accepting the Democratic Party platform is not in any way a compromise.

I served in seven sessions of the Legislature starting in 2001. A few times early in my legislative career, I bent over backwards to attempt to get compromises on important issues. It is so easy to vote “yes,” it’s amazing that anyone ever votes “no.” Want to be honored as a bipartisan hero? Vote for spending increases. The longer I served, the more committed I became to not compromising. Compromising the things you believe in strongly is wrong. Defeat when fighting for your principles is honorable. The people who voted for you expect no less.

I believe that Republican voters are more interested in electing candidates who have values and stand up for those values. I believe that is more important than compromise and building coalitions. What is the point of building a bipartisan coalition if everything is for sale and can be traded off? We must stand for the things Republicans believe in and not be willing to compromise those values.

— Dave Lewis,

Helena

More disappointment

For many Montanans, the recent 4-3 Montana Supreme Court ruling in the Barry Beach case was a disappointment but no surprise. In Miller v. Alabama, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that for crimes committed as a juvenile, one cannot be sentenced to life without parole. Citing this decision, Justice Michael Wheat wrote in his dissenting argument, “In light of that decision, I would find Beach’s sentence to be unconstitutional ...” Note Wheat formulated his scholarly position based strictly on law.

In contrast, Justice Laurie McKinnon wrote, “I cannot state my opinion more clearly and forcefully than the State, when it writes: Ted Nees’ letter expresses the anguish of Kim Nees’ family. The Nees family thought their tragic entanglement with Beach ended in 1984. Yet, Beach repeatedly manages to be the beneficiary of hearings and procedures no other convicted criminal is allowed. Beach is entitled to nothing more.”

It seems McKinnon allows feelings and bias to override her objectivity. To even suggest limiting legal recourse is very frightening!

So once again our justice system continues the incarceration of a man who has maintained his innocence for 32 years. Lacking any physical evidence, Beach’s conviction was secured using his coerced confession now considered false by experts who have investigated the case. Among those investigators is retired Great Falls Police Department detective John Cameron who flatly declares Beach is innocent.

Prosecutor Marc Racicot rode the Beach case from Poplar into the governor’s office. Is it possible political considerations hamper judicial fairness in this case?

— Al Smith,

Great Falls