It would seem that every angle of the hotly-contested legislative race in House District 12 has been covered. The press reported on the recount, the litigation, and the political fallout, as Democrat Jeanne Windham and the Constitution Party's Rick Jore battled for a spot in the Montana House of Representatives.

A significant point, however, was missed. By appointing Jore to the seat, Gov. Judy Martz awarded a fringe political party with a place in the Montana Legislature. Jore is generally described as a "conservative" like Martz, but there is more to the story. There are reasons that members of the Constitution Party have failed to hold state-level office anywhere in the country.

While both the Montana and national Constitution Parties like to wrap themselves in God, country and flag, their real agendas are radical. Howard Phillips founded the national Constitution Party in 1992, combining Christian Reconstruction with themes of the militia movement. Reconstructionists believe that civil law should mirror Old Testament biblical law, meaning capital punishment should be extended to gays, lesbians, blasphemers, and adulterers. People who are not "Christian enough" could be denied citizenship, or worse, be executed. The party also promotes "New World Order" conspiracy theories similar to those of the militia movement.

The Constitution Party of Montana expanded Phillips' premise. Michael Heit, founder of the state party, proudly proclaims he hasn't paid income taxes since 1987 and is trying to get rid of his Social Security number. Both of these are hallmark practices of groups like the Montana Freemen. In the past, party activists have supported "unorganized militias," a term used by groups like the Militia of Montana in attempts to claim constitutional legitimacy. The current party chairman, Jonathan Martin, brings Religious Right ideology to the table. He and followers regularly picket the Great Falls Planned Parenthood clinic, carrying placards featuring pictures of allegedly aborted fetuses. In the past, both Martin and Heit have lambasted Montana Right to Life for being too moderate.

In 2000, Rick Jore joined the Constitution Party. At the time, he was an incumbent Republican representative from Ronan. He left the GOP, saying he needed to belong to a party reflecting his own values. After losing his re-election campaign, Jore hit the Constitution Party speaking circuit, peddling the idea that the GOP is too liberal and no different from Democrats.

Jore and the Constitution Party are part of an ultra-conservative faction criticizing the Montana Republican Party's ideology. They insist the GOP is marching towards liberalism, or worse, socialism. This notion is patently absurd, as the Montana Republican Party is widely considered one of the most conservative state parties in all of the country. By choosing Jore, Martz has placed the Constitution Party and Republican conservatism on the same level.

Martz says she based her decision on the numbers, so let's take at look at them. There are 5,997 registered voters in HD 12. Jore's vote total comes out to about 26 percent of that population. That is hardly a mandate, which left Martz to choose between the representative of a right-wing, fringe party and a moderate Democrat. Her decision reverberates with partisan political sentiment. Wanting to keep Republicans in control of the House, Martz provided legitimacy to the Constitution Party, something the party had been unable to do on its own. For short-term political gain, Martz has allowed Montana conservatism to take another gigantic step to the right.

Travis McAdam is the research director for the Montana Human Rights Network. The Network can be contacted at P.O. Box 1222, Helena, MT 59624.