Rep. Sam Graves Ships One Of His Political Thugs To Montana

Rep. Sam Graves has shipped one of his political thugs off to Montana to help in the flailing re-election effort of Senator Conrad Burns. Burns is in deep trouble over his record of doing the bidding of Jack Abramoff. Burns was the single largest recipient of Abramoff's largesse.

From the Great Falls Tribune:

Meanwhile, Burns' campaign has hired an out-of-state spokesman with a reputation as a political street fighter.

Jason Klindt comes to Montana from Burns' home state of Missouri, where he worked for Republican Congressman Sam Graves.

"I'm very excited to be here," said Klindt, who is the second out-of-state operative hired recently by the Burns campaign. "I think we're going to try to counter a very slick and aggressive media campaign by the Democrats that's full of smears and lies."

But two Democrats who ran unsuccessfully against Graves in Missouri said the word "aggressive" should be applied to Klindt.

"God help you guys," said Cathy Rinehart, who ran against Graves in 2002 and accused Klindt of assault.

Both Rinehart and Charlie Broomfield, who ran against Graves in 2004, said Klindt startled them at campaign appearances by leaping at them and taking photographs and then melting back into the crowd.

"He came up to me in the middle of the night — it was cold, it was dark, it was icy — and he flashed a camera within a foot of my face," Broomfield said. "...I talked to the prosecutors, and I could have brought charges. And today, I wish I had."

Both Broomfield and Rinehart said they called police about Klindt, and Rinehart actually filed a complaint, but nothing came of it, she said.

Many Fired Up! readers will recall that Senator Burn is originally from Missouri. In fact, he is from Graves district.

We're glad you have hired Klindt, Senator. Good riddance.