Posted: February 27, 2012 at 7:43 am

Today’s Must Read Political Blog Post

Roberts speaking to those under him in his multi-level marketing companyToday’s must read political blog post is up at The Flathead Memo.  James Conner reports that the man running to replace Derek Skees for Whitefish’s only Legislative seat “may prove to be equally colorful.”  You’ll want to read it now.

There are a couple of additional items you’ll want to know about Dr. Rollan Roberts II. Much of the credit for uncovering this information goes to Ed McGrew of Informed Whitefish, who is a first-rate opposition researcher.

First, Roberts is big into multi-level marketing.  A few of his multi-level marketing companies have already been uncovered, including one that involves algae.   Yet another appears to be going for a Pampered Chef-like approach to arms trading.   Still another sells the “opportunity” to market an immune potion for the rock bottom price of only $129.00 per pint ($1,031.00 per gallon.)

Roberts claims:

No other natural product comes anywhere close to supporting optimal health than AID.  Given the premium, science-backed and clinically-proven ingredients used, AID is priced as low as possible to make it affordable for everyone.

Anyway, it must surely work like magic. However, on another page of the same sight, Roberts says:

Because of the power and nature of AID, neither we, nor any of our Partners, are able to make or imply any claims that it cures, treats, or prevents any illness or disease.

Roberts career as a motivational speaker appears to consist mainly of babblative exhortations to those in the levels under him in his marketing pyramids.  Roberts claims to be such an expert in this field that he served on the board of the Multi-Level Marketing International Association. A list of past and present members of the association board does not include his name, however.

Roberts’ speeches make him sound like Derek Skees on steroids.  Here’s an excerpt from a speech Dr. Rollan Roberts II gave on “freedom.” The entire original Youtube video can be seen here.

Mr. Conner’s post reveals how Roberts profits from the medical debt of others. But since the posting, the website for his medical debt collection company has been taken down.

This isn’t surprising.  Recall that after it was revealed by a letter to the editor in the Billings Gazette that State Senator Jason Priest was in the business of auctioning off medical debt to the highest bidder, Priest took his site down too.  Though of course it’s hard to scrub everything from the internet. Evidence of Roberts’ and Priest’s companies is still out there.   Like Priest, Roberts is also fighting against health care reforms which would help people reduce medical debt.

Perhaps oddest of all is Roberts association with a company that he doesn’t list on his campaign website. Capitol Defense International, LLC does appear in his Office of Political Practices filing, however.  The company seems to be in the business of giving those with big money access to private paramilitary and special forces squads, and survivalist training:

This is not a security detail, these teams are fully capable of carrying out clandestine operations worldwide.

An asterisk warns customers that none of the services are yet licensed.

Finally, as Mr. Conner points out, the “Dr.” Rollan Roberts II doesn’t actually identify the institution that granted him the “doctorate degree is in International Business and Entrepreneurship.” His spelling certainly isn’t indicative of a PhD scholar. [screenshot]

His doctorate degree is in International Business and Entrepreneurship.During this time,he began investing in real esate[sic] achieving great success in a short period of time. He soon began building businessesand[sic] before long, became the CEO of a biotech company and leading public and private companies $100 milion[sic] and $2 billion to strong and profitable growth.Dr. Roberts is currently the founder and CEO of Whitefish, Montana-based 24ravens (www.24ravens.com). He serves or has served on the Board of Directors of the Multi Level Marketing International Assocition[sic]. He is the author of “international best-selling books” on entrepreneurshp[sic] and ledership[sic] titled Born to be Rich, Born to Dream and, Riot: An Assault on Modern Leadership  which have sold over 500,000 copies. He is an FAA-cerified[sic] pilot with “a love and passion” for swimming…

Stay tuned to the Montana Cowgirl Blog for more information about Dr. Rollan Roberts II and other GOP candidates. This stuff is only the beginning.

90 comments

  2. Benny

    When I hear Capitol Defense International I think of the scam outfit that tried to by the private prison in Haver.

  3. Dan T.

    Why is it that everyone that subscribes to Baldwin’s brand of racism has a hindenburg sized ego.

  4. Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

    Jumpin’ CEEment Jaysus! It’s now official. Our beloved Montana is now officially a KOOK magnet for every inbred moron from the south! What an asshole. Fortunately, the guy has the charisma of fresh cow flop! And the brains of Gen. Skees! He’ll be a welcome addition to the humor fodder that the Pubbies have become.

    • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

      FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDUMB!

      Welcome to Montana, Dr. Roilin’ Rawburps!

      And James, I found it. He has his doctorate in a branch of herptology known as snakeoilology! He’s quite renowned in his field!

      Liberty University……BWHAHAHAHAHAAAAA! Too funny.

  5. Jack Ruby

    One scam artist with questionable (at best) academic credentials replaced with another. Before I got past the first paragraph I was already chuckling wondering what this guy was going to claim to be a ‘doctor’ of.

  6. Pete Talbot

    Submitted by Dr. Pete Talbot:

    This guy is such a joke/fraud/hack. Go to his 24Ravens website, the one that advertises the miracle immune system potion AID, click on the legal disclaimers link (six-point type at the bottom of the page):

    Maintenance Mode
    Sorry for the inconvenience.
    Our website is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance.
    Please try back in 5 years
    Thank you for your understanding.

    Also pointed out to me were the ingredients in AID: 95% Tumeric Extract, 95% Green Tea Extract and 25% Resveratrol — for a whopping 215% total active ingredients. No wonder it sells for $129 a pint. (By the way, scientific tests of resveratrol indicate the potential for extending the life of fruit flies.)

  9. Havre Voter

    I hope the Democratic Party is downloading and screenshot-ing all of this.

    This guy didn’t just interview Baldwin, Baldwin IS HIS PASTOR. Dr. Rollan Roberts II seems to be one of the white flighters that came to Kalispell with Baldwin, hence the fact that he’s in Baldwin’s flock and the southern accent.

    • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

      The ONLY question left to ask is just WHEN one, only one, even ONE Montana daily will stop treating the Constistupid Party as a legitimate party and actually DO a serious investigation into these insane racist wacked out morons! Hell, when ric jore swithced, the Constistupid Party was immediately elevated to equal status with the Dems and Pubbies, no questions asked! Well, I say it’s about TIME to start asking some gawddam questions! In print!

      Where is Scoops Adams, Gourass, Mooseman, etc., all the nutless wonders that pass for journalists in this state? These dudes ain’t hidin’ nuthin’. They want a racist Theocrazy! Period! So stop treating them as legitimate! Oh at LEAST expose them for what they are! No more free passes for the anti-democratic crowd.

      BTW, where is Fr. Craigorio Mooron to welcome the newest members of his team?

  11. James Conner

    I think Roberts may opt out of the race, or that another Republican may file for it. Except for Skees, who chose to run for auditor instead of running for re-election to HD-4, all of the Flathead’s GOP incumbents filed shortly after filing opened. No one filed for HD-4, which leads me to believe that the Flathead’s GOP central committee might have had trouble recruiting someone to run in HD-4.

    Then Roberts filed. His candidacy may not have been sought by the party. And the party cannot be happy with what they’re learning about him.

    It’s just possible that some Democrats are wishing that filing had closed before the door to Roberts’ world was opened.

    • Moorcat

      It is still refered to as “Vanity Press” to those that are in the industry. They have other fancy names for public consumption, but…

    • Moorcat

      While I think this guy is a wackjob, I don’t see the problem with the site you linked. As a gun person (competition shooter, novice gunsmith), I really don’t have a problem with the site. In fact, I will probably join. You don’t have to be a wack job to enjoy owning, shooting, working on or talking guns. This is a meme that the left (at least in Montana) needs to run from – Not crawl, not walk but RUN from. It is as dangerous to the left as the social conservative memes are to the right.

      • Rob Kailey

        I really don’t have a problem with the site. In fact, I will probably join.

        Then I hope you enjoy sitting around listening to folks tell you how that illegal President Barry Soetoro is going to send his Black Panther legions out to confiscate your guns. I know you don’t believe that, but the Christian Constitutionalists in question, like Derek Skees and Rollin Roberts *do*. That’s the point.

        I’m uncertain what ‘meme’ you think the left in Montana needs to flee from, but your advice borders on concern trolling. The left in Montana have not made any issue of gun rights at all, save closing the ‘gun-show loopholes’, measures favored pretty much unanimously by law-enforcement. Pointing to the gun-lust of Dominionists, Theocrats, Secessionists and survivalists isn’t a ‘meme’. Most would find it to be self-defense.

        • Moorcat

          You know that I would not tolerate those kinds of discussions but nothing I saw on that site would lead me to believe that is the focus. The meme I was refering to is one I have seen often in the last six months or so (and long before that on the emo-prog site) – gun talk = gun nut = nut job. That is what I took from the post that James made when he put up the link.

          I am not disagreeing that Robert’s is a wackjob. In fact, I think I made that point clear. I was commenting on the site link that James put up. On it’s face, I saw nothing offensive (or even that political) about it. You might get that impression for a couple of lines that Johnson said in the video, but it was a far cry from the “Hate Obama” rhetoric you are using in your reply to me.

          My point was (and is) simple. If you want to point out how Johnson is a wackjob, be my guest. I agree that he is a wackjob and certainly don’t need any proof. If want to try to tie gun ownership/gun discussions to being wackjobs, we will have an issue.

        • Craig Moore

          Naw. Barry has other ideas to use his Panthers as Congregation Captains to do some politicking in the pews using whatever means necessary in the Chicago way: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-makes-faith-based-campaign-pitch-171215257.html

          In a short video posted on his campaign website, Obama cited racial solidarity as a reason for African-Americans to support him. Previous generations of African-Americans “made it possible for someone like me to be here today. … We are greater together than we can ever be on our own,” he said.

          Obama urged African-Americans to aid his campaign “in your faith community, at work or at school, and of course in your voting booth on election day.”

          He also urged African-Americans to attend training sessions at historically black colleges and universities, or to train as “Congregation Captains.”

          “Congregation captains will take the lead on educating congregations about the importance of participating in this campaign and how to get involved,” according to Obama’s campaign website. “You’ll reach out to key church members and mobilize your personal networks with house parties and other outreach activities, as well as provide assistance in conducting voter registration drives.”

          • Norma Duffy AKA ILIKEWOODS

            Shorter version of Craig Moore and his fear mongering: “The Blah People are coming, the blah people are coming.”

            • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

              Dang it, Norma. You took my post I was gonna write. But it’s quite obvious that craig is attempting the oh so subtle dance around racism. He wants SO badly to say it, but he just can’t. Willy Horton O’Bama! There. I said if FOR him!

              Too bad that craig has never had the opportunity to live among blacks and other races to learn that men are simply men. (and women too) Ain’t no difference.

                • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

                  I only have your writing to go by, craig. And writing TOO is a window into the soul, no? You appear to have had very little dealings with minority type folks, ’cause if you did, you would not post nonsense. You strike me as being extremely provincial, for you seem to have NO appreciation of other cultures. Am I wrong?

              • larry kurtz

                RT @markos: “Does Rick Santorum really need Secret Service protection? Back in my day, candidates would just hold a gun between their knees.” @SabrinaSiddiqui

                • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

                  UH oh! An unintended discharge would PRECLUDE the need for aspirin! Shootin’ off one’s OWN cojones would do the job quite effectively! But I wonder, if Ric shot his cojones off, he would go to hell for usin’ contaception!

                  Gee, I HATE theological dilemmas!

            • Craig Moore

              Norma, I was responding to Rob’s sarcasm with same. That’s called a joke, dear. Don’t get your knickers in a twist over nothing.

              • Rob Kailey

                Uhhh, Craig, the problem here is that you thought I was being ‘sarcastic’. I wasn’t. Up until about six months ago when all of my online activity fell to a low point, I followed several gun forums. Here’s the thing, almost everyone was taken over by those birther gun-nuts who think “The Turner Diaries” to be some kind of prophetic manifesto. I still get the emails from Marbut’s MSSA, you know, the haven of jackassery that claims that your gun rights are in serious peril!!!!. There is nothing sarcastic at all in pointing out that these people are fricking loons.

                • Norma Duffy AKA ILIKEWOODS

                  Yeah it didn’t sound like sarcasm to me either! Sounded as if you were making a point I agree with too! Their are discussions among honest citizens about gun control then there are fanatics…

              • Norma Duffy AKA ILIKEWOODS

                I Told you I am not your “Dear” Craig, the fact you continue means Your definitely gonna be called “Blue Balls Moore” from now on! For Short I’ll call you “BB” from now on! Hope you like your new Nickname!

          • Moorcat

            While I don’t agree with this tactic any more than I agree with the faith based tactics being used by the right, I can’t really fault him for attempting it. There are a few significant differences here to consider, though.

            1) President Obama is not suggesting an issue stance based on religion. This is a VERY important difference to point out. Faith is a significant part of most peoples (in America anyway) lives. According to most of the recent studies done on faith in America, better than 75% of the people asked, replied that they faith in some kind of religion. That said, an appeal to use that social connection (and most religions – by definition are social connections) for campaigning is not surprising. What he ISN’T doing is taking a stance on issues based on Faith.

            2) In the same vein, he is also appealing to those of African American birth. Why not? He is African American. I would expect a Latino candidate to do the same thing, as I would expect an Irish candidate to reach out to Irish American and an Italian Candidate to reach out to Italian Americans. Given all the attacks made on him because he is African American, why not use it to his advantage? Again, I don’t see the issue here.

            3) This election is likely to be decided by 2 things – what direction the independants/moderates go, and by voter turnout. If Obama can use the faith/race card to get more people to turn out, is it a bad thing? I know from your comments here that you don’t want to see Obama re-elected, but critisizing him for campaigning is just… silly.

            • Craig Moore

              President Obama is not suggesting an issue stance based on religion.

              More from the article:

              “The Bible teaches us to ‘be doers of the word and not merely hearers,’” Obama said, while citing federal government support for college tuition, mortgages, healthcare and food.

              “We’re required to have a living, breathing, active faith in our own lives … and to live the truth of our faith not just with words, but with deeds,” he said, adding that if he were to “give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy, I actually think that’s going to make economic sense.”

              Moorcat, IMHO he crossed that line in mixing his Bible beliefs with his government policies. Is that a bad thing?

              • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

                Craig, maybe Willy Horton O’Bama should do a commercial along THESE lines suggesting that the Black Panthers arm themselves to the teeth to take on the racists! Whaddoyathink? Good idea, no? How bout including AIM too?

                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MHpvTj86f0

                Your side is nuts, craig. That cannot be disputed. EMBRACE them!

              • larry kurtz

                Gen JC Christian ‏ @JC_Christian #GOP: “Instead of apologizing for burning Korans, Obama should have lowered taxes for rich & drilled in ANWR.”

              • Moorcat

                Again, you are attempting to misrepresent. The only thing Obama tied to his faith was the idea of “Doing” rather than “hearing” – not a bad thing in my opinion. I realise that you are also trying to tie his stance on tax reform to his faith and there is a little more support for that argument than your first one, but again, it is questionable at best. It certainly isn’t anything like Santorum or the current batch of Republican hopefuls claiming Homosexuality is evil and should be illegal (that is a direct tie to faith and law if you missed the obvious).

                • Craig Moore

                  Moorcat, you have me scratching my head as I made NO such attempt to misrepresent. I quoted exactly and offered my opinion that Obama crossed the line you drew. I even asked, “Is that a bad thing?” Nothing more than that. Our opinions differ.

                  Obama brings his religious beliefs to the public square when it suits him. I believe even Santorum supports that.

                  • Moorcat

                    The lines you quoted is what made it appear as if you were saying that Obama is using his faith to push an issue. My stance was that that Obama has not crossed that line. If that was not your intent, than I misunderstood you.

                    Everyone brings their faith to the public square whether it suits them or not. A person’s faith will always color how they view the world. The question is whether that faith is used to promote an issue of law. This is the line that Santorum and religious wingnuts like him cross. The most blatent examples are those that use scripture to justify a legal position (as Santorum, Bachmann and Palin have all done). I just have to stand back and laugh when people do that.

                    • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

                      Not to worry, Moorcat, for rumors of my baptism are greatly exaggerated!

                      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/mormon-proxy-baptism-mahatma-gandhi_n_1299676.html

                      The entire Pubbie prez field is an embarrassment to religion AND the country! I mean, we got a guy runnin’ for prez who’s religion is FOUNDED by a dude who LOST his secret spectacles, so he had to put his seer stone into his hat in order to translate the tablets from the angel baloni!

                      Hell, I’VE had more inspiration from a good BOWEL movement!

                      They’re your people, craig. EMBRACE them! Don’t be ashamed of them simply because the entire world is laffing at them.

                    • Craig Moore

                      Larry, although the fires of hell await you, our military and retired military are getting pitchforked by Obama now: http://freebeacon.com/trashing-tricare/

                      The Obama administration’s proposed defense budget calls for military families and retirees to pay sharply more for their healthcare, while leaving unionized civilian defense workers’ benefits untouched. The proposal is causing a major rift within the Pentagon, according to U.S. officials. Several congressional aides suggested the move is designed to increase the enrollment in Obamacare’s state-run insurance exchanges.

                      The disparity in treatment between civilian and uniformed personnel is causing a backlash within the military that could undermine recruitment and retention…

                      Administration officials told Congress that one goal of the increased fees is to force military retirees to reduce their involvement in Tricare and eventually opt out of the program in favor of alternatives established by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare.

                      “When they talked to us, they did mention the option of healthcare exchanges under Obamacare. So it’s in their mind,” said a congressional aide involved in the issue.

                      Military personnel from several of the armed services voiced their opposition to a means-tested tier system for Tricare, prompting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey to issue a statement Feb. 21…

                      Under the new plan, the Pentagon would get the bulk of its savings by targeting under-65 and Medicare-eligible military retirees through a tiered increase in annual Tricare premiums that will be based on yearly retirement pay.

                      Significantly, the plan calls for increases between 30 percent to 78 percent in Tricare annual premiums for the first year. After that, the plan will impose five-year increases ranging from 94 percent to 345 percent—more than 3 times current levels.

                    • Moorcat

                      Craig,

                      This increase in a serviceman’s contribution into their health care is not a new idea. It was first proposed under Bush. Further, it isn’t Obama that will end up doing it since this is a matter of legislation, not Executive Fiat. The article itself is suspect given the source you use is so anti-obama, it could easily be put in the same catagory as Johnson’s writings.

                      This is hardly a completed issue. It still has to go through the Service’s Subcommittee and then through Congress. Some part of it will probably be passed because the military budget is required to be cut (the super committee failed in it’s task to come up with recommendations so mandatory cuts are a function of previous legislation). Blaming this on Obama (or even the ACA) is just… stupid. This is one more example of our Congress failing to do their job.

      • Norma Duffy AKA ILIKEWOODS

        That’s not true, I own and Hunt… and so do a lot of Montana Lefty’s…. it is a part of this states heritage, and when taught correctly a good family value to hold… I know it is a great right of passage in my family knowing you can provide a wild meal to the table. but, I also understand the need big cities have to protect their citizens against people who don’t follow the state and federal law… there is a balance that both Gun owners and non owners can win from…. and their is nothing wrong with discussions that make both sides happier!

      • Craig Moore

        Moorcat, I went to the site, and I was a little leery about it not knowing who would come out of the woodwork. I too am a firearms fan and shoot often. One thing I will not tolerate is being around gun people who inflict their politics into the fraternity of shooters. I am no fan of Roberts’ vacuous MLM capitalism.

        • Moorcat

          I guess I didn’t get that from the things I saw on the site. What did concern me is that you have to register to the site to contribute or be a part of the discussions. I am not all that keen on registering on sites that might have a hidden political connection. I would certainly do more background check before I would register.

  15. Norma Duffy AKA ILIKEWOODS

    Woot! Just what Montana Needs… another guy who will promote social Issues instead of helping the State find sustainable Jobs for Montana People, that keeps our economic Freedom moving forward??

    • Pete Talbot

      Shamwows with campaign insignia? Brilliant! And I thought Karl Rove was the genius campaign consultant.

  17. larry kurtz

    John S. Adams ‏ @TribLowdown:

    “Fanning: If Bin Landen, Hitler… got together and planned they couldn’t have done more damage to nation’s economy as EPA.”

    • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

      Watched Pow Wow Highway again last night. Ever seen it? It’s great. You’d love it.

  23. larry kurtz

    Video: Horsemen gather for apocalypse: Marnee Banks ‏ @MarneeBanks: 9 gubernatorial candidates were in Great Falls last night. @KRTV covered the event. Here is the recap: #mtpol

    • Trust No One

      and a quote from roberts’ 24ravens site…

      **A portion of every purchase goes to support the preservation of our liberties, including the freedom to help protect our immune system and health through natural supplements!

  27. PROUD PATRIOT

    Dr. Rollan Roberts is a man of GOD as was his FATHER before him. The Lord rewards a goodly man with prosperity and peace and this man is HELPING OTHERS TO ACHEIEVE THE SAME LEVEL OF SUCCESS. This the what AMERICA was buildt on to allow this FOR US ALL.

    • Pete Talbot

      I love this new brand of evangelism: trust in the Lord and He’ll make you rich. I don’t recall this message in Jesus’ teachings.

    • Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

      PeePee, I just gotta know, dude. WHAT is your highest grade level achieved? For you see, you seem as stoopid as Dorkter Roilin’ Rawburps, man of god, or MOG for short! Are you a MOG too, PeePee? If so, just WHAT have YOU “buildt”, dude? Are you an inbred from down south too? Sorry, dude. Other than sen. cornhole burns, that AIN’T Montana culture! Up here, we don’t commonly have relations with our relations! EXCEPT of course for the Morons down in the Bitterroot! Their ONLY reading material is the Book of Moron! (I’m thinking that they need either their secret magic glasses or their seer stones in a hat to read it properly though. And I don’t have either. Guess that’s why try as I might it always seems like contrived HORSEshit to me! Maybe I’ll try my 3D glasses next time I try to make sense of it! And if’n I get DRUNK enuff, maybe the angel Baloni will appear too! Ya never know!)

  29. Stand Up!

    With your comments, most of you have made clear which side of the fence you fall on. Sadly, very few of you even hint at the challenges our state faces and what’s wrong or right with Robert’s approach to them. Not saying vetting isn’t needed but perhaps a little focus on the actual issues would make all of us appear more civil. Reading this thread makes Montana look like a cesspool of ignorance and hate – incapable of carrying on a conversation or debate.