GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Rick Hill recently announced that his campaign vision will be: “Moving Montana Forward.”  If that sounds familiar, that’s because it has been the slogan of the Montana Democratic Party for many years.

Rick Hill sent an email out to supporters announcing “Moving Montana Forward” as his vision statement. He put out a video with that title and theme.  A visit to Rick Hill’s website also greets visitors with the words.

You’d think a man of Hill’s stature would be less clueless.  Lifting the the Democratic Party’s exact messages is not going to help him win a GOP primary nomination–especially in a primary where the attacks aimed at Hill come mostly from the right.

From 2004-2008, Moving Montana Forward was the official mission statement and slogan of the Montana Democratic Party.   The Democrats included this message in everything they put out–including a bazillion pieces mail, radio spots, and television ads.   ”Moving Montana Forward” was the theme of the 2011 Democratic Party Convention.  The largest and most organized local county Democratic central committees use the mission statement on their websites–including the local dems in Hill’s own turf.