It’s something Republicans joke about: Democrats give people “walking around” money in exchange for votes and dead people casting their votes. Any way you look at it, the 2024 election is going to be close, and Republicans have a good chance of extending their majority in the House and perhaps taking the Senate. With razor-thin margins in both chambers and the GOP looking good, Democrats are a little worried about their chances of re-election. Now, Democrats could utilize a tried-and-true campaign tactic to recruit college students to one of these close races, but with a slightly ironic twist.
So @jontester tried to pay female college athletes for their endorsements, but they refused because he votes to bring men into their sport. 😂😭
A gigantic compliment to these girls for sticking to their principles. @SheehyforMT for the US Senate! https://t.co/MQhf8eAeIH
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) 29 August 2024
A group called “Montana Together” has recently started contacting student athletes at the University of Montana, offering payments in exchange for promoting the re-election campaign of Democratic Senator Jon Tester of Montana. The group first began contacting athletes in July through “Opendorce.com,” a platform where student-athletes can sign name, image and likeness deals. Payments ranged from $400 for two scripted videos to $800 for two unscripted videos and $2,400 for four unscripted videos to “spread the message” about Tester, who is in a tight race for re-election. An email to the athletes reads in part:
We have a NIL opportunity for Montana student-athletes, and I could utilize your facilitate to share the following information with anyone you recommend applying for this campaign. Montana Together uses Opendorse to find athletes for a NIL deal. Who are they looking for?: Athletes studying in Montana who are interested in spreading the word about Senator Jon Tester and causes you care about.
It looks more like the people of Montana are ready to #RetirementTester. https://t.co/WJAdM1hBwS pic.twitter.com/q0E2YRFtEW
— Republican Party of Montana (@MTGOP) 28 August 2024
While this might be a tempting offer for a destitute, starving college student, it is especially odd for female athletes. One of the athletes who made the offer public said it was “immediately frustrating.” Why? Because Jon Tester was one of 51 Democrats who voted against the law to protect women and girls in sport. She added:
“When I first received the NIL offer, I was immediately frustrated. I had to ask myself, ‘Why would someone seek my support when their values directly negatively impact me?’ Tester’s vote against the Women and Girls in Sports Protection Act goes against everything I have worked for as an athlete. This vote is a gateway for biological males to take scholarships, medals and roster spots away from female athletes. Many female athletes on my team shared this frustration.”
Jon Tester’s campaign team claims that they were not aware of any of these payment offers and have no connection with Montana Together. It would be wise for Tester to have nothing to do with the offer of payments to female students, and he may regret his no vote. At the moment, Tester is behind his Republican opponent, Tim Sheehy, with a considerable seven points. In a reliably Republican state like Montana, where such a bill should find broad support, Tester could be out of a job after November.
Tester who bills himself as a moderate democrat, if there are any left, was the second Democratic senator to call on President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race, but may have been pressured by his Democratic colleagues to vote no on the women’s sports protection legislation.
It is not known whether Montana Together is affiliated with any party, but next time they recruit people to support candidates, they might want to check the irony scale.
This is why everyone hates Washington. @jontester voted against the Women and Girls in Sports Protection Act, and then his people turned around and sent emails to female athletes in Montana offering them money for their support. These people are awful. https://t.co/3YS9aNWguN
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) 29 August 2024
