Tim Sheehy’s Campaign and Controversies: A Closer Look
U.S. Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, a political newcomer, often emphasizes his background as a businessman and pilot who founded an aerial firefighting company in Bozeman. This narrative is central to his campaign against incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester.
Sheehy, a Republican, has built his campaign on his past as a U.S. Navy SEAL and a businessman who authored a book on aerial firefighting. His book, “Mudslingers: A True Story of Aerial Firefighting,” serves as part history, part travelogue, and part autobiography. Published in 2023 by Permuted Press and distributed by Simon and Schuster, it was seen as an introduction to Sheehy as a public figure.
However, an investigation by the Daily Montanan revealed that at least four passages in the book appear to be plagiarized. These passages were sourced but not credited, raising questions about the book’s authenticity.
The Daily Montanan sought comments from Sheehy’s campaign and Permuted Press but did not receive any responses.
Previous Scrutiny
Sheehy’s past has faced scrutiny before. Questions have arisen about the truthfulness of incidents such as a gunshot wound he sustained in Glacier National Park and claims of parachute training over the park. His business dealings, including his aerial firefighting company Bridger Aerospace, have also been questioned. Additionally, Sheehy has not addressed derogatory comments he made about Native Americans drinking, despite calls for an apology from tribal leaders.
The book itself has been criticized for its claims that all proceeds would support aerial firefighters, yet the funds appear to go to a lobbying group founded by Sheehy, which benefits his own company.
Plagiarism Allegations
Sheehy’s book “Mudslingers” is 309 pages long and includes a bibliography. However, it lacks footnotes, endnotes, and citations, making it difficult to trace the sources of the information. The Daily Montanan identified four problematic passages that were nearly identical to content from other sources.
One passage on Page 33 uses a definition of “smokejumper” from Wikipedia without quotation marks or citation. Another passage on Page 208 closely mirrors content from the website “Wildfire Today,” with only minor adjustments for verb tense and additional context.
A third passage on Page 237 uses information from the website “The Backseat Pilot,” with only slight modifications. The final passage on Page 289 appears to be taken from a 2022 article in the San Marino Tribune, with minor changes in word order.
Expert Opinions
Paul Pope, an associate professor of political science at Montana State University-Billings, commented on the plagiarism allegations. “It’s ridiculously easy. Technology has made plagiarism so possible,” Pope said, adding that any sentence more than 50% sourced from someone else needs citation.
Pope noted that plagiarism is treated seriously in academic settings, with penalties ranging from failing a course to expulsion. He also highlighted that former U.S. Sen. John Walsh had to drop his re-election bid due to a plagiarism scandal.
Regarding Sheehy’s situation, Pope remarked, “One section? Maybe. Four? That’s a pattern.” He emphasized that plagiarism is akin to lying and said, “We generally don’t trust liars.”
Political Impact
Despite the allegations, recent polls show Sheehy leading Tester. The Cook Political Report has shifted the race from a toss-up to “leans Republican.” However, these polls were conducted before recent negative news about Sheehy, including his derogatory remarks about Native Americans.
Pope suggested that the deeply divided political climate might mean that negative news won’t significantly impact Sheehy’s campaign. “The less they talk about it, the less attention it draws,” he said, noting that Sheehy’s strategy of remaining silent could either be a minor blip or have severe consequences.
As the election approaches, the impact of these controversies on Sheehy’s campaign remains to be seen.
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