Montana Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy acknowledged during a debate Monday that mocking comments he made in 2023 about Native Americans were “insensitive” but he refused to apologize, explaining that his remarks were a reflection of military culture.
“Yeah, insensitive,” Sheehy conceded when pressed by his Democratic opponent, incumbent Sen. Jon Tester.
“I come from the military, as many of our tribal members do. You know, we make insensitive jokes and probably off-color jokes sometimes,” he said.
Char-Koosta News reported in August that Sheehy joked at a 2023 fundraiser about Crow Tribe members being drunk at 8 a.m.
The Republican candidate told supporters at the event that he ropes and brands cattle with Crow members, because it’s “a great way to bond with all the Indians while they’re drunk at 8 a.m.”
Tester demanded Sheehy apologize for those comments during Monday’s debate.
“Tim, the statement you made degrades Native Americans …