‘What a Bunch of Jackasses!’ Montana Senator Fumes At Republicans Attacking Him For Driving a Prius

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) pulled no punches this week in hitting back at a statement from the National Republican Senatorial Committee that read, “BOMBSHELL: Jon Tester drives a Prius.”

“What a bunch of jackasses!” Tester told the Huffington Post on Monday night in response to the statement that included a clip of the Democrat getting into his car at the U.S. Capitol. “The Washington Post reports that “rugged dirt farmer” Jon Tester drives a Prius,” added the NRSC captioning the clip on its website.

“I’ve got an ’86 Chevy. I got a 2018 GMC. I got a 2018 Honda Ridgeline. I’ve got a Celica. I’ve got a Peterbilt. I’ve got a ’67 International truck. I’ve got a ’96 International truck. I’ve got a ’78 GMC. Want me to keep going?” Tester fumed in a statement to HuffPost.

“I’m gonna spend $10,000 this week on diesel filling my bulk tanks that I use for planting my crop in the ground. Does that make it OK now?” added the third-generation farmer, who is one of the most vulnerable incumbents up for reelection this cycle.

“There aren’t a lot of dirt farmers in Montana who drive a Prius. Jon Tester has gone Washington,” NRSC spokesperson Maggie Abboud later posted, doubling down on the attack. Tester is running against former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy in November’s general election, which could very well determine which party controls the majority in the U.S. Senate.