Montana Dem's aides say meeting with GOP is a hostile act

Aides to Sen. Max Baucus ought to keep their mouths shut. Baucus is a Democrat who represents a deep-red state, Montana, and those who work for him should be more polite to the loyal opposition. But then again, Baucus doesn't face voters for another five years, so maybe the senator doesn't care what his staffers do.

Roll Call (subscription required) explains what I'm talking about:

Top aides to Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) called a last-minute, pre-emptive strike on Wednesday with a group of prominent Democratic lobbyists, warning them to advise their clients not to attend a meeting with Senate Republicans set for Thursday.

Russell Sullivan, the top staffer on Finance, and Jon Selib, Baucus' chief of staff, met with a bloc of more than 20 contract lobbyists, including several former Baucus aides.

"They said, 'Republicans are having this meeting and you need to let all of your clients know if they have someone there, that will be viewed as a hostile act,'" said a Democratic lobbyist who attended the meeting.

"Going to the Republican meeting will say, "I'm interested in working with Republicans to stop health care reform,;" the lobbyist added.

Baucus is the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and he's Barack Obama's man for health care reform.

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