Rep. Rehberg hits 'insufferable arrogance' in D.C.; slams federal judge

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), who officially jumped into the 2012 race against Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) over the weekend, went after President Obama and Washington Democrats hard on Monday.  

In a speech to members of the Montana Legislature, Rehberg pointed to GOP victories in the 2010 midterm elections as a rejection by voters of "the insufferable arrogance that they saw coming out of Washington, D.C," and vowed to fight for states' rights in the Senate.   

But it was Rehberg's comments about a recent ruling by a federal judge that drew a rebuke from the executive director of Montana's Democratic Party.  

In his remarks, Rehberg took exception to a ruling that the gray wolf should remain on the endangered species list, arguing the federal government shouldn't have a say in the state's wildlife policies.   

"When I first heard of this decision, like many of you I wanted to take immediate action," Rehberg said, according to the Helena Independent Record. "I asked: How can we put some of these judicial activists on the endangered species list?" 

Ted Dick, executive director of the state's Democratic Party, said Rehberg's comments amounted to a "veiled threat" in light of the recent shooting in Arizona.

"Congressman Rehberg's veiled threat against federal judges he disagrees with is in light of the murder of a federal judge in Tucson less than a month ago," he said, according to the paper. 

The recent shooting in Arizona, which critically injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), killed six others, including federal Judge John Roll. 

"No one thinks Senator Tester is actually preparing to go to war despite his frequent references to building a war chest," Rehberg spokesman Jed Link said in response. "Nor did anyone feel threatened when Time suggested Republicans were an 'endangered species' on a 2009 cover. This hand-wringing is nothing but an attempt to distract Montanans from the substance of the speech and the fact that Washington Democrats have been wrong on just about every issue they've tackled including some of the judges they've sent to the federal bench."

You can read the full text of Rehberg's speech Monday here. 

Democrats are also highlighting Rehberg's praise of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who appeared with him this past weekend. A Democratic tracker caught video of the event, where Rehberg offered some encouragement for Bachmann's presidential flirtation. 

"President Bachmann, where are you?" Rehberg said, introducing the congresswoman on Saturday. "That sounds all right, doesn't it?" 

Tester has already criticized Rehberg for kicking off his campaign alongside the Tea Party favorite.

-Updated at 10:50 a.m.