Republican Candidate for MT Election Bodyslams Reporter

[E B]

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/05/...e-montana-republican-body-slams-reporter.html

Not only did the candidate assault a reporter, he lied about it after despite audio recording (listen at source) and eyewitnesses from Fox. And the election is today! Appalling.

 

[Dee*Jay]

The GOP seems to be taking lessons from the WWF.

 

[telephone89]

Montana has an interesting democrat choice too:

 

[kenny]

He'll get LOTS AND LOTS of votes for this.

Trump has proven politicians can enrich themselves by appealing to the worst in humanity.



Audio of the bodyslam:

 

[E B]

Trump has proven politicians can enrich themselves by appealing to the worst in humanity.

Yep. So many critical norms abandoned with this administration. Months and months of the president saying the press is "the enemy of the people." And imagine how much trouble he could have saved himself had he just TOLD THE TRUTH. Something like, "The campaign trail is enormously stressful, and in a moment of weakness, I snapped. I apologize for my behavior and will work my hardest to make things right with [reporter]." Hell, it'd have been better had they just kept quiet. But to blame the reporter when there were several other witnesses present? That combined with the hair-trigger temper is a real problem.

 

[E B]

Gianforte was able to leave the scene before the police "had all the information." Is that common in assault situations? Would some random guest at his event have been able to leave after assaulting the politician?

 

[Calliecake]

The exchange between Gianforte and the reporter is recorded on an audio tape. It will be interesting to see how he try's to spin this. When you look at how Trump conducted himself and won an election it does appear that respect and human decency are not as valued as they once were.

Very good point E.B. I would imagine the reporter will be pressing charges.

 

[luv2sparkle]

What on earth was he thinking?

 

[kenny]

What on earth was he thinking?

Probably what @sshole behavior will energize Montana's Republican base, and get out the vote.
Besides, to those Einsteins, if it's reported in the media it's fake news.

Haven't you noticed?
Nothing matters any more.

 

[Dancing Fire]

The exchange between Gianforte and the reporter is recorded on an audio tape. It will be interesting to see how he try's to spin this. When you look at how Trump conducted himself and won an election it does appear that respect and human decency are not as valued as they once were.

 

[mary poppins]

The Montana republican body slammer won the congressional seat.

 

[kenny]

The Montana republican body slammer won the congressional seat.

... as I was saying ... America is being flushed down the toilet by all the voting turds.

 

[redwood66]

There is no excuse for physical force by anyone unless they are protecting themselves. It shows a lack of control. Though what I have seen of reporters getting in the face of people I might not be able to control myself either. But I am not running for public office.

Was this cool of Franken? He was sorry after also. And I don't think Trump had anything to do with Franken in 2004.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/21/magazine/al-franken-seriously-so.html

 

[chemgirl]

Between this and Trump grabbing another world leader yesterday I don't know what to think.

Our PM accidentally made contact with a woman standing behind him in a crowd and people were screaming assault. These acts are intentional and no real apology, or an apology after some spin. How is this ok?

 

[E B]

The Montana republican body slammer won the congressional seat.

True, but a few things to remember- one, the majority of votes were cast before the incident, I believe. This guy makes a couple of great points as well:

 

[E B]

Also interesting...