GOP candidate charged after allegedly 'body slamming' reporter

[Humbert]

Apparently inspired by the fukwit in chief's hatred for the free press, a GOP congressional candidate assaulted a reporter doing his job.

GOP candidate charged after allegedly 'body slamming' reporter - May. 24, 2017

Greg Gianforte, the Republican candidate in Montana's special congressional election, has been charged with misdemeanor assault after he allegedly body slammed a reporter and broke his glasses on Wednesday night.

The altercation took place at Gianforte's campaign headquarters in Bozeman, Montana, the night before the state's special election. It sent political shock waves rippling through the race, with two local newspapers rescinding their support for the GOP candidate.

Ben Jacobs, a political reporter for the Guardian, said he had been asking Gianforte about the Republican healthcare plan when the candidate "body slammed" him and began shouting, "Get the hell out of here."

"He took me to the ground," Jacobs told his paper. "This is the strangest thing that has ever happened to me in reporting on politics."

The audio file provided by Jacobs backs up his account of the incident and so did accounts by other journalists who witnessed the incident.

[bsnub]

This was big last night Bert sadly most have voted by mail. I think the right will get a close shave here..

[Slick]

Cant read the link but ill go out on a limb and say the reporter probably deserved it, and the media spin will be he was trying to "silence the press" and therefore an un-american domestic terrorist.

[bsnub]

Cant read the link but ill go out on a limb and say the reporter probably deserved it

nope..

[Humbert]

This was big last night Bert

I know. Nobody posted anything. Still news and indicitive of the hatred Trumpites have for the press. If you need any more proof just look at Slick's revolting comment.

Fox reporters witnessed the assault say that the reporter did nothing to provoke the attack.

When you have a president who calls the press the enemy you unleash this kind of shit.

Candidate Trump used to ask his supporters at rallies to chant and jeer at the press section. The root cause for this is Trump.

[bsnub]

Cant read the link but ill go out on a limb and say the reporter probably deserved it

Dumb ass.

[Humbert]

Cant read the link but ill go out on a limb and say the reporter probably deserved it

Dumb ass.

Since when do we rationalize a candidate for office beating a reporter? Do we not expect our elected representatives to exhibit civil restraint? What has Trump done to turn his minions into violent cretins?

[Slick]

Fox reporters witnessed the assault say that the reporter did nothing to provoke the attack.

Again, I cant read the link, and my employer has like 80% of the internet blocked, but you guys are telling me the guy just body slammed a reporter for zero reason?

Slick's revolting comment.

Oh quit clutching your fuckin pearls.

[redhaze]

Cant read the link but ill go out on a limb and say the reporter probably deserved it

Kind of out on a twig moreso than a limb with that one

[Slick]

Kind of out on a twig moreso than a limb with that one

So out of nowhere the guy just had a meltdown and bodyslammed a reporter?

Reporter just minding his own business asking questions to the guy then BOOM WWF style?

[Humbert]

So out of nowhere the guy just had a meltdown and bodyslammed a reporter?
Reporter just minding his own business asking questions to the guy then BOOM WWF style?

Yup. Listen to the tape. Listen to what the witnesses said.

He was in the wrong. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you haven't read the report or heard the audio. But to immmediately jump in and defend him out of political bias is pretty damn stupid.

[redhaze]

So out of nowhere the guy just had a meltdown and bodyslammed a reporter?

Well there is an audio recording of it, and unless its out context in some way yes that is literally exactly what appears to have happened.

Numerous eye witness accounts back up the recording. Plus I'm not gonna judge on this alone but one look at the guy and I could see it. Looks like one of those guys who's face is red from fury while discussing contentious topics such as the weather.

[Slick]

Looks like one of those guys who's face is red from fury while discussing contentious topics such as the weather.

Ok, fair enough, but how about this gem:

Apparently inspired by the fukwit in chief's hatred for the free press, a GOP congressional candidate assaulted a reporter doing his job.

A Red-faced GOP member had a meltdown and now its Trumps fault?

[redhaze]

Can't argue with you on that one, that is a reach.

[redhaze]

A few little quotes in here from some other reporter who saw it happen.

MORNING BRIEF: Fox News team witnesses Montana House candidate 'slamming reporter' | Fox News

[Humbert]

A Red-faced GOP member had a meltdown and now its Trumps fault?

If you don't think Trump's attacks on the press and reporters don't influence behavior you are very, very naive. He has created an atmosphere where his supporters think of the press as a hostile enemy who have created all his problems. You should watch Fox News where the anti-MSM hostility is a constant drumbeat.

[redhaze]

I hear you in terms of hostility towards the press. That's one thing, that's a tone thing. The guy at the top setting the tone. Ok that's understood in terms of some trickle down back and forth that could be more contentious than normal.

But a grown man tackling a reporter out of the blue? That is career suicide.

Trump setting a negative tone is very unlikely to cause a grown man running for office to do something so ridiculous. Its a reach because it validates what you want to believe, as opposed to what is probably true which is that this guy is just a complete nutter

[harrybarracuda]

Cant read the link but ill go out on a limb and say the reporter probably deserved it, and the media spin will be he was trying to "silence the press" and therefore an un-american domestic terrorist.

Look slick, it's a Fox reporter, you believe all them fuckers dontcha?

Fox News reporter Alicia Acuna, field producer Faith Mangan and photographer Keith Railey witnessed the incident at Gianforte’s campaign headquarters in Montana, according to an account published by foxnews.com. After Jacobs asked Gianforte his question, Acuna wrote: “Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him.

“Faith, Keith and I watched in disbelief as Gianforte then began punching the man, as he moved on top the reporter and began yelling something to the effect of ‘I’m sick and tired of this!’ ... To be clear, at no point did any of us who witnessed this assault see Jacobs show any form of physical aggression toward Gianforte, who left the area after giving statements to local sheriff’s deputies.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...jacobs-montana

[Slick]

If you don't think Trump's attacks on the press and reporters don't influence behavior you are very, very naive.

Does this shit have anything to do with Trump?

Like, at all?

[Humbert]

Point is that is a personality problem, Trump setting a negative tone is very unlikely to cause a grown man running for office to do something so ridiculous.

He reached a tipping point. His threshold for resisting violent impulses was eroded by Trump's rhetoric. He no doubt regrets what he did but he momentarily gave in to his basest impulses. I agree that personal self control is the biggest issue but Trump is also to blame for creating the poisonous atmosphere regarding the press.

[Slick]

After Jacobs asked Gianforte his question

What was the question, or series of questions?

[Slick]

His threshold for resisting violent impulses was eroded by Trump's rhetoric.

Where are you getting this? FFS man Trump didnt help this guy in Montana have a fucking meltdown.

[redhaze]

What was the question, or series of questions?

Not much, something about whether he supported the Trump healthcare bill.

Apparently the guy was pissed about another reporter from the same organization asking a similar question earlier in the week.

[Humbert]

Where are you getting this? FFS man Trump didnt help this guy in Montana have a fucking meltdown.

It is a basic tenent of Trumpism to consider the press as an enemy. In his press release rationalizing the incident he even cited that the reporter was from the 'liberal' media as if to use that as a justification for assaulting the guy.

[Passing Through]

Where are you getting this? FFS man Trump didnt help this guy in Montana have a fucking meltdown.

Trump's attitudes towards the press normalize this kind of behaviour.

You may not like The Guardian but it's idiocy of the highest order to start making apologies for politicians who assault journalists.