fanofzoo said:
PR if we were sitting at the MO and I did that to you, would you be OK with that?
The guy is what Montanan's don't like, a jerk, rich jerk, who wants us to accept his values not ours.
If his behavior was acceptable to you then watch your back.
I don't condone what it looks like GG did (however, note that the Fox woman is now backing how what she said).
However, if I was at work, at the start of the office/volunteer BBQ during which I would mingle and speak, and back in my office while a tv crew set up for an interview with me; and some out of state reporter whom I didn't know walked/barged into my office, where the door had been closed or almost closed, and without asking if he could ask some questions, stuck a phone/recorder in my face, and starting asking questions and wouldn't stop, despite me saying to him that we could/should talk later, and then saying he should talk to my assistant (so I could do my tv interview and get out to the BBQ), I wouldn't be too excited about the situation or the guy.
In my office or running for public office, assuming I wasn't grabbed or pushed, I wouldn't touch the guy. At the Mo Club, who knows.
I think this could have been a bit of a set up. The reporter does all this, and in this location, right before the election. He works for an aggressive publication and also worked previously for one like that. After the tussle, he is completely calm. He does't scream or seem to fight back. The first thing he says is that his glasses were broken. The next thing he says is that he was body-slammed and his glasses were broken. Body slammed? He continues to say he was body-slammed. Are you kidding? Who uses that word in this day and age. The reporter doesn't know what the term means, or is intentionally using a catchy word. At most, he was pushed or pulled down. Gianforte isn't a very big guy. I'm not aware that he lifts, goes to the gym or runs. He's an outdoor guy.
The reporter immediately says he wants to call the police. He starts asking for names of witnesses. They don't tell him. He then want an ambulance. In the ambulance, he starts tweeting. He also sends audio to his publication from the ambulance. I'd like to hear all of the audio, not just what they released.
He said he hurt his elbow. He was released quickly and was at the sheriff's office fairly soon.
On a tv interview yesterday, reporter appeared to be unhurt. He said only that he was taking Advil. Said he may not pursue a claim. I'm sure GG would be happy to pay him for his out of pocket costs.
Charged with misdemeanor assault. Okay, not a big deal for a normal person. G will likely have a good attorney. He apologized last night. I'm sure he's embarrassed. He's not a hothead. I've been with him hundreds of times and in some tougher situations, and on hundreds of conference calls, and I've never seen him get angry in the slightest, ever. Also, not angry when he's out of the meeting, situation or call, and in private, either. He's always been a very cool and calm person, when I've been around him. Was very out of character for him.
Life will go on. Next question.
