Gianforte Calls for Civil Politics After Assaulting Reporter

[Suppressed]

Lest people complaining about The Left's rhetoric forget that we were told by some here that assault is fine as long as it's "our guy" and the target is the media...


Gianforte Calls for Civil Politics After Assaulting Reporter
Montana's incoming congressional representative is calling for civility in politics after the shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise even though he heads to Washington to be sworn in with an assault conviction for assaulting a reporter.
June 16, 2017, at 6:44 p.m.
https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2017-06-16/gianforte-calls-for-civil-politics-after-assaulting-reporter

By MATT VOLZ, Associated Press

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Montana's incoming congressman called for civility in politics on Friday, four days after his conviction for assaulting a reporter who asked him a question about health care.

Greg Gianforte spoke to The Associated Press at his Bozeman home in his first national interview since winning the May 25 special congressional election.

The Republican technology entrepreneur has largely stayed away from the public eye since assaulting Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs on the eve of the election until he pleaded guilty Monday to the misdemeanor charge.

Gianforte will be sworn in by House Speaker Paul Ryan on Wednesday, and he is keenly aware he will carry with him for a while the distinction of being the congressman who beat up the reporter.

"I think you can never erase history," Gianforte said. "I can't erase it, but I did do everything in my power once the event was over to take responsibility."

But he is eager to put the episode behind him, and he is now adding his voice to the growing chorus calling for better political discourse.

Gianforte said there is an obligation for members of Congress to ratchet down the vitriol in politics, especially after this week's shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise during a Republican congressional baseball practice by a man who volunteered for Bernie Sanders' Democratic presidential campaign.

"I believe that good things can come out of bad," he said. "It's important to make sure we reach out to all parties and hear their voice. I think the other parties have an obligation, as well, to be respectful and in that dialogue."

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Excerpt.  Read more at https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2017-06-16/gianforte-calls-for-civil-politics-after-assaulting-reporter

[kevindavis007]

I'm glad he learned a lesson and moved on from it.  He is right that we need to be civil.

[kevindavis007]

Lest people complaining about The Left's rhetoric forget that we were told by some here that assault is fine as long as it's "our guy" and the target is the media...

Yep.. Assault is never good.. I don't care who it is and who does it.

[Oceander]