search
Sections List
The American Independent

"I would’ve shot him." Montana Republican says body-slamming congressman didn’t go far enough

The Republican Party needs a refresher course on what “family values” truly means. Because open threats of violence against reporters do not fall under any reasonable definition of the term. When Montana congressional candidate Greg Gianforte physically assaulted Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs in May 2017, body-slamming him to the ground and breaking his glasses because […]

By Alison R. Parker - October 21, 2017
Share
Greg Gianforte
Montana GOP Rep. Greg Gianforte

Because open threats of violence against reporters do not fall under any reasonable definition of the term.

When Montana congressional candidate Greg Gianforte physically assaulted Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs in May 2017, body-slamming him to the ground and breaking his glasses because he was annoyed with Jacobs’ questions, it was a shocking moment to almost all observers.

Except to many of his fellow Republicans, of course, many of whom refused to condemn without qualifications Gianforte’s assault.

And one of Gianforte’s Montana GOP colleagues apparently thinks his only mistake was that he didn’t go far enough.

Speaking to the Voice of Montana radio program, Karen Marshall, the vice-president of programs for Gallatin County Republican Women, offered her own disturbing take on what ought to have happened to Jacobs for doing his job.

“If that kid had done to me what he did to Greg, I would have shot him,” Marshall declared. (What Jacobs “did to Greg” was to simply ask him questions about the Republican plan to repeal Obamacare.)

Reporters had been invited to Gianforte’s event, yet Marshall tried to insist that Jacobs had essentially been trespassing.

“That kid came on private property, came into a private building, and went into a very private room that I would not even have gone into,” she said, calling it a “setup.”

A spokesman for Gianforte said that the congressman “disagrees with those remarks [and] repudiates them.”

And however Marshall tries to erroneously label Jacobs’ actions, there is no possible justification for threatening to shoot a reporter because they’re bothering you by doing their job.

Marshall’s chilling endorsement of violence against someone with whom she disagrees is one echoed in recent days by conservative voters.

When Steve Bannon mentioned Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain during a speech to California Republicans Friday, someone in the audience yelled out, “Hang him!”

And as she has been the target of hateful lies from Donald Trump and chief of staff John Kelly for standing up for the family of fallen U.S. soldier Sgt. La David Johnson, Florida Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson has also received death threats, including a specific and terrifying post on Facebook for her to be lynched.

The GOP pretends to hold a monopoly on the mantle of family values and morality.

But when their voters’ calls for violence are only echoed, not denounced, by party officials, they are placing themselves in the gutter, with precisely zero room to lay claim to the moral high ground.


TAI News
Get the latest progressive news here first.

Tai News

Newsletter

Read More
Nebraska expected to pass combo bill on abortion, gender-affirming care for minors

Nebraska expected to pass combo bill on abortion, gender-affirming care for minors

By Associated Press - May 20, 2023
Rhode Island governor signs bill funding abortion health care coverage

Rhode Island governor signs bill funding abortion health care coverage

By Associated Press - May 19, 2023
Texas Legislature passes bill banning gender-affirming care for minors

Texas Legislature passes bill banning gender-affirming care for minors

By Will Fritz - May 18, 2023
North Carolina Republicans override governor’s veto of abortion ban

North Carolina Republicans override governor’s veto of abortion ban

By Rebekah Sager - May 18, 2023
Missouri attorney general rescinds rule restricting gender-affirming care

Missouri attorney general rescinds rule restricting gender-affirming care

By Will Fritz - May 18, 2023
Transgender man shares how an abortion saved his life

Transgender man shares how an abortion saved his life

By Rebekah Sager and Will Fritz - May 18, 2023
TAI News
Latest
House Republican lawmakers call bipartisan debt deal passage a win for Biden

House Republican lawmakers call bipartisan debt deal passage a win for Biden

By Josh Israel - June 01, 2023
Prominent Colorado abortion provider calls Dobbs decision ‘throwback to another century’

Prominent Colorado abortion provider calls Dobbs decision ‘throwback to another century’

By Rebekah Sager - June 01, 2023
McCarthy says Biden stopped him from cutting Social Security and Medicare

McCarthy says Biden stopped him from cutting Social Security and Medicare

By Emily Singer - June 01, 2023
North Carolina gubernatorial candidate wants public safety funding but voted against it

North Carolina gubernatorial candidate wants public safety funding but voted against it

By Josh Israel - June 01, 2023
Biden’s tentative debt limit deal is prioritizing the economy over politics

Biden’s tentative debt limit deal is prioritizing the economy over politics

By Oliver Willis - May 31, 2023
LGBTQ Voices in Politics: Tiffany Muller

LGBTQ Voices in Politics: Tiffany Muller

By Will Fritz - May 31, 2023
Close
TAI News
Get the latest progressive news here first.

Tai News

Newsletter