Congressional Candidate Gianforte And The Press | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

Congressional Candidate Gianforte And The Press

Is assault the way to deal with tough questions?

11
Congressional Candidate Gianforte And The Press
The Missoulian

Montanans are voting today in a special election being held for the state's only seat in the House of Representatives. The seat became vacant after Ryan Zinke became the secretary of the interior for Donald Trump. The special election has been full of attacking advertisements from both candidates.

The candidates are Greg Gianforte (R) and Rob Quist (D).

Gianforte founded RightNow Technologies 20 years ago in Bozeman, Montana. The business, which has been sold, did quite well making Gianforte a multi-millionaire.

Quist , from the small town of Cut Bank, is a singer turned politician. He served on the Montana Fine Arts Council and has worked with various charities.

While Montana is an extremely conservative state, this election has started to get people talking. Especially today.

Last night, Gianforte got in an altercation with a reporter from The Guardian. Today, on voting day Montanas are looking for answers. While there is no video footage of the incident, an audio recording, and testimony from a Fox News crew that witnessed the altercation seems to corroborate the reporter, Ben Jacobs', story.


Gianforte has been cited for misdemeanor assault. According to the Flathead Beacon, If Gianforte is convicted penalties could be up to 6 months in jail and a $500 fine. He must appear before June 7 in Gallatin County Justice Court.

A statement from the Gianforte campaign told a different version of events in which Jacobs was the aggressor.

"After asking Jacobs to lower the recorder, Jacobs declined. Greg then attempted to grab the phone that was pushed in his face. Jacobs grabbed Greg's wrist, and spun away from Greg, pushing them both to the ground," Gianforte spokesperson Shane Scanlon said. "It's unfortunate that this aggressive behavior from a liberal journalist created this scene at our campaign volunteer BBQ." (Taken from an NPR article that reprinted the statement)

As a young Montanan, I am saddened to see our state in the news under such horrible circumstances. The real question that I have after hearing the tape of the incident, is why? Why did Gianforte feel like violence was the best way to deal with the situation? Why was security not called if Gianforte felt uncomfortable with how the reporter was acting?

At this point, I feel it is important to note that while polls close today, many Montanas have already cast their votes.

The main reason I personally am concerned about this incident is the treatment of the press. In this country the press in under attack. We have seen President Trump denounce the press for months now. Many news sources are connecting this even in Montana with Trump's lack of respect for the press. I strongly believe that we need the press. Individuals cannot go down to every town hall and news conference to get their questions answered by candidates. That's why we have the press. They are there to inform the public on their representatives and ask the tough questions so that the public has the answers they need to make informed decisions.

While the press is by no means perfect (are really any institutions in our country perfect?) they are important and deserve to be treated with respect.

Lastly, this reporter is a human being and deserves to be treated with the respect that all human beings deserve. Like we tell our children, violence is never the answer.

-- If you would like to stay updated on Gianforte's legal situation the Gallatin Media Center has been posting updates.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

189465
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14445
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457489
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26436
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments