Trump, May 2017: 100 days of [unintelligible]

I mean I'm guessing this was his last campaign rally. Good job, dude.

Sheriff said it's an "ongoing investigation" already

— Blake Montgomery (@blakersdozen) May 24, 2017

Well, this should certainly be interesting.

If Gianforte has learned anything from the previous year, he should stay in the race, deny that it happened, classify any publication that mentions it as fake news, call the reporter a big fucking loser, and win in a landslide

Gallatin County Sherriffs now taking witness statements

— Alexis Levinson (@alexis_levinson) May 24, 2017

I mean, early voting already started and all...but still.

Apparantly Jacobs has a sound recording of it...

So um, congrats for flippiing Montana, I suppose. Now to get Karen Handel to do the same thing.

Quist playing it cool (rightly)

Quist responds (sort of) pic.twitter.com/cvnfAm0NyE

— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) May 24, 2017

"That's for law enforcement."

shorter quist: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

My boy Chris Hayes on MSNBC all over it already.

This Quist has an immensely charming demeanor

Our reporter @alexis_levinson is being summoned by law enforcement for a formal interview

— Blake Montgomery (@blakersdozen) May 25, 2017

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/24/greg-gianforte-bodyslams-reporter-ben-jacobs-montana?CMP=edit_2221

Hear it

Hayes interviewing the reporter

The audio is awful. In essence, Jacobs asks him about the CBO score and the candidate...attacks him.

This wont swing any votes

who cares, if he gets arrested

Holy fuck the Gianforte response

You just know he did a fist pump on the way home

(Nevermind, I somehow misread that as "the Quist response")

This wont swing any votes

― Οὖτις, Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Dude, you and I are usually as one on these questions but this is pretty horrifying should local Dems and DNC start ads now.

republicans are ridiculous

DCCC rapid response is unequivocal

DCCC calls on Gianforte to quit the #MTAL race after apparent assault of @Bencjacobs pic.twitter.com/N983vKm3nL

— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) May 25, 2017

If assault charges are brought, that could change a few votes, even in Montana. Mug shots of politicians getting booked don't go over real big with some voters.

I haven't been following the MT special election closely, but apparently is was already a lot closer than was expected?

Regardless of outcome, the best move for gianforte is to say the reporter deserved it and act manly. Never apologize. If he shows any remorse he's instantly done; if he acts like a total asshole there's still a possibility of victory.

Isnt voting happening right now? No time for ads. Plus Trumpists hate the press and this is a natural extension of that.

Montana's by far the most interesting Midwestern state for bipartisan politics, but I gotta imagine this encourages Dem turnout.

Voting is tomorrow.

i think it makes dem voters smell blood in the water and get a bit energized yeah.

i can't really get enough really. could be santorumpaws of 2017...

https://scontent-mia1-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18582421_1347234825367527_7776581158177580747_n.jpg?oh=6b9e497eea1189a9bf0feefc8b1c26b3&oe=59B6B7F9

^All this needs now is sweaty 1996 Billy Corgan in a Zero t-shirt

This'll be in an hour

Gallatin County Sheriff's Office will hold a press conference re: alleged Gianforte assault at 8 p.m. MST in #Bozeman. #bdcnews #mtal

— Whitney Bermes (@wabermes) May 25, 2017

How is this statement Gianforte released anything other than a bad idea

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAogbOTW0AEd3SO.jpg

Two to one says he/his team didn't realize there was a recording.

I mean they mention the recorder, do they think it was off?

Prob better for him to just say "yeah i punched that weaselly liberal FAKE NEWS"

I sense a pattern

Local Montana newspaper Op-Ed from a month ago complaining about Gianforte's threats against reporters. pic.twitter.com/3PahLEyswY

— Elliott Lusztig (@ezlusztig) May 25, 2017

what are the trumpettes wearing in that popeshot

sorry if this was posted upthread, but here's the audio:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhoH4v8xYlU

didn't realize gianforte was a tech millionaire. what a great guy

^ audio may be disturbing to some listeners tbh

i wouldn't be so sure that anything comes of this

also, montana isn't a midwestern state

*i wouldn't be so sure anything comes of this legally (not necessarily politically)

i saw a man beaten half to death on my neighbor's lawn in bozeman and no charges were ever brought

lol, the Gianforte version makes it sound like Jacobs executed some kind of advanced judo move.

Montana politico friend tells me that canvassers are now playing audio of the Gianforte assault on the doors. People changing votes. #mtal

— Henry Kraemer (@HenryKraemer) May 25, 2017

can't wait to see this asshole get 57% of the vote instead of 69%

Sad lol

Windup...

When you're a member of congress, your life is in hallways. Reporters ask questions. They wait outside bathrooms. the big leagues.

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) May 25, 2017

Pitch

It's not for everyone. #mtpol https://t.co/KKsoa5fH7a

— Jon Tester (@jontester) May 25, 2017

Gianforte's response is, of course, intended to set up the counternarrative of "reporter had it coming," you know, what with the badgering and all. Anyone who was already at "fuck the media" is even more energized than they were to begin with (when you have Trumpspawn stumping for you that's the vote you're courting).

Corey Lewandowski's rough handling of Michelle Fields was breathlessly covered for weeks and didn't swing any votes; perhaps this is different.

well, it's the candidate this time