# Republicans: candidate who assaulted reporter is fine with us! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 25, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443 "2017-05-25T21:36:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/501 "2017-05-29T20:30:29Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > I don’t think Gianforte is intelligently in cahoots with Trump. I think he’s an empty partisan, so he thinks that the RW media’s painting of the mainstream media as fake news is correct. He’s likely a symptom of the GOP’s push to undermine the press. > > I mean the bro thinks the world is a few thousand years old, and he’s had an education. He’s hard up into his ideology and thinking critically ain’t his bag. > > That said, his actions are, IMHO feeding into that undermining of the press, even if he’s too empty to know it. It’s difficult to argue with anything you’ve said. I guess my only comment would be: why, if you agree he’s not deliberately undermining the press, are you holding him accountable for undermining the press ? (If you are) ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/502 "2017-05-29T20:49:26Z")
Choice has a meaning, just like “life” does. “Pro-” has a meaning too. Why do you, Doggy, get to decide that “pro-choice” refers to reproductive choices but “pro-life” must be construed much more broadly? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/503 "2017-05-29T20:49:51Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > It’s difficult to argue with anything you’ve said. > > I guess my only comment would be: why, if you agree he’s not deliberately undermining the press, are you holding him accountable for undermining the press ? (If you are) Well, I probably would want to whip Mrs. O’Leary’s cow if my family died in the fire. People want to blame even those that mindlessly cause damage. The difference being, that Gianforte has the power and ability to know better. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/504 "2017-05-29T20:52:18Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Well, I probably would want to whip Mrs. O’Leary’s cow if my family died in the fire. People want to blame even those that mindlessly cause damage. The difference being, that Gianforte has the power and ability to know better. Who are you? What did you do with the real Lobohan? This is far too reasonable and even-handed for me to attack. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/505 "2017-05-29T20:56:49Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Who are you? > > What did you do with the real Lobohan? > > This is far too reasonable and even-handed for me to attack. [\<3](https://media.giphy.com/media/IwfQLFvc36KHu/giphy.gif) ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/506 "2017-05-29T21:36:26Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Choice has a meaning, just like “life” does. “Pro-” has a meaning too. Why do you, Doggy, get to decide that “pro-choice” refers to reproductive choices but “pro-life” must be construed much more broadly? The only opposite of pro-choice is anti-choice. What’s wrong with that? ---
**Author:** ![DoggyDunnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@DoggyDunnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoggyDunnit)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/507 "2017-05-29T21:41:17Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Choice has a meaning, just like “life” does. “Pro-” has a meaning too. Why do you, Doggy, get to decide that “pro-choice” refers to reproductive choices but “pro-life” must be construed much more broadly? Three strikes, yer out, so “anti-abortion”, it is. Life does not end at birth. I don’t “get to decide” that, because I have no standing to do so - and surprise! - I didn’t. **John Mace** had many valid issues he could have extended “pro-choice” to while remaining on the good side of reality. Instead, he chose to choose the doublespeak mess phrase “school choice”, which is about as valid as saying two plus two equals jellyfish squared. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/508 "2017-05-29T22:36:31Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > The only opposite of pro-choice is anti-choice. What’s wrong with that? Nothing. DeVos is pro-choice, for schools. Right? > [@DoggyDunnit](#): > > Three strikes, yer out, so “anti-abortion”, it is. Life does not end at birth. > > I don’t “get to decide” that, because I have no standing to do so - and surprise! - I didn’t. **John Mace** had many valid issues he could have extended “pro-choice” to while remaining on the good side of reality. Instead, he chose to choose the doublespeak mess phrase “school choice”, which is about as valid as saying two plus two equals jellyfish squared. That’s not a rebuttal. By the dictionary, a source you touted for the meaning of pro and life, DeVos is pro-choice. She favors choice of schools. Right? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/509 "2017-05-29T22:59:09Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Choice has a meaning, just like “life” does. “Pro-” has a meaning too. Why do you, Doggy, get to decide that “pro-choice” refers to reproductive choices but “pro-life” must be construed much more broadly? > [@DoggyDunnit](#): > > Three strikes, yer out, so “anti-abortion”, it is. Life does not end at birth. > > I don’t “get to decide” that, because I have no standing to do so - and surprise! - I didn’t. **John Mace** had many valid issues he could have extended “pro-choice” to while remaining on the good side of reality. Instead, he chose to choose the doublespeak mess phrase “school choice”, which is about as valid as saying two plus two equals jellyfish squared. So, not only do you claim to be able to decide what “choice” means, you get to decide what is “valid” and what is “double speak”. I disagree with **Bricker** on the issue this thread is actually about, so stop making him look good with your stupid arguments! “Pro-life” is a slogan, just like “pro-choice”. They mean what the group that uses them mean. The St. Louis Cardinals aren’t actually cardinals, they’re human beings, members of the species _H. sapiens_. Did you know that? ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/510 "2017-05-29T23:14:12Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > If he did it to multiple members of the press, your case would be stronger. Maybe he hates only Jacobs. Maybe he does hate Jacobs. Maybe Jacobs slept with his wife, killed his dog, and implied his mama was of less than pure virtue when in the proximity of sailors. I have no idea. Absent that additional information, I know that he assaulted a reporter who was asking him questions, and then lied about the circumstances. And while this is not a literal, \*legal \*assault on the First Amendment (which I would think would have to be a legislative move, as the 1A is not a physical thing or person to be assaulted), it is difficult for me to deny that it was likely intended to have something of a chilling effect on the free press. freedom of religion. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/511 "2017-05-29T23:17:29Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > . The St. Louis Cardinals aren’t actually cardinals, they’re human beings, members of the species _H. sapiens_. Did you know that? And damn few of them get to vote for a new Pope. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/512 "2017-05-29T23:19:51Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Maybe he does hate Jacobs. Maybe Jacobs slept with his wife, killed his dog, and implied his mama was of less than pure virtue when in the proximity of sailors. I have no idea. Absent that additional information, I know that he assaulted a reporter who was asking him questions, and then lied about the circumstances. And while this is not a literal, \*legal \*assault on the First Amendment (which I would think would have to be a legislative move, as the 1A is not a physical thing or person to be assaulted), it is difficult for me to deny that it was likely intended to have something of a chilling effect on the free press. > > freedom of religion. “Unconstitutional” means a private citizen chilling the press, and pro-life means you must favor public health care. True? ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/513 "2017-05-29T23:27:52Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Nothing. > > DeVos is pro-choice, for schools. > > Right? > > That’s not a rebuttal. By the dictionary, a source you touted for the meaning of pro and life, DeVos is pro-choice. She favors choice of schools. Right? Wrong. If she were truly pro-choice in favor of students’ choice of schools, she would support revoking federal money from those schools who discriminate against prospective students and their families. But [she doesn’t](http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-essential-education-updates-southern-more-than-100-days-into-this-1495643939-htmlstory.html) or at least refuses to say so. So, really, she’s just [anti-public education](http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/betsy-devos-and-the-plan-to-break-public-schools). ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/514 "2017-05-29T23:29:08Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Nothing. > > DeVos is pro-choice, for schools. > > Right? > > That’s not a rebuttal. By the dictionary, a source you touted for the meaning of pro and life, DeVos is pro-choice. She favors choice of schools. Right? No. Don’t be deliberately obtuse. The kind of choice referred to might make a difference. Not you but some little minority of people. And you know that. I’ll be OK with “pro-choice on abortion” vs “anti-choice on abortion.” That’s a win for you. Then we have to spell out the word abortion every time. Actually I think it would be a step towards finding out how we really feel as a society. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/515 "2017-05-29T23:33:38Z")
Wait. DeVos is pro-choice? Alright! dominionism, discrimination, and abortion all around! What happens when someone chooses to have sex with someone and they choose not to? Who knew choice could be so complicated? Why worry? You can never have too much choice. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/516 "2017-05-29T23:34:00Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Maybe he does hate Jacobs. Maybe Jacobs slept with his wife, killed his dog, and implied his mama was of less than pure virtue when in the proximity of sailors. I have no idea. Absent that additional information, I know that he assaulted a reporter who was asking him questions, and then lied about the circumstances. And while this is not a literal, \*legal \*assault on the First Amendment (which I would think would have to be a legislative move, as the 1A is not a physical thing or person to be assaulted), it is difficult for me to deny that it was likely intended to have something of a chilling effect on the free press. > freedom of religion. I was going to make an additional point about religion, but backspaced without capturing all of the sentence. Please ignore the freedom of religion hanging out all alone, ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/517 "2017-05-29T23:35:46Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > No. Don’t be deliberately obtuse. The kind of choice referred to might make a difference. Not you but some little minority of people. And you know that. > > I’ll be OK with “pro-choice on abortion” vs “anti-choice on abortion.” That’s a win for you. Then we have to spell out the word abortion every time. Actually I think it would be a step towards finding out how we really feel as a society. Then why can’t the kind of life make a difference? Pro-life refers to unborn human life. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/518 "2017-05-29T23:37:53Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > “Unconstitutional” means a private citizen chilling the press, and pro-life means you must favor public health care. > > True? A \*politician \*chilling the press, and I don’t believe I said a damn thing about it being unconstitutional, per se. It shows a lack of respect for the Constitution, but I wouldn’t say it is unconstitutional; as such. And I was attempting to clarify the position _another poster_ put forth with a possible interpretation of your admittedly non-standard usage of the phrase “pro-life.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/519 "2017-05-29T23:39:04Z")
How about The Black Caucus. Look at them, and tell me how many are actually “black”. And let’s all agree once and for all that Charlize Theron is an African-American. Wow, proof by linguistic nonsense is fun!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443/520 "2017-05-29T23:39:53Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > A \*politician \*chilling the press, and I don’t believe I said a damn thing about it being unconstitutional, per se. It shows a lack of respect for the Constitution, but I wouldn’t say it is unconstitutional; as such. > > And I was attempting to clarify the position _another poster_ put forth with a possible interpretation of your admittedly non-standard usage of the phrase “pro-life.” And please note : I did not say an elected official, I said politician, which I think you will accept includes a candidate on the eve of an election? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-candidate-who-assaulted-reporter-is-fine-with-us/787443.md?page=27)