GREG HARTON: President gives aid, comfort to those who would attack

Donald Trump specializes in shock. If his rallies were monitored with an NBA-style timer -- a shock clock, so to speak -- it's doubtful Trump would ever get called for failing to shock before the time ran out.

It works for him when he's surrounded by his admirers. We've given up on the idea of a president being presidential, rising above and leading a national embrace of shared values.

Most people, I used to believe, would condemn advocating violence as a political tool. Last week, its advocacy brought the president of the United States cheers.

Montana congressional candidate Greg Gianforte in 2017 physically attacked a reporter. The attack included what the reporter (and witness) described as a "body slam." Gianforte, as a result, should never get elected, in my view, unless people are willing to embrace violence as a political tool.

Gianforte pleaded guilty to assault and apologized. "My physical response to your legitimate question was unprofessional, unacceptable and unlawful," he wrote in a letter to the reporter. Yes. Yes. And Yes.

The Republican won election to the House of Representatives by 23,000 votes. More than half the contest's ballots had been returned through early voting before the incident happened.

President Trump went to Montana last week, where Gianforte stood alongside him basking like an apprentice receiving the glowing praise of his master. After introducing Trump, Gianforte stepped aside. As the cheering for Trump faded, the president advised those listening not to wrestle with Gianforte.

"Any guy who can do a body slam ...," Trump said without completing the thought, motioning with his arms in a pretend assault. Then he followed with "He's my kind." The crowd laughed and cheered.

Some readers who are fans of the president may be shocked by this. Democrat-Gazette political columnist John Brummett spoke at The David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History in Fayetteville Wednesday night. It was a largely left-leaning crowd nodding heads when the left-leaning columnist said what they liked to hear. What they didn't like hearing was part of his assessment of Donald Trump: Don't count out a second term because by standards applied to most presidents, Trump has a developed a record of accomplishing many of the things he pledged to do if he was elected.

So nearly two years into the Trump administration, it's clear -- or should be -- that the president's detractors cannot dismiss his confrontational, sometimes ridiculous statements as just the rants and tweets of a reality TV star.

What Donald Trump says matters.

And that's exactly why there needs to be universal condemnation -- by Republicans even more so than Democrats -- when President Trump does something like he did with Gianforte. He's celebrating a man's violent reaction to a reporter asking a question.

Sure, Trump has made it clear that he believes "the media" is the enemy of the people. Are reporters asking questions really the enemy of Americans? Even if you believe that, can that possibly excuse Trump's admiration for what Gianforte did?

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this is that people seem to believe condemning the president's embrace of violence against journalists is necessary to fully demonstrate their support for the president's policies. That speaking out against his praise for body slamming is tantamount to trying to tear down everything Trump wants to do.

Trump is no child, but when a parent corrects a child's misbehavior that's harmful to someone else, is the parent trying to destroy the child or condemn everything about him? Condemn what is deserving of condemnation.

Violence against journalists is no joke. Violence in the name of political advancement is dangerous. That the president brought up Gianforte's actions in the celebratory setting of a campaign rally is terrible.

Maybe that journalist should just be glad Gianforte didn't have a bone saw handy.

Commentary on 10/21/2018

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