Story highlights The alleged attack speaks to something darker than the headline of the day

As explanations for punching people go, Gianforte's was a bad one

(CNN) At the very top of the job description for "politician" -- and especially so for "candidate" -- is the requirement to take questions and give answers, either with constituents or reporters. This might sometimes be an uncomfortable practice. Occasionally, the exchanges can be infuriating.

And yet, it is somehow fundamental to the basic practice of democracy. The answers don't necessarily have to be honest. Politicians lie or spin at their own peril. Sometimes officials will ignore or pivot away from even the most basic query. But even with all that gray area, there also exists a certain broad parameter of nonviolent decency. This should not be a challenging standard to keep.

But by allegedly body-slamming a reporter on the eve of Montana's special congressional election, Republican Greg Gianforte tripped over those low hurdles. That The Guardian's Ben Jacobs was, by both his own and the account of the Fox News team present, driven into the ground and punched by a man who is more than semi-likely to be the state's next member of the House of Representatives, is shocking on its face, though almost a secondary issue here.

Greg Gianforte just body slammed me and broke my glasses — Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) May 24, 2017

Gianforte's alleged attack speaks to something darker than the headline of the day. Those concerns were illustrated not by the candidate, but by the pen (or laptop, or whatever) of his spokesman, Shane Scanlon, who was tasked with defending his boss. It was a job he seemed to relish when he wrote and released the following:

"Tonight, as Greg was giving a separate interview in a private office, The Guardian's Ben Jacobs entered the office without permission, aggressively shoved a recorder in Greg's face, and began asking badgering questions. Jacobs was asked to leave. 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. It's unfortunate that this aggressive behavior from a liberal journalist created this scene at our campaign volunteer BBQ."

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