Breitbart reporter assaulted at Trump rally, causing fallout between Breitbart and Trump

[DetlefK]

http://www.salon.com/2016/03/10/a_conservative_love_affair_ends_breitbart_forced_to_get_tough_with_trump_after_campaign_manager_assaults_female_reporter/

The Trump campaign’s official response to allegations that a reporter from the right-wing website Breitbart News was forcibly prevented from doing her job by a top campaign official earlier this week took much longer to be released and contained a shocking shift in tone in its dealings with what is undoubtedly the most pro-Trump media outlet out there.

“The accusation, which has only been made in the media and never addressed directly with the campaign, is entirely false,” Trump campaign spokesperson Hope Hicks said in a statement Thursday, responding to Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields’ accusation that she was shoved to the ground by Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski during Trump’s election night victory speech in Florida on Tuesday. A Washington Post reporter originally identified Lewandowski as the man that who “grabbed Field’s arm and yanked her out of the way” when she went to ask Trump a question.

“Fields stumbled. Finger-shaped bruises formed on her arm,” Ben Terris recounted.

...

But the Tump campaign is doubling down, defending Lewandowski against Breitbart, denying the assault of Fields ever took place and suggesting that Fields made up the entire account to “become part of the news story.”



They tried to smear her as a liar instead of addressing the altercation in question. Their only problem is that the smears of the Trump campaign were easily refuted within hours by online-sources.



The conservative crack-up over the skirmish goes further than just Trump and Breitbart. Anti-Trump, right-wing conservatives were up in arms on Thursday, indignant that one of their own was treated with the same contempt usually reserved for a member of the much-maligned librul media:

[PoliticAverse]

1. It's fun and all until it is your own ox being gored. n/t

[PatrickforO]

2. Or, as we tell our dog, it's all fun and games until someone ends up in a

CONE!



On a serious note, Trump's campaign is calling out all the racist, xenophobic, homophobic, bigoted neo-Nazis, and they are mean spirited and stupid. If we don't defeat this guy we'll ALL end up wearing cones.

[Hortensis]

3. Wonder how many of Michelle Fields' victims smiled

on hearing this. She apparently worked for Fox before going to Breitbart. And Lewandowski, Trump's campaign manager. On reading about the people involved, this seems not that much more surprising than a scuffle in a biker bar.

Interestingly, Lewandowski, elevated by Trump's soar far above his previous pay grade, was previously New Hampshire director for Americans for Prosperity.

[oberliner]

4. Breitbart is pro-Cruz, so is Fox

Trump doesn't like either.