One, they answer to their editors, not to politicians. And two, they dutifully record the wording and the context of the threat, and it winds up in print or broadcast, so the general public knows just what the politician said, and what the question or issue was that prompted the attack, either verbal or physical.
This comes to mind after two reports surfaced this week about political types ranting at reporters. In one case, it was a physical attack by a candidate in Montana, and the other was an extreme, expletive-laden verbal abuse by a presidential lawyer against a reporter.
Both incidents were made public and reported by the reporters involved, and soon went viral on the internet, on broadcast news channels and in print.
So the lesson to public officials, candidates, corporate executives and others is this: If you don't want to see it in print, don't say it. And if you don't want your verbal or physical abusive threats and other tactics made public, don't beat up on people, especially reporters.
First off, it's illegal. Second, it's immoral. Finally, it's self-defeating.
The consequences are these: Imprisonment or monetary fine, tarnish to your reputation, and it can lead to an election loss, a job loss, or revenue loss as clients abandon you.
Oh, and there's one other reason even more powerful than the others.
It's stupid.
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