In 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and in 2021, that we published our first two “Fanatical Republican Extremist of the Day” profiles of the U.S. House Representative from Montana’s At-Large Congressional District, Greg Gianforte, who after several big losses in trying to become the next Governor of Montana. having started Christian ministries that have bankrolled millions of dollars toward the construction of a the 20,000 square foot Dinosaur and Fossil Museum in Glendive, Montana, that asserts to its patrons that the Earth is only 6,000 years old, and there’s no way the skeletal remains of dinosaurs on display are millions of years old, as scientific carbon-dating technology would have you believe. No, the curators assure people passing through that the fossils are but 4,300 years old (which would mean dinosaurs roamed the Earth around the time of the pharoahs) and that there’s no proof of evolution, whatsoever.
Okay, maybe trying to willfully spread ignorance of science when you’re motivated by your faith on that subject doesn’t seem like it would be the most harmful thing, even in this day and age… it’s not like Greg Gianforte’s deeply held faiths are motivating him into any stupid policy decisions? Well, actually… he and his wife apparently lobbied the city of Bozeman, Montana to try and pass a city ordinance based on Indiana’s “religious freedom” laws that made it legal for Christians businesses to discriminate against the LGBTQ community. Gianforte is apparently dedicated enough to opposing LGBTQ rights that he also bankrolled the legal defense of Colorado baker Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakes, who wanted to refuse service to gay patrons (Phillips lost, of course), and further applauds Phillips for not opening his bakery on Halloween because “Christians should not promote Halloween”.
If these bizarre policy calls based on his faith weren’t already troubling, there’s Greg Gianforte’s opinion on Social Security… we shouldn’t have it because he thinks “the concept of retirement is not biblical”, citing the fact that Noah built the Ark at the totally believable age of 600.
Gianforte made a last ditch effort to beat Steve Bullock in the 2016 governor’s race by trying to gin up fears over Syrian refugees, and lying and claiming Bullock had been restricting gun rights (while he had actually EXPANDED gun rights in Montana as governor.) Gianforte got absolutely trounced by Bullock in their debate, showing little understanding of the law in many instances, and providing only tired and cliche Republican talking points devoid of facts. Gianforte, however, maintained support of Donald Trump even after he boasted about getting away with sexually assaulting women… which would pay off later.
After several unsuccessful Gianforte campaigns, when Congressman Ryan Zinke was picked to be a member of Donald Trump’s Cabinet of Horrors, opening up a spot in Congress in a special election race that wouldn’t you know it, Gianforte would run for. And even though Montana still leans extremely to the right, and the Democratic candidate, Rob Quist, had some sketchy details in his background, it was nip and tuck as the last few days to that special election in Montana, with Donald Trump endorsing Gianforte, because he tolerated Trump’s sexual assault in the build up to the previous election. And… then things got weird. Weird even for a guy who thinks Jesus was fending of T-Rexes. You see, on the eve of the election, Greg Gianforte lost his goddamned mind, picked up a reporter from the Guardian, Ben Jacobs , body-slammed him and screamed at him.
This is normally unacceptable behavior for a politician, and more fitting for how a heel WWE wrestler would resolve being confronted with questions they don’t like. Well, Gianforte was charged with assault, pleaded guilty to avoid jail time that would make him a rather ineffective Congressman, and then spent most of his few months in office dodging a court’s order that he still would need to take a mug shot. Spoiler Alert: He still had to get a mug shot.
While serving as a member of Congress and voting for virtually every GOP backed bill that came his way, on February 14th, 2018, Gianforte celebrated Valentine’s Day by blurting out as many conspiracy theories as he can in an interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo to try to cast doubt on the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, and the Trump campaign’s possible collusion with them. As one does when in a romantic mood.
Only a term and a half into his Congressional career, Greg Gianforte opted to take another crack at running for Governor of Montana in 2020, in spite of the possibility that Gianforte’s fanatical dumb ass committed insider trading while a member of the House, trying to profit off of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Which, considering he has that inside information, you’d think he would follow the recommendations of health experts and wear a mask and not attend large gatherings of people, like when he showed up at a local concert on October 3rd to lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance… and then be surprised when there was a Covid-19 spike traced back to the event. Regrettably, Gianforte won the race in 2020 and was sworn in as governor on January 4, 2021. A month into taking office, he continued his pro-virus Covid-19 stance, lifting Montana’s statewide mask mandate and signing a bill giving liability protections to businesses and healthcare providers. In May 2021, he went even further, signing a bill into law that limited the ability of hospitals and other businesses to require that their staff be vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as prohibited businesses from requiring that customers be vaccinated in order to access facilities, becoming the only state at the time to do so. He’s also signed anti-immigrant legislation, open carry legislation, three anti-choice bills, and rounding it out, a transphobic bill to ban transgender athletes from girls sports in public schools, because why not bully trans teens while you’re at it?
But the real test of a governor is how well they serve the people of their state during a crisis. Do they rise to the occasion and help their constituents while they’re suffering, or do they fail in the face of the challenge? Well, when Montana faced what was regarded as once-in-a-century flooding that saw many residents displaced or trapped due to the damage… Glenn Giaforte was off on vacation in Italy, and for almost a week, his office hid his whereabouts from Montanans.
Who would have thought this rich ***hole’s own vacation would be more important to him than the lives of others? Answer to that should have been “everybody”.
Unless he’s impeached or has some sudden mishap to change things in a hurry, Greg Gianforte’s reign of terror still has three years left on it.
Click Here for Full FRED Archive
One Year Ago, October 22nd, 2021: Greg Gianforte (MT)…2021 Update
Two Years Ago, October 22nd, 2020: Greg Gianforte (MT)…2020 Update
Three Years Ago, October 22nd, 2019: Greg Gianforte (MT)…2019 Update
Four Years Ago, October 22nd, 2018: Greg Gianforte (MT)…2018 Update
Five Years Ago, October 22nd, 2017: Greg Gianforte (MT)…2017 Update
Six Years Ago, October 22nd, 2016: Greg Gianforte (MT)…2016 Update
Seven Years Ago, October 22nd, 2015: Greg Gianforte (MT)…Original Profile
Eight Years Ago, October 22nd, 2014:Timothy Ray Murray (OK)
