When we do media training at Bottom Line Communications we cover a multitude of topics including how to work effectively with the various news media outlets, tips on how to dress, answer questions, etc.

We really don’t tell clients that they shouldn’t go tell the media to F-off.

But maybe we should add a section on that issue after seeing where a Senatorial candidate in Washington told a blog reporter to do exactly that in utter frustration.

In fact, Republican hopeful Michael Baumgartner not only told the reporter to intercourse himself (which might be a challenge), but after his staff tried to apologize for his gaffe, he retracted the apology and said the reporter had it coming,  according to The Blaze (LINK).

Baumgartner was frustrated that Josh Feit of the political blog PubliCola was more interested in discussing controversial remarks by Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin on rape rather than Baumgartner’s platform of ending the war in Afghanistan.  Baumgartner previously did diplomatic work in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the AP.

Feit said he received an email from Baumgartner Monday night containing a photo of Baumgartner with someone who recently died in Afghanistan.   “Josh, this is Pat Feeks, a Navy SEAL killed last week in Afghanistan. Take a good look and then go (expletive) yourself,” the email stated.

“The issue here is not whether a bad word was said or not,” Baumgartner later told KIRO. “Maybe it angers people, maybe it doesn’t. Trust me, the guy had it coming. The issue here is the ongoing war in Afghanistan and the complete lack of leadership of bringing that war to a close.”

Yes, we realize that the reporter was a bit of a weenie for whining about being called a bad word and then going public with it, but we still believe in the old adage you never argue with someone who buys their ink by the barrel (or whatever bloggers do these days).