Rep. John Graham Altman has worked so hard at being aggressively offensive that his fellow House members tend to shrug off his outrage du jour.

But last week, he went on TV and implied that victims of domestic violence get what they deserve and arrogantly and repeatedly told a reporter she was ‘‘not very bright’’ because she asked a question he was either too lazy or unable to answer. ...

House Speaker David Wilkins, Judiciary Chairman Jim Harrison and other leaders have gone into overdrive trying to assure voters that Altman’s views don’t reflect those of the Judiciary Committee or the House; they pledge to revive the domestic violence bill whose defeat prompted the TV interview. ...

But passing a stripped-down domestic violence bill doesn’t undo the damage caused by Altman, who goes out of his way, time and time again, to insult, disparage and mock anyone with whom he disagrees. ...

Wilkins has condemned Altman’s comments; he should put his power behind his words and strip Altman of his prestigious Judiciary Committee post. And the full House should pass a resolution condemning Altman’s actions.

Altman might wear that as a badge of honor. But the rest of the House will have made an important statement about the decorum, respect and civility that is demanded of people who expect the public to address them as ‘‘the honorable.’’

The (Columbia) State

It wasn’t his

finest hour

Rep. John Graham Altman’s interview with WIS-TV’s Kara Gormley has been a hot topic in Columbia. Being questioned about his opposition to a domestic violence bill, Altman ridiculed Gormley as ‘‘not very bright’’ and said a solution to domestic violence is as simple as women not returning to men who abuse them.

No one should be surprised at Altman, a Charleston lawmaker and attorney. He’s always been controversial. Being questioned by Gormley about why he favors tougher penalties for cockfighting and not domestic violence set Altman off. It was not his finest hour, as even fellow Republicans are seeking political cover. ...

In this case, however, (Orangeburg Rep. Gilda) Cobb-Hunter and those pushing to increase the penalties for first- and second-offense criminal domestic violence may find reason to be happy about the furor that has followed Altman’s latest round of headlines. ...

Criminal domestic violence and the causes are not simple problems. Solutions are not simple. If the furor surrounding Altman’s comments can get those points through to many who just might agree with the Charleston lawmaker, the controversy over encounter between reporter and politician will be more than a source for town talk for a few days.

The (Orangeburg) Times and Democrat