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milestogo

(16,829 posts)
Sat Dec 17, 2016, 01:57 PM Dec 2016

For a president-elect that touts America First, Russian hacking poses a problem

Last edited Sat Dec 17, 2016, 04:04 PM - Edit history (1)

Presidents often are tested early, by unexpected crises or provocations by foreign adversaries. President-elect Donald Trump’s first test has come even before he is sworn in, and so far he has responded with denial, equivocation and deflection. The test has come over Russia’s brazen intrusion into the U.S. election process through its hacking of the servers at the Democratic National Committee and the email account of John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager.

Contrary to what Trump said this week, the Russian intrusion was known long before the election. The Post’s Ellen Nakashima reported in June that the Russians had penetrated the DNC network. Then on Oct. 7, intelligence officials publicly stated that the hacking had occurred, that the Russians were behind it and that “only Russia’s senior-most officials could have authorized these activities.” That was an obvious reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump may have missed the October announcement. He was preoccupied with the infamous “Access Hollywood” video, which The Post had released on the same afternoon. At the time, the video captured most of the media attention. It seemed to present a dire threat to Trump’s chances of winning the election. Trump weathered that storm and is a month away from being sworn in as president. Now he has a bigger problem awaiting him when he becomes president, one he seems resistant to addressing.

In the past week, intelligence officials have added to their findings, concluding that the motivation behind Russia’s hacking was to help Trump win. The findings about Russian interference and the motive behind their actions will not change the outcome of the election. On Monday, the electoral college’s electors will cast their votes in the states, and no doubt Trump will have his comfortable majority secured. Throughout the campaign, Trump described his philosophy as one of “America First.” He drew an enthusiastic response from his supporters for signaling that he would refocus U.S. foreign policy, both away from the course pursued for the past eight years by President Obama and seemingly by abandoning a broader consensus that has guided presidents of both parties for decades.

Throughout the campaign, Trump described his philosophy as one of “America First.” He drew an enthusiastic response from his supporters for signaling that he would refocus U.S. foreign policy, both away from the course pursued for the past eight years by President Obama and seemingly by abandoning a broader consensus that has guided presidents of both parties for decades. But if standing up to Russian attempts to interfere with American democracy isn’t a foundational principle of an “America First” policy, what is?

Trump’s response has suggested a different focus and different philosophy, one that might be described as “Trump First,” rather than “America First.” His instincts appear to be aimed at shielding himself.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/for-a-president-elect-that-touts-america-first-russian-hacking-poses-a-problem/2016/12/17/d18bedd4-c46f-11e6-8422-eac61c0ef74d_story.html?utm_term=.2db21e1b54a3

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