JFK, Carter, Gore, Obama all we're accused of being Russian assets

[Gravitycollapse]

This is not new, nor is it disqualifying. We all need to get our heads on straight and move past the real Russian interference—letting them weaken our coalition.

[msongs]

1. now they are all known as the democratic establishment nt

[Gravitycollapse]

4. Thanks for bumping my post!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

2. Bernie is We The People's asset... that's ALL that fuckin' matters!!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[33taw]

5. Tad Davine.

[sheshe2]

17. Nina. Bri Bri, Siorta.

[brush]

3. Yeah, sure.

[pnwmom]

7. Funny you only posted TITLES about attempts by the Russians -- not full articles. The reason

is obvious.

Here's the Time magazine piece, for example.

https://time.com/4851449/trump-jr-russian-kennedy-history/

And, thanks in part to the public writings of a former Soviet intelligence officer, which the authors cite, it is believed that Russian operatives even attempted to contact Kennedy campaign officials during the 1960 election, only to be denied.

[Gravitycollapse]

8. Google them. They are real. I'm just on my phone.

[pnwmom]

9. I did. And the Time piece said this:

And, thanks in part to the public writings of a former Soviet intelligence officer, which the authors cite, it is believed that Russian operatives even attempted to contact Kennedy campaign officials during the 1960 election, only to be denied.

There weren't computer systems to be hacked in that era, so all they could do if they wanted to support a candidate was to contact them or their associates.

Now all they have to do is hack into a state election system, or fill social media with bots.

[Gravitycollapse]

10. So it confirms Russians tried to push JFK in the election.

Thanks for pointing that out.

[pnwmom]

11. It confirms Russia tried to contact Kennedy or his team and were DENIED access.

Russia doesn't have to contact Bernie or his team to help. They can simply continue to hack election systems and fill social media with pro Bernie memes.

[Gravitycollapse]

12. So you've confirmed the claim in my OP.

That how Russia acts should have no influence on how we vote or who we support. Unless you feel that any of those candidates should also have been disqualified because of Russian intervention.

[pnwmom]

13. No. It should make us more vigilant and thoughtful, knowing that we are likely to encounter

Russian propaganda on social media and elsewhere.

[Gravitycollapse]

14. Agree 100%.

[pnwmom]

16. I also worry that the KGB was following him the entire time, and they collected

videos they could use to frighten American voters, videos where he spoke positively about socialism.

They were known for creating dossiers on American politicians and businessmen who visited there. We should expect they have something on Bernie.

[uponit7771]

24. False equivalence noted, Russia TRIED to help the linked but Russia .. IS .. helping Sanders ..

... you know this. just stop

[Gravitycollapse]

25. I don't care if you want me to stop. That's not how this works.

[uponit7771]

26. We agree, I know how deflection works including proffering false equivalencies.

[doxyluv13]

15. It's part of the playbook.

nt

[AlexSFCA]

18. it is true that putin wanted Obama to win in 2008

not only to saw racial discourse but he hated mccain and bush so much. But it didn’t matter back then. the digital age was just unraveling at the time.

[yuiyoshida]

19. YES but Trump REALLY IS a Russian Asset...

In fact he enveys Putin's style government and wants this country to be more like Russia...
of Course he is happy the Russians are helping him... they are giving him lots and lots of cash.

Trump thinks Bernie is an easy defeat... Plus the Russians will help. Than there is that pesky
Electoral College. What ever they decide will be how it will be. They scare me the most. What if they choose Trump again? Will our candidate fold like a bad Poker hand?

scary stuff.

[Democrats Ascendant]

20. How does this even begin to help???

If you have to do clean up on aisle 1, then you can't focus on restocking aisles 2-14....

Sorry, but worst post ever.....

[uponit7771]

21. Link to any of them staying quite about Russia helping their campaigns? False equivalency noted

[Gravitycollapse]

22. The "stayed quiet" narrative only exists on DU.

[uponit7771]

23. Link and quote Sanders smartly denouncing Russia's help for his campaign? That 'stayed quiet'

... exist in reality.

[thesquanderer]

32. Did JFK ever announce that they tried to help him?

Yeah, he turned them down. No one is saying that Sanders accepted help either. (Though yes, it is easier today, with social media, for bad actors to "help" all on their own.)

But I have still not seen anything definitive about what Sanders was or was not authorized to say at the time. Nor any informed analysis of what he should or shouldn't have done differently. Nor whether anyone else who knew should have made any kind of public reveal. Nor (perhaps tellingly) have any of the other candidates criticized him over this. Honestly, it seems almost like a stereotypical "internet conspiracy theory." I'll be curious to see if/how it might come up and tomorrow's debate, whether from a moderator or another candidate.

But also, as I typed elsewhere...

If the report was that Russia is doing things (supposedly) in support of Bernie in order to sow discord... Well, you know, Sanders kinda DID say recently that some of the negative stuff attributed to his supporters may not actually be coming from his supporters. That could possibly have been something of a reveal here.

And what happened when he said that? The anti-Sanders people got on him for THAT. If he had said "I've heard reports that it could even be Russians behind some of these things that are sowing discord," would that have been better? worse? the same?

Face it, the people here who don't like Bernie will find fault in ANY path he takes.

And ironically... that's probably just what Russia wants.

[uponit7771]

33. Again, "tried" vs "is" Russia ... IS .... help Sanders they're not trying

[Vogon_Glory]

27. Being a knowing, co-operative Russian asset OUGHT to be disqualifying

Last edited Mon Feb 24, 2020, 09:19 AM - Edit history (1)

We have one such asset currently in the Oval Office and others spread throughout the Executive Branch.

So we should pretend that the Russians aren’t doing such things because—Bernie?

[tirebiter]

28. Posting articles and not knowing what they say definitely proves something

Just not what the op intends to prove.

[Duppers]

29. Big difference: JFK, Carter, Gore, Obama were NOT

Assets. TRump is a provable ASSET.

Bernie is NOT an ASSET but knows Russia wants to help him be the Democratic nominee.

There is NO a parallel to be drawn here.

[betsuni]

30. +1

[Renew Deal]

31. The difference is that they weren't accepting of Russian assistance

Though it was much harder to accept back then.

[NurseJackie]

34. And none of them proudly proclaimed themselves as avowed Socialists.

This is not new, nor is it disqualifying

No, what's disqualifying is keeping silent about it for a month. Sanders was just caught red-handed, with his pants down, holding a smoking gun...failing to timely disclose that he knew of Russia's meddling on his behalf. That's a huge blow to his reputation as a straight shooter. He knew Russia was trying to help him, and he said nothing. This was a test of leadership and integrity and Bernie failed it... BIG TIME! In my mind, he does not deserve to be POTUS. He's disqualified. He should withdraw now. We deserve better.

[nsd]

35. Bill Clinton too, in 1992.

[link:https://www.theguardian.com/world/1992/oct/09/usa.martinwalker|