For over three years, Russia has been an issue of great concern, if not panic, in our media. Back in 2018, FAIR (7/27/18) warned that if Bernie Sanders or another progressive movement picked up steam, corporate media would claim that “any challenge to the establishment is likely a Kremlin-funded astroturf effort.” For establishment Democrats, we wrote:
Russiagate allows them to ignore calls for change and not scrutinize why they lost to the most unpopular presidential candidate in history. Since Russia hacked the election, there is no need for introspection, and certainly no need to accommodate the Sanders wing or to engage with progressive challenges from activists on the left, who are Putin’s puppets anyway.
Despite being perhaps the major politics story of the last three years, Russiagate ultimately ended in a flop for those most committed to it. Robert Mueller’s extensive report found no collusion, and Donald Trump was not removed from office. Contrary to media narratives, the walls were not closing in on Trump, and he stands a strong chance of re-election in November.
Fortunately, there is a surging frontrunner candidate, overwhelmingly popular among Democratic voters and outpacing rivals among independents, who beats the president in 68 of 73 national head-to-head polls. Recently leaked audio of a private Trump conversation from 2018 also showed that Sanders was the one running mate Trump feared Hillary Clinton would choose in the 2016 election—“the only one I didn’t want her to pick.”
But for Democratic insiders, his early successes in the race for the nomination are an ominous sign that society is falling apart. Commenting on Sanders’ blowout in Nevada, former Clinton strategist James Carville told MSNBC (2/22/20): “The happiest person right now? It’s about 1.15 a.m. Moscow time. This thing is going very well for Vladimir Putin.” Host Nicole Wallace backed him up: “That’s absolutely right,” she replied. Why is Putin happy? Obama’s White House Communications Director, Dan Pfeiffer, explained to MSNBC’s Meet the Press (2/23/20) that the Russians “are trying to give Trump the opponent that Trump wants.”
In the Washington Post (2/21/20), unidentified “people” assserting that anonymous “US officials” are claiming that Russia is “attempting to help” the Bernie Sanders campaign in unspecified ways becomes, by the sixth paragraph, “the disclosure of Russian assistance to Sanders.”
In a much-publicized article, the Washington Post (2/21/20) also insinuated that Sanders was a Kremlin asset. It began by stating:
US officials have told Sen. Bernie Sanders that Russia is attempting to help his presidential campaign as part of an effort to interfere with the Democratic contest, according to people familiar with the matter.
President Trump and lawmakers on Capitol Hill also have been informed about the Russian assistance to the Vermont senator, those people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence. It is not clear what form that Russian assistance has taken.
Thus, the Post published a third-hand account of unspecified “Russian assistance” based on what unidentifiable people in Washington heard from anonymous “intelligence” sources.
At the risk of stating the obvious, it is the job of the covert security services to lie and manipulate. They are among the least trustworthy groups in the world, journalistically speaking, as part of their profession involves planting fake information. The only group less deserving of blind faith than spies would be anonymous spies. Yet the Post still decided to run with it, despite the fact media have recently been badly burned reporting fake news from faceless sources on Russia (FAIR.org, 12/3/18). Furthermore, the “help” the Post refers to is highly ambiguous, telling us nothing of the impact of the supposed assistance. Jumping up and down “helps” create earthquakes, while blowing on a brick wall might help blow it down. But the actions are virtually inconsequential.
Despite this, the poorly sourced, evidence-free and quickly walked-back report became the basis for endless stories linking Russia and Sanders. GQ (2/23/20), for example, asked its readers “why exactly does Putin love Bernie?” Vox (2/22/20) claimed that Sanders’ “chaos” was good for Russia and Trump. Meanwhile, the New York Times (2/24/20), disregarding all polling data, stated categorically: “Sanders would be Trump’s weakest opponent.” And why does Russia want Trump re-elected? A slew of articles (e.g. Politico, 2/23/20; USA Today, 2/23/20; New York Daily News, 2/23/20) repeated the line that it is because “he has essentially ceded the Middle East to Russian interests”—something which must come as a surprise to the families of the thousands of civilians killed by US airstrikes in the Middle East during the Trump administration.
Perhaps the real reason why the establishment opposes Sanders so much was accidentally revealed by national security advisor Robert O’Brien, who told ABC’s This Week (2/23/20) (again citing anonymous spooks):
What I heard from the FBI is that Russia would like Bernie Sanders to win the Democrat nomination and would probably like him to be president, understandably, because he wants to spend money on social programs and probably would have to take it out of the military.
Thus, as Aaron Maté argues in the Nation (2/25/20), “Moscow” is not a real place anymore, but a stand-in for a political agenda—more money for social programs, less money for war—that anonymous officials want to combat. As media have been unable to convince the electorate that a “moderate,” “pragmatic” candidate is best (FAIR.org, 7/17/19, 8/21/19), perhaps they can outsource the task to a mythical Moscow.
Intervention in the election on behalf of a foreign country doesn’t raise alarms when it’s not an official enemy (New York Times, 1/28/20).
At the same time that the political establishment is so concerned about potential, unproven interference, the open lobbying on behalf of another foreign government is a non-story. An AIPAC-linked Super PAC, Democratic Majority for Israel, has spent $1.4 million on anti-Sanders attack ads in Iowa and Nevada. When this is reported on (e.g., New York Times, 1/28/20), it is treated as business as usual—not as an occasion to hand-wring about foreign “meddling” in US elections.
Corporate media are doing their best to smear the progressive candidate that threatens their own business interests. Sanders, unlike Bloomberg, will likely not be spending billions on TV ads, and his ideas on taxing large corporations directly threaten them and their advertisers. Yet despite attempts to marginalize, smear or equate him with Donald Trump (FAIR.org, 6/27/19, 7/26/19, 1/24/20), he continues to rise in the polls. If media have had to revive Russia as a reason to explain Sanders’ victory, it means things are probably not going very well for them.
The Russiagate refuses to close
Good article
The blatant hypocrisy of some Americans is amazing! They accuse Russian leaders of meddling in their political processes while conveniently overlooking the fact that the US has used its nick name “the world’s policeman” to overthrow democratic governments and interfere in other nations around the world. This is not for the sake of protecting democracy and law and order, but to steal resources from other countries, extend its global political power and to further boost the huge profits of its large corporations – especially the armaments manufacturers. In doing so, it has friendly ties with Indonesia, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other right wing regimes as they commit disgraceful crimes against other peoples in their regions of the world I just hope that the American people elect a president who will work towards world peaces, social justice, human rights and adopts policies that effectively cut back the pollution that is causing climate change and massive health problems from pollution-related diseases. It is plainly obvious that the only presidential candidate dedicated to these values is Bernie Sanders. Trump has show very clearly that he scorns these values and is only interested in policies that favour fellow multi-billionaires. And most of the other Democrat contenders are little better.
You’re either a crypto Communist or a Bernie CULTIST. Not that there’s any difference.
So, you have NOTHING to add to the conversation, and you want everyone to know it.
Duly noted.
Its interesting that the mainstream media also blame the Russian’s for the reasons why many people in the US have concerns and question the safety of vaccinations or 5G. They refuse to look at the science themselves. According to a 2018 survey half the people surveyed in the Americas have concerns about vaccine safety. So what does mainstream media do–blame the Russians.
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/justice-for-nadia-sindi
My life with Liberal Klans in Oregon!!
Arab/Muslim Americans are treated less than animals! We are called Sand N…
We are being prosecuted in a daily basis! High tech lynching, institutionally racism! Especially for Arab women!!
Oregon late A.G. Dave Frohnmayer had my SS# blocked & prevented me from getting employed, made me homeless and jobless!
Dave Frohnmayer was the one who started & initiated the fraud of Foreclosed-houses & taking over our homes!
His bank robber Rep.Bob Ackerman, Doug McCool, UO Prof. Margaret Hallock. Hired Scarlet Lee/Barnhart Associates. Forged my family’s signature. Gave our fully paid Condo to the thief Broker Bob Ogle, his mom Karen Ogle was working in the USA Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She administered the power of attorney to have my sister signature, added her son to the deed. Sold without my signature!
Bob Ackerman had never responded to the Summon from the Court, and the sheriff never served me or arrested him either!!
ThIs is what kind of criminal government we have in Oregon!!
Arrest Rep. Bob Ackerman, Doug Mccool, Broker Bob Ogle, his mom Karen Ogle, Scarlet Lee/Barnhart Associates, UO Prof. Margaret Hallock, Wells Fargo
Both D.A. Doug Harcleroad, Alex Gardner told me they have NO JURISDICTION on Frohnmayer! Oregon criminal Officials are complicit with these crimes against me!
Both EPD, Lane County Sheriff Dept. and the FBI had been told to step down from investigating the bank robber Rep. Bob Ackerman & the rest of Lane County Criminal Officials are complicit with him!!
I ran five times for public offices! Voter Fraud & Sedition by Lane County government to protect & cover up for the two criminals Frohnmayer & Ackerman!!
Oregon government is complicit with their crimes!!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/justice4nadiasindi
http://www.davefrohnmayer.com
Please sign petition.
https://www.change.org/petitions/a-g-eric-holder-sent-jeff-merkley-gov-john-kitzhaber-investigate-abuse-of-power-and-criminal-forgery-by-former-oregon-a-g-david-frohnmayer-and-lane-county-government#share.
Dave Frohnmayer was going to kill me by sending some fabricated story after he called the manager where I used to live to tell her he was waiting for him to pick him up from the Airport!
From reliable sources at MSNBC:
Bernie Sanders is the source of coronavirus — from his penchant for biting off the heads of bats (and Bidens)
Geez major media—- Russia is kind of busy at the moment what with the crazy man in Turkey pretending that he’s Trump. Besides, America is the land of Endless non-winnable wars. Russia already learned that with Afghanistan———-just like Alexander the Great did—so there’s no way that America will realize that not only Afghanistan—but the ENTIRE Middle East is the graveyard for America’s said to be empire.
Bernie, on the other hand, is too busy working for WE the People to bother with the fantasies of Major Media who desperately want to turn America into a complete oligarchy—but really major media, We the SERFS just doesn’t play well in 21st century America
Okay, total kudos for pointing out how claims of “Russian support” are being used to smear Bernie Sanders and his campaign. BUT –
“Robert Mueller’s extensive report found no collusion”
No, no, NO! I am freaking sick to death of hearing that. It is flat out factually false.
What the report actually said was that investigators never addressed the issue of “collusion” because that was outside the range of the criminal investigation.
What it did find was there were well over 100 contacts between the Trump campaign and people connected to the Russian government, that Russia was trying to help the Trump campaign, and that the campaign knew of and welcomed the support (which, particularly considering that at least one of those contacts included providing internal campaign polling data, would seem to satisfy at least a colloquial understanding of “collusion”). And it found that Russia did try to influence the election (although there is no way of knowing if it made any difference at all).
However, lacking any evidence beyond a reasonable doubt of active coordination between Russia and the campaign, it could not find that it rose to the level of a criminal conspiracy.
Turning “can’t prove a criminal conspiracy” into “found no collusion” is utter bull. Yes, the Democratic Party establishment has used the specter of Russia to deflect attention from its own failings. And yes, we must not allow that specter to be used, as some Democrats already have tried, to push a new Cold War. But that is quite bluntly totally irrelevant to the facts of what the Mueller report found and, as Bernie said, “Truth is truth.”
Thank you, Larry!
I was about to write pretty much all of this.