Why Some Leftists Are Defending Donald Trump’s Ties to Russia

[geek tragedy]

(hint: same 'leftists' that hate Clinton and Obama)

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/why-some-leftists-defend-trumps-ties-to-russia.html

It is the other half of the equation that is more opaque. Putin is helping Trump, but what exactly is Trump giving him in return? As Foer notes, Trump’s habit of refusing to pay back people who loan him money means regular American banks won’t lend him money anymore, making him dependent on unusual sources of financing. He has cultivated deep personal and financial ties with Russia — and to do major business with Russia, unlike a reasonably free economy, is to do business with its ruling claque. Trump’s campaign manager, Paul Manafort, helped orchestrate Putin’s intervention in Ukraine. His Russia adviser Carter Page has deep ties to Russia and owns stock in Gazprom, the state-controlled firm that is a major source of the Kremlin’s financial and economic power. Michael Flynn, another Trump adviser, appears regularly on RT and refused to answer questions about whether he is paid to do so. Trump and Putin have exchanged lavish compliments.

Trump’s own financial ties to Russia are completely non-transparent and will remain so as long as he refuses to release his tax returns. With a normal candidate, the Russia connection would amount to a massive, disqualifying scandal. At minimum, the nominee would face overwhelming pressure to release his tax return — a standard requirement even without grounds for suspicion — to prove he is not getting paid by a hostile foreign power. To be clear, it is pretty improbable that Trump is literally working for Putin. But this hardly settles the question. First, for a risk as consequential as the willful penetration of the American government by a hostile power, “pretty improbable” is not improbable enough. Second, the more likely explanation for the web of ties between Trump and Putin is still fairly damning. You have a candidate with a long record of admiring despots in general and the Russian despot in particular, surrounded by advisers in his pay, and who is flamboyantly ignorant of policy. Given these circumstances, it would be hard to imagine how Trump could form views on Russia without Putin’s influence.

But the accusation that Trump’s relationship with Russia reeks of impropriety, in the media now by Clinton, has provoked a furious counterattack on the left. Even the indisputable notion that Russia is trying to help Trump (far from the more explosive charge that Trump is trying to help Russia) has been assailed on the left as “McCarthyism” by figures like Katrina vandenHeuvel, Glenn Greenwald, and many others.

...


Trump’s pro-Russia tilt has reenergized these Cold War tropes. The left-wing writer Corey Robin heartily endorses the Republican nominee’s statement that “When the world sees how bad the United States is and we start talking about civil liberties, I don’t think we are a very good messenger.” And in response to liberals aghast at Trump’s renunciation of upholding America’s commitment to NATO, Robin sneers at “the prospect of sending the US military off to fight Putin or whomever it is we’re now supposed to be willing to fight over NATO.” To clear up Robin’s apparent confusion, “whomever it is we’re now supposed to be willing to fight over NATO” is in fact whoever invades the members of NATO, all of whom are pledged to defend each other in the event of an attack. And “now” is in fact since NATO was formed in 1949.

...

Update: The Nation has an editorial denouncing defending Trump’s relationship with Russia, under the headline “Against Neo-McCarthyism.” The Nation’s in-house Russophile Stephen F. Cohen echoes those views. The editorial hinges upon a loose definition of “McCarthyism,” a term I would use to mean “false accusations of disloyalty,” but which The Nation uses to mean “any accusation of being in agreement with Russia, whether true or not.”

The editorial asserts, “nobody has conclusively proven who hacked into the DNC’s network.” “Conclusive proof” is a pretty difficult standard, in the absence of a signed, notarized confession from Vladimir Putin. What we do have is the strong belief of experts both inside and outside the American government.

The editorial likewise argues that poor Trump is being smeared because he wisely opposes arming Ukraine:

Defending Trump's affinity for Russia's plutocratic, fascistic dictator is a what is known as a "tell."

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

1. Problem of it is Russia is anything but leftist these days

Probably more nationalistic fascist.

[geek tragedy]

3. That's the thing, there is absolutely nothing leftist or progressive about Putin or Russia for that

matter.

So, why do some people routinely circle the wagons around Russia and complain about "McCarthyism" when it's rightwing plutocrats and fascists being bashed?

Have not seen a good answer to that, not one that seems more plausible than Gazprom money.

[David__77]

2. I think the solution is detente, not schmoozing or Cold War.

...

[geek tragedy]

4. agreed, but this behavior was gross when it was from a rightwing ally of the US (Israel's Netanyahu)

these 'progressives' had no trouble decrying Netanyahu and Ron Dermer over their interference with the Iran deal.

But, when rightwing Russia, an antagonist to the US, hacksUS political parties and tries to influence our presidential election? Time to circle the wagons.

[Cha]

17. Yeah, fine.. just don't be hacking our DNC to influence US elections.

[Koinos]

5. K & R

[Starry Messenger]

6. I don't get it either.

They've been stone cold capitalist since before I left college. The anti-NATO thing seems like a hangover from old Soviet-era politics. I know some leftists who are into this position, and it leads them to some dark and weird stances.

The nearest I come to understanding it is that since some left-wing countries do business with Russia, there is a feeling they (leftists) need to also like Russia. I don't feel that need myself--I don't even like all of the countries *we* do business with.

[geek tragedy]

9. I'm guessing Trump isn't the only person with financial ties to Russia. nt

[Starry Messenger]

16. This.

[sufrommich]

7. There's no shortage of useful idiots left and right. nt

[geek tragedy]

8. Greenwald got the vapors over someone calling Trump Russia's useful idiot, said it was red-baiting

Amazing how lifelong libertarian xenophobes all of a sudden become so protective of Russia and so sensitive to Cold War nuances when the Kremlin turns gangster capitalist.

[think]

10. Greenwald doesn't support Trump.

[geek tragedy]

13. he says he doesn't, but then defends Trump and Putin and attacks Clinton regularly

He's a notorious Putin apologist.

[Cha]

18. Yeah, "says" one thing and does another.

[NCTraveler]

15. He attacks progressives and often provides cover for the right.

He has a long record of it.

[sufrommich]

11. Yeah,this love affair with the very conservative Putin

government is indeed strange.

[BobbyDrake]

12. Watch your back for the polonium, Donald! nt

[NCTraveler]

14. We have extreme authoritarians masquerading as if they are part of the left.

[Cha]

19. Thank you for this, geek..