David Corn: Comey Forces Trump Defenders Into Extreme and Absurd Spin

[babylonsister]

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/06/comey-statement-trump-defenders-absurd-spin/


Comey Forces Trump Defenders Into Extreme and Absurd Spin
They refuse to acknowledge the former FBI chief’s damning indictment of the president.

David Corn
Jun. 7, 2017 8:25 PM



The release of former FBI director Jim Comey’s prepared text for his upcoming congressional testimony has created a moment of crisis for Republicans and conservatives. And many are failing the challenge. Their reactions are revealing a profound dishonesty that far exceeds the norms of usual political spin, and are demonstrating that the Trumpified quarters of the GOP and the conservative movement are intellectually bankrupt and devoid of principle. These partisans now stand naked, and it sure ain’t pretty. It’s also a bad sign for the health of our constitutional democracy.

Comey’s statement is a troubling, just-the-facts account of his interactions with President Donald Trump. By now, everyone knows the big picture: Trump, in this recounting, demanded an oath of fealty from the supposedly independent FBI director, pressed him to “lift the cloud” cast over the Trump White House by the ongoing Russia investigation, and leaned on Comey to quash a FBI investigation into Michael Flynn, Trump’s first national security adviser. Comey’s statement also notes that he did tell Trump several times that the president himself was not under investigation (at least not at the time of these conversations).

Comey’s account is a damning indictment of the president. It depicts a stark abuse of power, as Trump tried to recruit the FBI chief as a member of his political crew and pushed him to smother the probe of a close associate. It also contradicts Trump’s public statement that he did not pressure Comey to let Flynn off the hook. (Yes, according to Comey, Trump lied.) Here we have a president prevaricating and perverting justice, not defending the Constitution. Some legal observers have declared this evidence of obstruction of justice—especially when paired with Trump’s explanation that he pink-slipped Comey in part because of the “Russia thing” (not to mention his Oval Office statements to Russian officials that his firing of Comey eased pressure on him from the FBI’s investigation).

So how are Republicans and conservatives who support the president contending with this disturbing portrait of Trump? Some have declared victory or insisted there’s nothing worrisome in this picture.

snip//

In any world not governed by the need to defend Trump at all costs, the Comey statement would be devastating in the eyes of all. Comey’s tale calls into question the president’s understanding and allegiance to the rule of law. It casts Trump as a liar and a scoundrel who engaged in action that might even be illegal. Republicans and Trump defenders cannot accept the true meanings of this text. To do so would be to acknowledge too much. They have to distort reality and embrace dishonesty to deny the statement’s significance and its newsworthiness, to dismiss it as nothing, or to cherry-pick the few lines that partially support Trump’s previous assertions. Consequently, they have to bare their worst to protect their president. Trump has forced them into an ugly act of self-abuse that cheapens them and abets a dangerous erosion of constitutional democracy.


https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/06/comey-statement-trump-defenders-absurd-spin/

[rockfordfile]

1. Obstruction of justice

[CousinIT]

2. THIS. THIS. THIS. SO. MUCH. THIS....

Conclusion of the article (also included in the OP) - perfect summation!

"In any world not governed by the need to defend Trump at all costs, the Comey statement would be devastating in the eyes of all. Comey’s tale calls into question the president’s understanding and allegiance to the rule of law. It casts Trump as a liar and a scoundrel who engaged in action that might even be illegal. Republicans and Trump defenders cannot accept the true meanings of this text. To do so would be to acknowledge too much. They have to distort reality and embrace dishonesty to deny the statement’s significance and its newsworthiness, to dismiss it as nothing, or to cherry-pick the few lines that partially support Trump’s previous assertions. Consequently, they have to bare their worst to protect their president. Trump has forced them into an ugly act of self-abuse that cheapens them and abets a dangerous erosion of constitutional democracy."

[Eyeball_Kid]

3. The GOP defends Trumpy "at all costs" because of self-interest. The GOP leadership

is guilty of taking Russian laundered money for their campaigns last year. They all have their hands in the Russian Cookie Jar.

[Zorro]

4. The entire Republican Party is a criminal conspiracy against the American people and our democracy

and has been for years.

[Mme. Defarge]

9. Yup.

[MiddleClass]

5. Keep fighting, the more you fight

The more normal people will say your lying,

the further down they go in the polls.

Some more. They will not come back, or more specifically, they will be let back

[FairWinds]

6. This is how banana republics . .

begin.

[LuckyLib]

7. Trumpie and the boys are playing chess in the big leagues now. And they are in

wa-a-a-ay over their heads. Let the games begin!

[mdbl]

8. Couldn't have said it better

without cussing up a storm.

[wiggs]

10. When do we get to ask about collusion, money laundering, compromat, sanctions, russian

oligarches, emoluments, etc etc?

The whole Russia range of issues is NOT only about loyalty pledges and obstruction. There's so much more.

Yet...we are spending all our time on obstruction. Hope someone is working on all the rest. It's not the House.

[Major Nikon]

11. Trump is swirling the bowl

Good riddance to all the other turds that follow him down.