Obama on DNC hack: 'Experts attribute this to the Russians'

[Cali_Democrat]

Source: Politico

President Barack Obama is not ruling out Russia and Vladimir Putin being responsible for the hack of the Democratic National Committee servers that resulted a massive leak of around 20,000 emails.

Asked by NBC News' Savannah Guthrie on Tuesday whether Russia is behind the hack and release of information and whether they're trying to interfere with the U.S. elections, Obama noted that the FBI is still investigating but also that "experts have attributed this to the Russians."

"What we do know is that the Russians hack our systems. Not just government systems, but private systems. But you know, what the motives were in terms of the leaks, all that- I can't say directly," Obama said. "What I do know is that Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin."

Guthrie responded, "Sounds like you're suggesting that Putin might be motivated to prefer Trump in the White House?"

"Well-- I am basing this on what Mr. Trump himself has said. And I think that-- Trump's gotten pretty favorable coverage-- back in Russia," Obama said.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/obama-dnc-hack-russia-226246

[Doodley]

1. Excellent! This story is going to run and grow until election day!

[RapSoDee]

23. The Russian-Republican Cabal attacks America

Disgraceful betrayal by the Republicans their new Chickenhawk leader, Comrade Trump.

[asiliveandbreathe]

2. I have never liked savannah G -

or Andrea - or erin Burnette or s e cupp the ballerina - savannah - you are no journalist..if you think you can put words in prez Obamas mouth - well cupcake - please proceed..totally beyond your level of intellect..

[blue neen]

7. It's quite interesting that everyone you named is a woman. Could you explain why, please?

Oh, and by the way, the term "cupcake" is sexist.

[asiliveandbreathe]

9. I AM a woman - and have no problem calling it like it is..

I don't like chuckie or wolfie or orally or beck - sexist my ass.is that better? = I was commenting within the context of this post....they are no edw r murrow..and I am not sexist..calling it for what they are...drama queens...

[blue neen]

11. Calling women "cupcake" is sexist...

And you're not really making a good case by calling them "drama queens", either.

[asiliveandbreathe]

15. oh pleez - enjoy your evening..I'm not into a pithing contest..

bigger fish to fry...this has been a great day - hope yours has too!!!!

[asiliveandbreathe]

10. I use cupcake for women and men - mostly men though..

sexist..?? that is funny....

[blue neen]

13. Yeah, "funny" how you only used the term here on women.

[asiliveandbreathe]

16. LOL

[blue neen]

17. I know!!!

Sexism is a real knee-slapper! I mean, you basically said they're stupid, too, in Post #2. That's hilarious!

[uawchild]

3. Lol. President Obama has such a great delivery!

Sparkling wit and wonderful comedic timing, the President skewered Trump!

I am still laughing. Lol

[avaistheone1]

4. DNC malfeasance is attributed to the DNC.

The Ruskies didn't do that.

[wysi]

6. You're missing the point

n/t

[avaistheone1]

14. The point is the DNC a democratic organization should be good stewards of the trust that is

placed in them, obey their own bylaws and not give the Russians or anyone else anything embarrassing to uncover or hack about themselves.

[blue neen]

18. So, the Russians are completely innocent here?

Surely, that's not what you're saying!

[avaistheone1]

21. I never said that.

If you don't like what happened blame the DNC. Lesson for DNC: Don't do unethical, illegal s**t you don't want others to know about. We don't know factually whether the Russians hacked the story or not. The Russians and the US have spied on each other for decades, nothing new here. I actually think some are anxious to start a new cold war with Russia. Like we are not spending enough on MIC already.

What is new in this story is the DNC undermining the candidacy of one candidate over another.

[wysi]

24. They didn't "do" anything of the sort

Although some of them did discuss doing something quite unethical, which was not only stupid, but really should have gotten them fired (if it hasn't already).

[avaistheone1]

30. Oh yes they did.

They conspired how to diminish one candidates support over another in a very negative troubling way. That is not their mission. The DNC is tasked as a neutral organization.

[wysi]

31. They discussed it

And the plan was not carried out. I fully agree that the individuals involved should be fired for discussing such a thing, but if there was evidence of more sinister or extensive plots lurking in those emails, I'm guessing Wikileaks would have ensured we heard all about it by now, bless their little hearts.

[SammyWinstonJack]

33. Exactly.

[blue neen]

36. Yeah, that's pretty much what you're saying....

just not with those actual words. Got it.

What's new here is that if Donald Trump and Paul Manafort have been colluding with the Russians in any way, then we have a big ol' instance of treason going on. Nobody is "anxious to start a new cold war with Russia", but what term would you give to the Russians who are hacking into not just the DNC, but banks, credit card companies, and the computers of ordinary Americans?

I can think of a word. It starts with rat.....

[karynnj]

8. Two separate types of malfeasance

1) which is likely not even illegal - though undemocratic and wrong - is the DNC's preference for HRC -- which very likely was not even needed to secure her win.

2) The second type was the hacking of the account and leaking the emails to wikileaks. These actions ARE illegal and are the actions of both Wikileaks and whoever hacked it --- most likely the Russians.

[avaistheone1]

12. Actually

to act against ones own bylaws is illegal regardless of whether the DNC preferred candidate would have won or not. In addition it is unethical and violation of trust.

[sofa king]

39. It can be a lot more illegal than mere hacking.

If the Trump people worked with the Russians by changing the Republican platform to benefit the Russians--and they did change the platform--and they were compensated for it by the release of the emails--and the Russians did hack the emails, then I'm pretty sure that runs directly aground on espionage laws. This is, after all, an election of the Commander-in-Chief, and therefore squarely within the definition of the "national defense."

We're now nearly certain that both things happened. All that's missing is the agreement for compensation. To encourage rolling over on their co-conspirators, accomplices are to be punished according to the high crime itself--life imprisonment would be immediately bandied about.

Someone's gonna talk. We'll probably know by the small plane accident announcement.

[Rex]

19. True, but the timing of the release was meant to damage the DNC and hurt our chances of winning.

That is straight up Russia and their clandestine operations to hurt NATO and the USA. Trump probably got told by his Russian mob buddies to push the email issue or else.

[Hekate]

5. Thank you Mr President!

[Pharaoh]

22. DWS and the DNC

were caught red handed and now their telling us, the Russians made us do it.

What a bunch of crap.......

[wysi]

25. Again, missing the point

Does it concern you that the Russians are interfering with the election?

[liberal N proud]

28. Too busy fighting little battles

Too thick to see the real danger.

[Pharaoh]

32. they and we do it all the time

Don't be naive about that.

Did the DNC and DWS manipulate the democratic process?

[LoverOfLiberty]

42. I haven't seen that they did

A few nasty emails doesn't equate to manipulate.

[modem77]

34. Glad they uncovered the truth however painful it may be.

In the end these are self inflicted wounds for the DNC.

[avaistheone1]

26. I am wondering if there are forces within our own government stirring up this Russian angle

to help reignite the Cold War with the Ruskies.

That is my gut instinct is this is the case.

[LanternWaste]

40. Where specifically did anyone state "the Russians made us do it?

Where specifically did anyone directly state or even merely imply "the Russians made us do it?" Or (and I find this more likely) was your creative re-telling simply melodrama in place of substance?

A bunch of crap, indeed.

[Pharaoh]

41. Basically

they were caught, whether the Russians or anyone else pointed it out is irrelevant.

[liberal N proud]

27. Now maybe this story will get legs

[MBS]

29. video here

http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/president-obama-on-russian-dnc-hack-involvement-anything-s-possible-732675139636

[Calista241]

38. Nice thought, but if the extent of the angle is

"Trump once said that he admired Putin," I don't think it's serious enough to go anywhere. And Obama once treated Putin the same way, with the whole reset button and what not.

And tomorrow Trump's gonna get up there and say "I haven't ever talked to Putin, and I don't even know any Russians. But I read an article once, and Putin's not a bad guy."