Russia and white supremacists get a pass at Republican National Covention
One takeaway from this year's Republican National Convention is clear: America is a very dangerous and scary place. A dystopian theme continued all four nights, with dark descriptions of American cities ravaged by rioting, looters, gangs and hoodlums. President Donald Trump and other surrogates also spoke regularly about the nation's efforts to forcefully combat terrorism from extremist factions like the Iranian government and the Islamic State. But two major threats US intelligence and...
Trump's America is a very dangerous and scary place.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
One takeaway from this year's Republican National Convention is clear: America is a very dangerous and scary place.
A dystopian theme continued all four nights, with dark descriptions of American cities ravaged by rioting, looters, gangs and hoodlums.
President Donald Trump and other surrogates also spoke regularly about the nation's efforts to forcefully combat terrorism from extremist factions like the Iranian government and the Islamic State.
But two major threats US intelligence and law enforcement continue to warn about were strikingly missing from the GOP's condemnation: Russian Vladimir Putin's multi-front aggression and the continuing plague of white supremacy and other far-right extremism the FBI says poses a danger to the public.
Trump silent on injured troops
In the same week Republicans gathered to nominate Trump and Vice President Michael Pence for a second term, news broke that multiple US military personnel had reportedly been injured in Syria after being rammed by a Russia convoy
One US official told CNN the injuries occurred when one of the Russian vehicles apparently deliberately collided with the American vehicle, causing the crew to suffer "concussion-like injuries."
The Pentagon slammed Russia's military for what it called " deliberately provocative and aggressive behavior."
Although senior US military officials publicly condemned Russia's alleged aggression, Trump, Pence and the litany of Republicans speaking live at this year's convention were silent on the issue.
Throughout the week of festivities, Trump and other speakers repeatedly expressed their support for the military and frequently used images of troops in uniform as part of their partisan campaigning to project an air of patriotism, but none addressed reports that the Kremlin had been accused by the Pentagon of deliberately injuring American servicemembers.
In addition to this week's news about the US-Russia encounter in Syria, the President and his party were silent on reports that Russian military intelligence offered the Taliban bounties to kill US soldiers .
Trump has repeatedly downplayed the reports. However, the US military's top general in the Middle East said that, although the intelligence about Russian bounties of US troops was not necessarily strong enough to hold up in a court of law, "it was proved enough to worry me."
Although a cloud of suspicion over Trump's near uniform capitulation to Putin -- including frequently siding with the Kremlin over US intelligence agency claims about Russian election interference -- has hung over his first term as president, Trump's unwillingness to use his convention acceptance speech to call out Russian aggression stands in remarkable contrast to how former president and conservative hero Ronald Reagan used his public platform.
In both his 1980 and 1984 GOP convention acceptance speeches, Reagan laid into the Soviet Union, and blasted his Democratic predecessor for being weak towards Moscow.
"Our European allies, looking nervously at the growing menace from the East, turn to us for leadership and fail to find it," Reagan said in 1980, at once casting the Soviets as an enemy while also slamming President Jimmy Carter as soft on Kremlin aggression.
Ignoring some domestic threats
Throughout the week, Trump, Pence and other speakers regularly seized on unrest in some American cities, which has occurred against a backdrop of hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers to peacefully protest against racial injustice.
The President criticized Democratic leaders in cities where rioting and looting has occurred, as he attempted to portray a "law and order" message.
But one key theme throughout the week was cherry-picking by Trump and his surrogates in describing threats facing the homeland. Left unsaid was any forceful criticism of white supremacists, suspected militias, and other radical nationalists that authorities believe have been responsible for bloodshed under Trump's watch.
A vague reference to violence caused by suspected right-wing radicals came from Pence during his convention address, but he was widely criticized for grossly misleading the public. In his speech, Pence honored a law enforcement officer who was killed during unrest in that city in the wake of Floyd's death, but Pence failed to mention that the person suspected of killing the officer is believed to be a right-wing radical.
As the RNC was underway, a heavily armed 17-year-old, who some have described as a vigilante, was arrested and accused of homicide after allegedly opening fire on protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the police shooting of Black resident Jacob Blake. A lawyer for the shooter told NBC his client was acting in self-defense, but prosecutors are moving forward with charges of first-degree murder.
Both the shooting of Blake and the killing of protesters has fueled national outrage about excessive use of force by police and the ability of armed pop-up militias to take the law into their own hands and gun people down.
But as he ridiculed looters and gangs, Trump was silent about this national controversy playing out in the same week he accepted his party's presidential nomination.
This month also marked the one-year anniversary since a suspected white supremacist opened fire at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas . Twenty-three people were slaughtered and nearly two dozen injured after the shooter traveled over 600 miles to conduct a mass attack in the border community.
In January of this year, three suspected white supremacists were arrested and charged with multiple firearms and immigration-related offenses. Authorities believe they were planning to attend a pro-gun rally in Virginia, which was expected to draw a significant crowd of extremists.
Virginia, of course, was also ground zero for another controversy has hovered over Trump's presidency as questions continue to be raised about his apparent placating of violent actors who also represent a segment of his political base.
In 2017, violence erupted at a Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, which featured a large gathering of neo-Nazis, white supremacists, anti-Semites and pro-Confederates. A 32-year-old demonstrator was killed by a suspected white supremacist who drove his vehicle into a crowd of protesters.
Following the incident, widespread anger erupted in many parts of the nation after Trump described the racist gathering as including "very fine people on both sides."
Trump and his surrogates have insisted he's not a racist -- indeed, a significant amount of time was expended at the 2020 Republican National Convention by speakers using those very words in the President's defense .
However, despite their robust defense of Trump, and the President's claims of being tough on crime, neither Trump nor the slate of other Republican speakers used their platform at a national political convention to firmly call out white supremacists, which the FBI says remain a dangerous threat to the public.
And while Trump's Democratic rival, Joe Biden, has made right-wing extremism a campaign issue -- indicating the President's controversial response to Charlottesville caused him to challenge Trump for the presidency -- every American should wonder why it is the current occupant of the Oval Office hasn't made ending this kind of threat a priority.
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Trump's propaganda show failed to address actual serious problems confronting America. The Republican convention was a 4 day hoax.
Is the left still tied to that old warhorse argument about Russia. They might have tried to influence our election, but there is no evidence that they actually physically interfered. It's time for the left to give this phony argument up. The Dems should be more concerned about the Chinese government who let a world pandemic evolve under their corrupt leadership.
As far as white supremacists go, there aren't enough of them nationwide to make much of a difference in anything. The same can't be said of the left supported and equipped Antifa and BLM thugs who continue to hold fake protests and seem to enjoy setting fires and beating up on anyone who gets in their way. They seem to be well organized and financed.
There is no systemic racism in this country. But Obama stirred up the racial stew pot and it's been boiling ever since. A few bad cops caught in difficult situations with criminals resisting detainment doesn't make all cops bad.
The more these pointless violent "protests" continue, the worse it makes the spineless Democrats look. Citizens of all races deserve to be able to live and quiet, and the Democrats lack of condemnation of these domestic terrorists is cowardly and pathetic.
Says most white people. Funny how most minorities disagree isn't it Greg?
Total nonsense. The Rodney King beating was in 1992, it seems to be accelerating these past 4 years.
True, but one does wish you could be more specific.
I can name a number of them from the past few months who were not resisting arrest and were shot and killed in their own
apartments or choked out while handcuffed and completely in control...
Thanks for your opinion. You honestly think Democrats influence these violent thugs?
Wow!
Yes. Most of them align with democrats. Democrats have not condemned them, they have stayed silent, or have called the riots "myths". By doing so, these thugs think it is OK to continue to do what they are doing because they know democrats will support them and they will continue to get away with the violence as long as they keep it in democrat run cities.
Most of them align with democrats. Democrats have not condemned them
democrats will support them
Talk about myths. No one is buying that lunacy except brain dead Trump cultists.
Come on old friend, do you have links to anyone, GOP or Dems calling the Portland or Seattle mess a myth?
Did you miss Biden condemning the Portland looters and arsonists last month?
Did you miss Biden's condemnation of the Kenosha violence days ago?
Not likely, but there does seem to be a correlation with unemployment and the areas affected, dense urban cities.
As far as why there is unemployment and dissatisfaction with the status quo, that is a national issue tied to the POTUS
I do, actually. Quite possibly you missed it.
I think the status quo is tied to democrats that want to keep it the way it has been for decades. Therein lies the problem.
Conservatives enjoy the positive changes Trump has given over the past few years.
What a bunch of BS!
Indeed. We just endured 4 nights of Republican B.S.
Sickening, wasn't it?
Racially-motivated violent extremists elevated to "national threat priority," FBI director says
It's a national threat priority, but not to President Donald J. Hoax!
And more.
Alleged 'Boogaloo' extremist charged in killing of federal officer during George Floyd protest
Department of Homeland Security strategy adds white supremacy to list of threats
They are not the ones doing all the damage in Portland, Kenosha, etc. Biden supporters are.
Can you prove that?
Maybe they are just the fringe elements or commies as so many here are fond of charging,
but it is doubtful that any of them are active voters for either party.
Thanks Kavika. You posted 3 important links.
Very likely many of the violent criminals are radical right-wing provocateurs.
Really, wow that quite the accusation. It seems that the shooter and killer of two is a Trump supporter and there is plenty of proof of that.
It's quite a ridiculous accusation. Reactionary right wingers are full of it.
Republicans are FINALLY stating to tell their stories:
It is heartening and very welcome that so many decent, patriotic Republicans are speaking up in support of our country, and happily, in support of the Biden candidacy.
Thank you for this important link.
More right wing extremists inciting violence
Thanks for the links, damn whose right wing extremists.
Did you see this part of the article?
Here are a few more of the right-wing extremists.
Oh the irony...
A mentally deranged person of Mexican heritage who hears voices and could easily pass for a white person
deliberately killed a white motorcyclist he assumed was driving a Harley...
Racist? Deranged? definitely...
Politically motivated?
Really Sean?
Failed suicide by cop..........nothing more.
pissed off black dude in GA near the end of his patience...
Quite the conspiracy collection you got there Sean.
Good ones. 2017 and 2018.
You really make your case by having to go back years.
Quite the conspiracy collection you got there Sean.
Thanks, I'm doing my best to help the left wing here. Trying to help the narrative and stop worrying about facts like so many on the left.
Rather than digging up cases from years ago, I provided examples of recent right wing provocateurs obviously posing as left wingers. They are no doubt more of those white supremacists posing as supporters of BLM. Because if there's one thing the left on this site knows, all the violence, murder, arson and looting that have been taking place the last few months are done by right wingers. So add these examples to your conspiracy and thank me later.
Also, nice job rationalizing these crimes. You know the left wing is serious when they start claiming Hispanics can , "easily pass for a white person." sort like the New York times inventing the Term "white hipanic" to use against Zimmerman,
why would whether he can pass as white have any bearing on this? Are you that obsessed with race?
Thank you, I thought that they were. I wasn't aware there was a time frame for linked Right-Wing extremists. Ok, here is one from last month.
I hope that fits into your time frame.
Of course, there is El Paso and Charlotteville, probably way too old for your time frame.
You have a great evening now, ya hear.
Well, since all the violence that has taken place since George Floyd died has been committed by right wing supremacists or gullible left wingers who were tricked by them per NT, I thought that was the time frame to look at. Those tricky right wing supremacists and their looting and arson and throwing bricks at cops. But you are right, the conspiracy goes back farther. The guy who shot up the Congressional baseball game a few years ago must have been a white supremacist working under deep cover too.
Who knows how far the conspiracy goes? That communist Oswald was probably a secret right wing provocateur too, I bet.
ou have a great evening now, ya hear.
You too.
Taking sides in a game where all of the players are mentally ill
is simply not productive Sean.
It may be revealing about your own biases, but not relevant.
Have a great weekend, Sean.
I don't know that white supremacists are a big part of Trump's base, because it is unlikely there aren't enough of them to be that important. But people who feel and express white grievance are a sizable group and trump needs them badly, they are his base. These are the people who feel racial minorities want too much, want to move too fast , and are not "real Americans". Trump race grievers also feel that whites are the real victims of racial prejudice in modern America. Trump needs all of these people.
So he's not going to mention white supremacy or anything that appears to be siding with the minorities at his convention or anywhere else.