Finally seeing widespread use of the term Extortion instead of quid pro quo

[Iwasthere]

I have been posting for weeks my frustration with the confusing term that was being used for the dumbed down in this country. Extortion and Bribery! Stopping with the Latin quid pro quo. Make it sime!

[murielm99]

1. Yep.

[MFGsunny]

2. YES. YES. YES. Now THA'S perfect! n/t

[lagomorph777]

3. I still see many using the euphemisms "quid pro quo" and "bribery."

But yes, a little bit of penetration of the more accurate term "extortion."

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Bribery is being used intentionally because it's one of the specific reasons

for impeachment listed in the Constitution. For that reason they should keep using it, along with extortion.

[lagomorph777]

5. I get that, but it's way too weak to describe the actual act. "High Crimes" certainly include

"Extortion!"

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. If bribery is one of the specific crimes listed in the Constitution,

and extortion isn't, why not use bribery? A lot of people have gone to jail for bribery. Federal judges have been impeached for bribery. It's as good a crime as any for these purposes.

[lagomorph777]

7. It has to resonate emotionally. Extortion sounds horrible to any non-Russiapublican.

[kurtcagle]

10. Not the same things

Bribery is the grant of a reward to a person with an official role to subvert the employment of that role in the briber's case.
Extortion is the use of threats, including completion of already contracted agreements, in order to gain a material benefit.

Bribery: E Mr. Trump, we will approve your Turkish hotel chain permits if you reduce your country's military presence in Syria. T Sounds good to me.!

Extortion: T Mr. Zelinsky, about that aid that the previous administration approved. We'll send it, but only if you dig up a bit of dirt to me about my political opponents.

Of the two, bribery is the more complex, because you have to prove that a transaction, the quid pro quo, was in fact made. Bribery, on the other hand, has more legal jeopardy, because it is a deliberate corruption of the power vested in an individual by the state (or an organization).

My gut feeling is that Trump should have been prosecuted on RICO charges before he ever reached the stage of being a candidate, but he managed to keep enough of his dealings off the books that it took a while for much of this to come to light.

[lagomorph777]

11. I agree completely.

Bribery isn't really a euphemism for extortion, but it's being used as a way to avoid laying out the ugly truth.

[kimbutgar]

8. The only ones still using the quid pro quo are repukes

I’m glad Democratic songeesspeople and media are using easier language for people to understand. I mean how many average American person knows that Latin term? I hear them say it on fox and it doesn’t sound bad but if you say bribery and extortion they are easier to know from gangster crime syndicate movies and shows.

[gulliver]

13. It was like "no collusion," Trump's way to muddy the water and move goalposts around.

And I'm also glad we are using the terms extortion and bribery. I'm not seeing Republicans use those terms much, so that tells you something about how they play out for Republicans.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

9. I saw a Democrat on tv push back on that ...

Sorry, can't remember his name. It was on a CBS broadcast and he told the reporter that we need to stop using the Latin -- it's bribery and extortion.

[gulliver]

12. Yep, a US president known to favor your enemy's leader threatens to take away...

...the defense money you are entitled to by US law. Of course you are going to play ball. You have no choice. That's extortion.