The alleged Russian assistance......

[guillaumeb]

Sanders has been polling well, and seems to be attracting more support from non-white voters.

If Putin is backing Trump for President, and sees Sanders as a strong candidate, would it not be in his interest to attack Sanders by initiating contact with the goal of weakening Sanders and making Democrats suspicious of each other?

If Putin sees Sanders as a threat, eliminating Sanders, or weakening his support, would allow the next candidate to come forward.

My view is that, absent any actual proof that Sanders, or anyone connected to his campaign, solicited help from Putin, this could easily be part of Putin's disinformation strategy to weaken and demoralize Democrats.

[nobuddy]

1. What?

This is the first I’ve heard of this.

[Squinch]

2. And why did he do it in 2016?

[guillaumeb]

9. Will we now hear again about the masses of Sanders supporters

who voted for Stein?

[Squinch]

18. Does that have something to do with my question?

[guillaumeb]

29. Simply asking.

[sheshe2]

72. Nah.

I will just post ya a picture.

[maximusveritas]

82. Russia is interested in stirring up division. Who better than the Bernie Bros to do that?

Russian trolls can fit in easily with that crowd just as with the MAGA clowns.
Also, both Bernie and Trump were and are disruptive candidates who have naive isolationist views about reducing our influence around the globe (and thus allowing for Russian influence to grow), so both would be easy choices for Russia to support.

[Squinch]

84. And BS is easiest for Filthy Donnie to beat.

[rzemanfl]

3. Nah. n/t

[IluvPitties]

4. I trust our intelligence officials.

[bullimiami]

60. After so much purging and installing of cronies, Im skeptical.

[UniteFightBack]

67. It's good to see the Russians are succeeding. nt

[IluvPitties]

73. Deep State much?

[gollygee]

70. Yes

If they say it's happening, it's happening. They are doing their job. People need to stop disbelieving things simply because they don't want them to be so.

[Mike 03]

5. Nobody is claiming Bernie solicited help.

At least I haven't heard or seen anyone do that.

As for "alleged," don't you believe our intelligence agencies?

[Gravitycollapse]

10. Some are "*wink* *wink*" implying it.

[Cha]

34. No.. BS didn't ask for it.. the point is, that from the

report, Russia Is helping him.

[LakeArenal]

59. People refuse to hear that.

But it happened and what has anyone done to stop it this time... Not Dump
Not McConnell.

Edit to add: Facebook could help. But... Nope.

[UniteFightBack]

68. I've seen nothing of the sort, and if so are an extreme minority trying to push buttons. nt

[doc03]

6. We will never know for sure since Trump has shut down any investigation

into Russian election interference.

[Gravitycollapse]

7. Definitely possible.

[George II]

8. The thing is they probably don't see him as a strong candidate. If you wanted trump to win....

....wouldn't you prop up what you thought was the weakest candidate?

It's done in primaries every four years by many Americans - either vote for what one perceives to be a weak candidate of the other party in open primaries or temporarily switch parties and do so.

[Mike 03]

12. I agree with this.

Also, in the exceedingly unlikely event Bernie won, he voted against the Magnitsky Act, which is probably Putin's number one obsession: the get rid of it.

[guillaumeb]

14. But if this alleged help was so easily revealed,

what would be Putin's goal?

[Squinch]

24. Again: what was Putin's goal when he did it in the last election? According to this logic

it was because he really wanted Hillary to win the primary.

Is that what you are suggesting?

[guillaumeb]

26. I cannot answer for Putin.

Nor can I explain his long term goal, other than to wage asymmetric warfare against the US in order to divide us.

[Gravitycollapse]

15. Yes. And they might also harm the strongest candidate.

Russia knows it's being watched. Its actions are almost certainly a reflection of that fact.

[ibegurpard]

11. maybe

But we're just speculating. Bernie needs to explain why didn't say anything when he found out about it. Was it classified info? OK I can accept that. But right now we're just speculating which is pointless.

[guillaumeb]

23. Agreed.

At this point, we have allegations.

[Squinch]

25. At this point we have an intelligence community report. We're not trump. We usually believe those.

[tishaLA]

13. This hinges on the idea that Putin believes

the junior senator from VT is "a strong candidate" and "a threat," but we have no reason to believe that's the case. We don't know what information Putin and GRU have, what their playbook is, and how vulnerable they see him.

[guillaumeb]

17. But that brings up the argument as to why Putin would support, or offer support,

to Sanders if Putin did not feel Sanders is the strongest threat?

[tishaLA]

21. Sowing division among Democrats and creating chaos.

I remember the convention in Philadelphia and would point to that as evidence that it works.

[guillaumeb]

28. I agree.

And the US cannot do it to Putin because he runs the country like Trump would love to run this country.

[JudyM]

56. And at an opportune time.

[Squinch]

27. Because he is the easiest for Trump to beat and Putin wants trump for another term.

[nobuddy]

42. Source?

For Sanders being the easiest to beat.

[Qutzupalotl]

51. Here's one.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287502598

[nobuddy]

55. That's not a poll

[Qutzupalotl]

57. Polls before release of the oppo research are not indicative

of the state of the race afterwards.

[nobuddy]

58. That makes sense.

Perfect sense.

[sheshe2]

77. This comes to mind.

Link to tweet

McSally is already using the label in AZ against Astronaut Mark Kelly, Gabby Giffords husband.

[NurseJackie]

16. Oh, honey! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

He's not trying to eliminate Bernie... he's helping him. He knows that Bernie will be easy to defeat.

My view is that, absent any actual proof that Sanders, or anyone connected to his campaign, solicited help from Putin, this could easily be part of Putin's disinformation strategy to weaken and demoralize Democrats.

Irrelevant. He kept it secret. That's bad enough. A real leader would have come forth and alerted the public. A real leader would have shown courage. Bernie did not do that. He needs to withdraw now.

[guillaumeb]

20. And what does this do to Putin's alleged plan?

My view is that, if there was outreach, it was done to discredit Sanders, and weaken Democrats..

[NurseJackie]

49. I can see how you'd think that.

[lapucelle]

62. Your view is not supported by the reporting.

Bernie Sanders briefed by U.S. officials that Russia is trying to help his presidential campaign

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/bernie-sanders-briefed-by-us-officials-that-russia-is-trying-to-help-his-presidential-campaign/2020/02/21/5ad396a6-54bd-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html

U.S. Officials Inform Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump of Russia Election Meddling on Their Behalf: Report

https://www.newsweek.com/us-officials-inform-bernie-sanders-donald-trump-russia-election-meddling-their-behalf-report-1488538

Russia Is Said to Be Interfering to Aid Sanders in Democratic Primaries

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/us/politics/bernie-sanders-russia.html

US officials briefed Bernie Sanders on Russia trying to help his campaign

https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/nation-world/us-officials-brief-bernie-sanders-russia-interference-2020-election/507-6c7f5fc5-97bb-49f4-9c03-62959d170ab9

Bernie Sanders briefed by US officials that Russia is attempting to help his campaign

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/02/21/bernie-sanders-told-russia-helping-presidential-campaign-report/4835049002/

Bernie Sanders briefed by US officials that Russia is trying to aid his campaign

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/21/bernie-sanders-russia-aid-campaign

[pfeiffer]

19. Russia knows that Trump can beat Sanders...

That is why Russia is helping Sanders win the Democratic nomination. So that Trump can beat Sanders.

[guillaumeb]

22. And the alleged plot was so easily exposed that another candidate will take the lead?

How do we know that Putin was not trying to eliminate the candidate he saw as the biggest threat?

[Squinch]

30. How do you know how easily it was exposed? Are our intelligence people such slackers?

[guillaumeb]

33. We know nothing about any details.

But my question goes to Putin's motivation.

[Squinch]

37. But you're assuming it was easily exposed. And Putin's motivation is that he wants

Sanders because Trump can beat him.

[guillaumeb]

38. That also is an assumption.

Putin wants to promote division.

And he is succeeding.

[apcalc]

35. He doesn't really care... he wants people pissed at each other, to create division

Within the ranks, attack the party from the RIGHT and the LEFT.

He wants people to get angry, so they will say “ I’m not voting for ....) If he wins, I won’t vote””.”

That is how Putin wins.

[guillaumeb]

39. Agreed.

[Happy Hoosier]

43. It's not that complicated.

In 2016, they pretty much advanced the candidates they saw as advancing their interests.... primarily by sowing division. Trump’s Putin-worship is a bonus. It’s not so much that they want Sanders nominated, but they want to divide Democrats. And Sanders and his supporters are the easiest way to do that IMO. And of course, Sanders’ strongest supporters will push back against that idea, extending the campaign’s success.

[guillaumeb]

46. Agreed.

And if this weakens Sanders, Putin might have an unsolicited offer for another candidate.

[sheshe2]

47. ...

Trump Encourages Supporters in New Hampshire to Go 'Vote for a Weak' Democratic 2020 Candidate

2020 Presidential Election
President Donald Trump repeatedly encouraged his followers in New Hampshire to cross party lines and vote for the "weakest" candidate in Tuesday's Democratic primary during a rally on Monday night.

Trump was appearing in his first rally since being acquitted in the Senate impeachment trial on Wednesday. He at least twice appeared to advocate for "party raiding," the process of sabotaging an opposing political party by voting for a suitably "weak" candidate in their primary election.

"You have crossovers in primaries, don't you? I hear a lot of Republicans tomorrow will vote for the weakest candidate possible of the Democrats," Trump told the crowd. "Does that make sense? My only problem is I'm trying to figure out who is their weakest candidate, I think they're all weak."
Trump touched on the topic again later in the rally, suggesting that the crowd choose whoever they thought was the weakest candidate.

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-encourages-supporters-new-hampshire-go-vote-weak-democratic-2020-candidate-1486626

[Mr.Bill]

61. And if Bernie dropped out,

what percentage of his supporters would stay home in November?

[UniteFightBack]

65. Oh is that's what's going to happen? Another candidate will now take the lead? First that's great

Second, can you tell me the lotto numbers ? Thanks.

[NanceGreggs]

31. Putin sees Bernie as the weakest candidate ...

... against Trump, not as a 'threat'.

The Republicans (and Russia, no doubt) have been collecting oppo-research on Bernie since 2016, when it looked like he might wind up as the nominee - and are now collecting more anti-Bernie info as we speak.

Putin (and the GOP) want Bernie to run against Trump, because they know they have the ammunition to destroy him.

[Cha]

45. It's so obvious.. thank you for the clarity, Nance

[mr_lebowski]

63. Occam's Razor suggests this is the most likely scenario ...

But the theory in the OP is not entirely implausible.

People talking like they KNOW ... are not being entirely honest.

We really don't know for sure ... only what seems more likely, based on ones personal bias re: viability of Sanders as a candidate.

[sheshe2]

32. Never saw anything about it being solicited.

However if you read any of the Mueller report you would know this is the second time Russia "helped" both Trump and Sanders. Fact.

Then:

If Putin is backing Trump for President, and sees Sanders as a strong candidate, would it not be in his interest to attack Sanders by initiating contact with the goal of weakening Sanders and making Democrats suspicious of each other?

Trump has already called for GOPers/Russia to vote/help the weakest Dem. They want to go up against "I AM A SOCIALIST" Sanders own words. I can hear it now. SOCIALIST. COMMIE. All Dems are socialists... ad nauseum.

I am not making this up. It is all over the news.

After all our hard work, if we lose the house? All three branches? I think I may just give up.

[guillaumeb]

36. That we give up is Putin's goal.

We know this.

And Putin is waging war on the US, with the blessing of the GOP.

[sheshe2]

52. Wow.

I think you just answered your own question to your own OP!

And Putin is waging war on the US, with the blessing of the GOP.

This is why Putin wants the weakest candidate to win. The GOP IS ALREADY RUNNING ADS CALLING DEM CANDIDATES SOCIALISTS. See McSally in Arizona.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

40. Makes sense.

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[guillaumeb]

41. Classic asymetric warfare.

Weaken and demoralize the opponent.

Make people distrust each other.

Take advantage of that distrust.

[Vivienne235729]

48. They want Trump to win. They don't see Bernie as a strong candidate. That's why they are helping him

They know Biden and Bloomberg could crush Trump so expect attacks against them.

[yaesu]

50. & putin is even better at disinformation than the orange nazi or the GOP. nt

[apcalc]

53. Alleged my ass.

[VladmireTrumpkins]

54. Putin is not stupid

He knows that the US will never elect a socialist and if Bernie is nominated Trump..the Russian patsy ..will win..simple as that..

[UniteFightBack]

64. I know right...it's not hard to figure this out. nt

[Demsrule86]

66. Sanders is a weak General candidate who will lose Putin is helping Trump...and Sanders is who Trump

thinks will be the easiest candidate to beat, and I don't disagree. Sanders will lose badly and we will likely lose the house and important states ahead of the Census.

[Gothmog]

69. #BernieKnew is trending on twitter

Link to tweet

[guillaumeb]

79. So among that tiny fraction of the country,

this is a topic.

[ecstatic]

71. Bernie isn't a threat to putin. Look at his votes

In fact, if trump & the GOP continue to do nothing regarding election security, Bernie may be our only chance to win. SMH.

[guillaumeb]

80. Putin is only interested in US election interference

as a means of weakening the US.

[Blue_Tires]

74. "alleged?"

If you want actual proof, I don't have any...








...Except for this little thing called the Mueller Report -- Perhaps you might start there?

[myohmy2]

75. we can see it...

...we can feel it, we can smell it...trump and putin are trying to set Bernie up, trying to split the Dems and weaken Bernie's numbers and message...why?

...FEAR!

...they fear Bernie...they know Bernie will take down trump like a house of cards and will piss on putin every chance he gets...

...as clear as the nose on your face...

...not to worry, Bernie can handle it...

[RandySF]

76. Could be some 400 pound guy sitting on his bed.

[randr]

78. I think Putins goal is obvious

He is promoting the easiest to beat candidate for Trump.

[guillaumeb]

81. Putin is trying to divide voters.

Trump is helping him do that.

[Vivienne235729]

83. But Putin DOESN'T see Bernie as a strong candidate. That's why he's helping him

If Bernie was a strong candidate, Trump would be up there giving him little nicknames like he does everyone else that he sees as a threat (warren). The russians are hoping bernie is the nominee bc they know trump will clean his clock. Trump has been remarkably quiet about bernie. That's not lost on me....

[VladmireTrumpkins]

85. Putin wants Trump elected

He thinks Sanders is the weakest one to challenge Trump..that is why he wants to support both of them