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Russia Says it Was in Touch With Trump Campaign During Election (cnbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the stranger-things dept.

An anonymous reader shares a CNBC report: The Russian government was in touch with members of President-elect Donald Trump's campaign staff during the U.S. election campaign, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Interfax news agency on Thursday. "There were contacts," Interfax cited Ryabkov as saying. He did not give details. When asked whether these contacts would now intensify after Trump's election victory, Ryabkov said: "These working moments and follow-up on this or that matter will depend on the situation and the questions which face us. But we will of course continue this work after the elections." Defeated Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton accused Trump of being a "puppet" of President Vladimir Putin during the campaign, and U.S. officials said Russia had hacked into Democratic party emails, something Moscow denied. Trump has said he might meet Putin before his inauguration, but Putin's spokesman has said there are currently no plans for such a meeting.

39 of 469 comments (clear)

  1. Not a puppet. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not a puppet. You're the puppet. You're the puppet.

    1. Re:Not a puppet. by Maritz · · Score: 4, Insightful

      To roughly half of american voters, that is an absolute zinger of a comeback.

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
  2. surprise surprise by dehachel12 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    who did not see that coming ?

    1. Re:surprise surprise by jafiwam · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yet they didn't reach out to any of the other candidates, or in any of the other previous elections?

      Does "hacking their email" count as reaching out? ;)

      Considering the path Clinton was likely to set us upon, I wholeheartedly disagree that the Russians talking with Trump is a bad thing.

      Russia is a nuclear-armed big army nuke-sub having high technology former nigh-superpower that has accepted that they aren't going to be able to wipe us out (we WON the Cold War, remember?). It's good to be their friends, it's good to be talking to them.

  3. Before you act like this is so nefarious... by CajunArson · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Just look at what China did with Clinton:

    http://www.scmp.com/news/china...

    But it's only "evil" when Trump is involved in something.

    Oh, and dealing with other countries diplomatically instead of militarily is now equivalent to Nazism or something all of the sudden. Which is why everybody thought Obama was a Nazi when he was elected... right?

    --
    AntiFA: An abbreviation for Anti First Amendment.
    1. Re:Before you act like this is so nefarious... by pushing-robot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Diplomatic sources in Beijing and Washington have confirmed that Beijing, aware of the high stakes for bilateral ties, has been following the election campaign closely and trying to maintain regular contact with both candidates, Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump, through their campaign teams and other channels.

      Your point? Open relations with one of America's biggest trading partners is a lot different from secret contacts with an antagonistic power. Denying it through his campaign makes it look even worse.

      Between conspiracy with the country's adversaries and tapping the DNC, Trump seems to be doing his best to emulate Nixon. We'll see if it comes to the same end.

      --
      How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
    2. Re:Before you act like this is so nefarious... by Feral+Nerd · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Oh, and dealing with other countries diplomatically instead of militarily is now equivalent to Nazism or something all of the sudden. Which is why everybody thought Obama was a Nazi when he was elected... right?

      I don't really want to get into your Democrat=wrong-think, Republican=right-think pissing contest. What I will say is that presidential candidates dealing diplomatically to Russia/China depends entirely on what was being said and promised. Say what you will about Hillary she is not an impulsive person and for all her faults I do not believe she'd make rash promises to anybody, especially if they affect the USA's extensive network of allies. Trump, on the other hand, is completely inexperienced in foreign policy dealings, he is an individual that is so impulsive he apparently cannot even be trusted with a Twitter account. So when it becomes known that he's been having talks with Vladimir Putin behind the backs of all of the USA's allies it gets people wondering what he promised the Russians without consulting them? ... unilateral lifting of sanctions? recognition of their annexation of the Crimea and the Eastern Ukraine in exchange for cooperation on ending the Syrian mess? A pledge not to defend the Baltic republics? Something even dumber than that, like dismantling NATO? Or did he simply have a friendly dinner with one of Putin's creatures over some New York deep dish pizza and discuss Golf? Point being that people are a lot less nervous about Hillary 'giving away the home-world' as it were than they are over Trump dong the same because after he promised to do the modern equivalent of pining a yellow star on every Muslim in the USA people basically think he's capable of anything.

    3. Re:Before you act like this is so nefarious... by CajunArson · · Score: 3, Interesting

      If you had actually read the real article that was the source of this story you would have seen that Russia... contacted the Clinton campaign too. Dumbass.

      I'm reminded of the naked hypocrisy when Reagan was running back in the day. Back then it was considered imperative (by leftists like you) that the President put the interests of the Soviet Union ahead of the U.S. because otherwise you were some type of war-monger.

      Flash forward and the new left-wing chant is that Trump is evil because he refuses to unilaterally nuke Russia.

      --
      AntiFA: An abbreviation for Anti First Amendment.
    4. Re:Before you act like this is so nefarious... by pushing-robot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I read your article. And TFA. And watched the video. Not saying you're a liar, but [citation needed].

      And being anti-war means taking whatever steps are necessary to prevent war, including standing up to expansionists. Appeasing Hitler didn't stop World War II, and tearing down NATO while Russia is annexing Europe's borders won't pacify Putin.

      --
      How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
    5. Re:Before you act like this is so nefarious... by flopsquad · · Score: 4, Informative

      Evil demagogue? You're saying this about GP and not Trump, am I getting this right? And you have no idea what GP is talking about? Here you go:

      GS: "Are you unequivocally now ruling out a database on all Muslims?"
      Trump: "No, not at all"

      That was the final word on Trump's proposal to create a database to track all Muslims, which he had tried to backtrack to just "refugees". I'm not sure if it came before or after his idea that mosques need to be placed under surveillance. In combination with the unconstitutional Muslim ban he proposed, and the... you know what, he's said so much fucked up shit just on this one topic that if you haven't bothered to educate yourself on it by now, I'm not going to waste my time. Here's a quarter, go fuck yourself.

      --
      Nothing posted to /. has ever been legal advice, including this.
  4. Trump elected by no-shows by OffTheLip · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is what happens when close to 50% of eligible voters don't bother to go to the polls.

    1. Re:Trump elected by no-shows by pushing-robot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No, he really didn't get out the vote; Trump's vote count was in line with the losers of the last few elections. His strategy in the primary and the general was to drag the whole thing down so far into the mud that most people were too disillusioned to vote. Low turnout favors the 'fear/anger/hate' candidate.

      --
      How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
  5. Not only that... by Lucas123 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Trump was in touch with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto. I saw it on television!

  6. Don't read political spin, it makes you stupid. by Cytotoxic · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's what they really had to say:

    Russia said that it talked with the teams of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton during the U.S. presidential election as part of routine outreach during a campaign.
    Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the Russian embassy in the U.S. held talks with the Trump camp that “were on a sufficient, responsible level.” Hope Hicks, a spokeswoman for Trump, said in an e-mail that she was “not aware” of any meetings by campaign representatives with Russian diplomats.
    Ryabkov said the talks were “part of routine everyday work.” There was also “sporadic” contact with the Clinton team, though it was “not always productive,” he said. Calls to members of Clinton’s former campaign team for comment weren’t immediately returned.

    1. Re:Don't read political spin, it makes you stupid. by whoever57 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Get out of here with your "facts" and "whole story". We don't want that kind of thing here. We just want to rage against the world right now.

      --
      The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
  7. He was also in touch with France's Marine LePen by Ensign_Expendable · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Big deal.

  8. Re:Congrats idiots by 110010001000 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Too late. I'm already there. And in Murica we call it a "basement" you damn foreigner!

  9. Russian moles! They're annoying! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Moles are bad enough, but when they're Russian, they're drinking vodka while they tunnel and they are all over the place!

    Then they pop out of their tunnels, puke all over the lawn, sing really loud and off key, and back into the tunnel zigging and zagging making a huge mess!

    At least the Mexican moles keep it to just the holidays - although their music can be obnoxious!

  10. Re:Congrats idiots by dan_s28 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I hope we up deportations. I think we could use spare space on container ships after we unload the shit from China, fill it up with foreigners and whiny protesters, ship em out. If they get mouthy when feeding - throw em overboard.

  11. A leader who defuses the situation? by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is what happens when close to 50% of eligible voters don't bother to go to the polls.

    We get a leader who tries to calm and reassure a potential dangerous adversary?

    This partisanship is blinding you to reality. Clinton and Obama were steadily ratcheting up the fear and blame on Russia. They were building moral cover to justify a prolonged campaign of sanctions and possibly war.

    It got so bad that Julian Assange publicly stated that Russia was *not* the source of the Podesta E-mails. He *never* gives out information about his sources, that he would do this indicates that he felt there was some danger.

    This was all happening over the past two months, and you can't remember it?

    Contacting Russia and saying "relax, if I get elected we can work out our problems through diplomacy" is a good thing.

    1. Re:A leader who defuses the situation? by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 5, Insightful

      On the contrary, Russia's actions have proven they are INCREDIBLY rational. They waited until the US (the only power that could legitimately threaten them) was distracted before taking a small step (Crimea). After seeing how that shook out (US did nothing but wag a finger), they moved to the next step. Same result. You might not agree (nor do I) with their goals, but the way they are moving forward is incredibly rational, well-planned, and measured.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    2. Re:A leader who defuses the situation? by fyngyrz · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Annexing neighbors and posturing militarily has to have some sort of a reaction other than "let's talk it out".

      No, it really doesn't. It's none of our business. We have no right to interfere with the actions of other countries. And that's what it is: interference. You want to have a sovereign country? Fine. Make sure you can defend it or otherwise exert effective leverage sufficient to maintain your sovereignty. Otherwise, someone is going to take it from you or otherwise ruin your day -- and we -- the US -- definitely shouldn't have to be the one to guarantee your borders. That's your job.

      This whole "US is the world's policeman" business is insane. And the claim that we actually have significant national interests in 99% of these venues isn't much better.

      Our job is making sure no one annexes us. Other countries can posture all they want. We can squash them like bugs if they try anything. And we should. Other than that, there's an awful lot of stuff we need to be paying attention to within our borders that we are not.

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    3. Re:A leader who defuses the situation? by citylivin · · Score: 4, Informative

      "Our job is making sure no one annexes us. Other countries can posture all they want."

      "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -
      Because I was not a Socialist.

      Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -
      Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

      Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-
      Because I was not a Jew.

      Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me."

      History repeats too much to have such a myopic attitude about world affairs.

      --
      As a potential lottery winner, I totally support tax cuts for the wealthy
  12. Who you calling "idiots"? by mi · · Score: 3, Informative

    You just elected a Russian mole.

    Sure. Because Kremlin says so... Except, they don't even claim that... It is all a product of hypotheses, suggestions, and unsubstantiated — usually anonymous — claims.

    Meanwhile, a few facts about Clinton's recent past:

    The only thing, that can be done to address the above accusations by your kind is down-modding them — facts are stubborn. So, apply some Vaseline, charge your Prius and head for Canada as you promised.

    The Beautiful Wickedness finally had some water splashed on her, and us, the deplorable munchkins, are rejoicing.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  13. Re: Congrats idiots by Rei · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Don't like Goldman Sachs? Then by all means don't this second go and google who's the leading contender for Trump's treasury secretary.

    What, did you actually convince yourself that the billionaire who literally plates everything around him in gold was a "man of the people"? If so:

    ***Check out these awesome magic beans!!!!!***

    --
    It's times like this I wish I had a friend named 'The Professor'.
  14. Whoa by fyngyrz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The truth that nearly half (currently 47%) of the population of the United States are deep down a mix, of racist, sexist, hate-filled scumbags and uneducated morons too ignorant to see Trump for what he is.

    47% if the voters. not 47% of the population.

    127 million people voted.
    The US population is estimated at 324,227,000 in 2016

    47% of the voters is 59.6 million people.
    47% of the population of the US is 152.3 million people. That's more people than voted in total!

    So really, the election told us that 18% of the people next to us in the checkout line are likely to be Trump voters. Some of them aren't even of voting age, so you know they didn't participate in the dumbing down of the presidency (even past the Bush years... it's astonishing, really. The tyranny of the Gaussian come home to roost. Democracy at work: any two idiots outvote a genius. In an environment where geniuses are rare.)

    Just saying. :)

    --
    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    1. Re:Whoa by bfpierce · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There's poor uneducated people on both the left and right, and ignoring the violence by members of the KKK (and their ilk) over the recent years is kind of insane. In my area most people are conservative trump supporters, so most crime is done by, *gasp* conservative trump supporters.

      It's been reported on, maybe you just put on the blinders.

      The fact that this is 'insightful' is also kind of insane.

    2. Re:Whoa by Gr8Apes · · Score: 3, Insightful

      OK, point taken. What's really shocking is that a minority voted in a demagogue. We can only hope the checks and balances in the Constitution work in the people's favor over the next 4 years, and hope like hell we get a candidate that's actually someone we can vote for next time vs the crap choices over at least the last 5 elections.

      --
      The cesspool just got a check and balance.
    3. Re:Whoa by XXongo · · Score: 3, Informative

      And yet the folks committing violent acts and mayhem in American cities are leftists.

      Nope. Right and left. Crazies on both sides.

      I haven't seen the KKK, the Neo Nazis, or the Skinheads doing this for the last 8 years whilst Obama has been President.

      Then you haven't been paying attention. Look here: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06...

      "Last year, for example, a man who identified with the sovereign citizen movement — which claims not to recognize the authority of federal or local government — attacked a courthouse in Forsyth County, Ga., firing an assault rifle at police officers and trying to cover his approach with tear gas and smoke grenades. The suspect was killed by the police, who returned fire. In Nevada, anti-government militants reportedly walked up to and shot two police officers at a restaurant, then placed a “Don’t tread on me” flag on their bodies. An anti-government extremist in Pennsylvania was arrested on suspicion of shooting two state troopers, killing one of them, before leading authorities on a 48-day manhunt. A right-wing militant in Texas declared a “revolution” and was arrested on suspicion of attempting to rob an armored car in order to buy weapons and explosives and attack law enforcement...
      "“The threat is real,” says the handout from one training program sponsored by the Department of Justice. Since 2000, the handout notes, 25 law enforcement officers have been killed by right-wing extremists, who share a “fear that government will confiscate firearms” and a “belief in the approaching collapse of government and the economy.”"

      More:
      https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/01/why-racists-burn-black-churches/
      http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/vegas-cop-killers/two-cops-three-others-killed-las-vegas-shooting-spree-n125766
      http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/06/arson-churches-north-carolina-georgia/396881/
      http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/03/500496061/fbi-investigating-burning-of-black-church-painted-with-vote-trump

    4. Re: Whoa by Gr8Apes · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You do realize all those powers et al were given to a Republican president (W) by a Republican Congress under what's probably one of the worst laws passed by any Congress.

      --
      The cesspool just got a check and balance.
  15. Moo Moo Moo by fyngyrz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Dude, you are udderly ridiculous. Seriously. Don't you feel like you have a steak in this coversation? It be hooves you to take a more serious approach to the forum, no matter what you've herd elsewhere. It's time to stop milking this for all it's worth and get with the program, before the mods decide to put you out to pasture, see?

    --
    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
  16. Re:Congrats idiots by Salgak1 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The truth that nearly half (currently 47%) of the population of the United States are deep down a mix, of racist, sexist, hate-filled scumbags and uneducated morons too ignorant to see Trump for what he is.

    Do you KNOW anyone who voted for Trump ? Have you talked to any of them ? Chances are, they're a lot like me. Yes, I voted for Trump. I had the choice between a double-decker shit sandwich, and a regular shit sandwich. I chose less shit.

    But either way, I knew I was getting a shit sandwich. . .

  17. Re:Congrats idiots by Maury+Markowitz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    > But either way, I knew I was getting a shit sandwich. . .

    Everyone did. Canada offers its condolences.

    FYI we have five parties with members in the house and an independent. Over the last 25 years I've voted for 4 of them. Having a *real* selection results in a whole less nose-holding when you go to the poles.

    Which makes the whole Gary Johnson debacle a nice scoop of shit on top of that sandwich. Ugh, my condolences, again.

  18. Re:Uranium One and Clinton McCarthyism. by larkost · · Score: 3, Informative

    Clinton did not sign off, the State Department did, as did 8 other Federal departments. The person at the State Department who was in charge of it has expressly said that Clinton was never involved in that discussion, and never expressed any opinions on it, as the process was not important or controversial enough to warrant it. And while it did wind up with a Russian company owning a good chunk of the Uranium mines in North America (primarily in Canada), there are export restrictions that prevent any of the product mined there from going to Russia (among most every place).

    And she and her close friends did not benefit financially, the accusation is that it was the Clinton Foundation (a charitable organization) that got the money. So far there have been some vague accusations that "the Clintons used the Foundation as their personal piggy bank", but no case of that ever happening has come to light. The Foundation is regularly audited, and that would have shown up by now. The Foundation is generally accepted as being a very good user of its money in doing good around the world.

    So explain to me how something she was not involved in, and did not benefit financially from personally was somehow a strike against her.

  19. Re:A different position by SethJohnson · · Score: 5, Informative

    ...a candidates spouse taking hundreds of millions of dollars from foreign interests, which Trump was accused of but Bill Clinton actually did.

    I suppose that depends on your definition of 'actually.' Checking Politifact, this claim does not hold true.

    Per an article in Fortune magazine in October 2015 that traced both the Clintons' tax returns to estimate their net worth:

    On the low end, the Clintons reported assets of $11.3 million. On the high end, they might have as much as $52.7 million. The couple listed no liabilities.

    How is it that Bill Clinton 'actually' accepted HUNDREDS of millions of dollars from foreign interests, yet he only has assets totaling as much as $53 million?

    This is a classic example of the disruption that Trump has brought to the political process.

    Unrestrained fiction presented as facts to smear opponents requires an update or replacement to the term "truthiness."

    --
    $5 / month hosted VPS on linux = awesome!
  20. Re: Congrats idiots by Camel+Pilot · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Trump is a businessman, unlike you, unaccomplished nothingness chewing on a piece of joint

    Trump's steps to business success:

    1. Be born really rich.
    2. ???
    3. Profit

  21. Re:Congrats idiots by globaljustin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ^mod parent up

    this is true...Trump's campaign manager Paul Manafort had to quit because of ties with Russian Mobsters: http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/19/...

    Idiots are to blame for Trump's victory...all kinds of idiots across the political spectrum contributed along the way, starting with idiot Democrats who voted for Hillary over Bernie....up to the idiot Republicans for being Republican...and of course let's not forget the idiot journalists of the MSM

    Idiots are to blame

    --
    Thank you Dave Raggett
  22. Church Burnings- not new, not uncommon by XXongo · · Score: 4, Informative

    What? Several black churches were burned to the ground and N** sprayed painted everywhere. The KKK's brand of racism is alive and well.

    You know, it's quite a coincidence that these attacks only occur during Presidential elections and only when Democrats are having a hard time 'motivating' black voters tiger to the polls and vote...

    Except that burning down African-American churches is not something that only occurs during presidential elections. In fact, it happens all the time. We just notice it more during elections.

    Here, for example are some stories from early 2015: http://www.theatlantic.com/nat...
    and https://www.washingtonpost.com...
    and https://www.washingtonpost.com...
    and https://www.splcenter.org/hate...

  23. Re:A different position by Motherfucking+Shit · · Score: 5, Informative

    6% of the Foundation funds goes to charitable works, 90% goes to paychecks and benefits.

    This is absolutely false, and another shining example of an untrue "news" story that so many people took as fact. Only 6% of the foundation's funds go to grants to other charities, which is where that number on the tax filings came from. (Speaking of tax returns... But I digress.) The foundation does a lot of its own charitable work out of its own funds. Those funds aren't given as grants to other charities, so they don't appear on IRS Form 990, Line 13.

    Let me phrase this another way. If you raise $100, and you donate $6 to the Red Cross, and you spend $82 on food for homeless people, you didn't "only" give 6% to charity. You gave 88% to charity. The actual numbers for the Clinton foundation are closer to 88% charity, 12% overhead.

    --
    "BSD: Free as in speech. Linux: Free as in beer. Windows 10: Free as in herpes." --Man On Pink Corner in #52607549.