by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
Yesterday Donald Trump took to Twitter to spread a false conspiracy theory that had first been put forward by a former official Russian state propagandist. Trump borrowed his gem-of-the-day from the far-right One America News Network (OANN), where it had been contributed by Kristian Rouz, who previously worked for Sputnik, the Russian state media organization.
Rouz had claimed that "newly released video" showed that Martin Guino, the 75-year-old protester who suffered a head injury when two officers from the Buffalo Police Department shoved him to the ground, was "scanning" police communications equipment in order to make it inoperable. However, according to Ben Cole, a reporter for NBC who covers disinformation, extremism, and the internet, Rouz's claim was blatantly false.
But Donald Trump has never been one to let the truth stand in the way of a good conspiracy theory. Yesterday he took the former Russian propagandist's false information and fashioned it into this tweet:
The report was demonstrably false, the video did not show what Trump said it did, and yet he tweeted - continuing to embitter and divide Americans.
One of the motives behind this particular tweet seems to be to give Trump a platform for equating the ANTIFA (Anti-Fascist) movement with terrorists. Ben Cole, the NBC reporter, describes ANTIFA as "a loosely organized network of groups that use direct action to confront far-right and fascist groups." It is not surprising that Trump, himself a darling of far-right fascist groups, would regard ANTIFA as something akin to Al Quaeda.
Others, however, see ANTIFA as being more closely allied with with millions of young servicemen and women who fought fascists around the globe during the Second World War.
(The Trump family did not take part in World War II, nor, in fact, has any Trump ever fought for America in any conflict or war. Fred Trump. however, Donald's father, did have an active association with the Ku Klux Klan, a fascist organization - and was even arrested at a Klan rally.)
Most Republican senators seemed to be hiding from reporters yesterday, but Lisa Murkowski of Alaska did stop and read the tweet as one reporter handed it to her. The increasingly independent Murkowski who has indicated that she may not even vote for Trump in the general election, stammered this response:
And Mitt Romney, a Republican senator from Utah and the uncle of GOP National Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel, added his own distance to Trump's remark. Romney said:
And Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic governor of New York, was even more incensed:
And Pa Rock, a mad typist, had his own thoughts on the matter::
Donald Trump is a shameless fear-monger and race-baiter, and every day that he spends as our leader diminishes us all!
Citizen Journalist
Yesterday Donald Trump took to Twitter to spread a false conspiracy theory that had first been put forward by a former official Russian state propagandist. Trump borrowed his gem-of-the-day from the far-right One America News Network (OANN), where it had been contributed by Kristian Rouz, who previously worked for Sputnik, the Russian state media organization.
Rouz had claimed that "newly released video" showed that Martin Guino, the 75-year-old protester who suffered a head injury when two officers from the Buffalo Police Department shoved him to the ground, was "scanning" police communications equipment in order to make it inoperable. However, according to Ben Cole, a reporter for NBC who covers disinformation, extremism, and the internet, Rouz's claim was blatantly false.
But Donald Trump has never been one to let the truth stand in the way of a good conspiracy theory. Yesterday he took the former Russian propagandist's false information and fashioned it into this tweet:
"Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment. @OANN I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?"
The report was demonstrably false, the video did not show what Trump said it did, and yet he tweeted - continuing to embitter and divide Americans.
One of the motives behind this particular tweet seems to be to give Trump a platform for equating the ANTIFA (Anti-Fascist) movement with terrorists. Ben Cole, the NBC reporter, describes ANTIFA as "a loosely organized network of groups that use direct action to confront far-right and fascist groups." It is not surprising that Trump, himself a darling of far-right fascist groups, would regard ANTIFA as something akin to Al Quaeda.
Others, however, see ANTIFA as being more closely allied with with millions of young servicemen and women who fought fascists around the globe during the Second World War.
(The Trump family did not take part in World War II, nor, in fact, has any Trump ever fought for America in any conflict or war. Fred Trump. however, Donald's father, did have an active association with the Ku Klux Klan, a fascist organization - and was even arrested at a Klan rally.)
Most Republican senators seemed to be hiding from reporters yesterday, but Lisa Murkowski of Alaska did stop and read the tweet as one reporter handed it to her. The increasingly independent Murkowski who has indicated that she may not even vote for Trump in the general election, stammered this response:
"Oh lord, ugh. Why would you fan the flames?"
And Mitt Romney, a Republican senator from Utah and the uncle of GOP National Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel, added his own distance to Trump's remark. Romney said:
"I saw the tweet. It was a shocking thing to say and I won't dignify it within further comment."
And Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic governor of New York, was even more incensed:
"How reckless. How irresponsible. How mean. How crude. I mean, if there was ever a reprehensible, dumb comment . . . and from the President of the United States!"
And Pa Rock, a mad typist, had his own thoughts on the matter::
"I'm seventy-two-years-old, three years younger than the victim of the Buffalo police. Falls are serious for us old folks, and even moreso if the victim is pushed. I recently suffered an accidental fall in which I broke my arm. The pain and enduring discomfort have been at times almost unbearable. I identify with the victim in Buffalo and want to see his attackers brought to justice - and if that makes me ANTIFA, then please send me a membership application and tell me where to mail the dues!"
Donald Trump is a shameless fear-monger and race-baiter, and every day that he spends as our leader diminishes us all!
No comments:
Post a Comment