Posted on 07/26/2018 8:02:34 AM PDT by Liberty7732
We are treated to a daily recitation of Russia’s attempts to meddle in the 2016 U.S. elections. We are lectured about how there are few things worse than a foreign power trying to influence U.S. elections. We are told this threatens the very being of our democracy.
If so, then what China is doing right now with its targeted tariffs aimed at weakening the GOP in November midterms and President Trump going forward is just as egregious a violation of the sanctity of our democracy. Remember, Russia is not suspected of hacking in and changing votes, just changing public opinion. That is precisely what China is doing. And it’s happening in real-time flashing neon right in front of us.
And yet neither the hyper self-righteous Democrats nor the chest-thumping defenders of all that is good and right media can be bothered with anything more than a long, droll yawn. All they can see every day is the Russia-Trump collusion that apparently never happened. In fact, coverage of China meddling in the U.S elections is virtually non-existent. And yet it is laid right in front of us.
The Chinese have made it clear they are targeting their tariffs on major American agriculture exports to China to create maximum pain in the agricultural Midwest states that are a strong part of the Republican base and the Trump coalition.
For anyone who doesn’t get it from the targeting itself, they are slow-walking Americans through it by using animated cartoons in social media, via CGTN, the English language news channel of the Chinese government, to make the threat as explicit as possible to the Midwest voters: If President Trump doesn’t drop the tariffs on Chinese manufacturers, China will destroy agricultural markets in the Midwest — thus ruining GOP attempts to retain its majorities in Congress.
And in early July, a leaked memo from Chinese Vice Premier Liu to Chinese propaganda outlets made it abundantly clear that China is using its targeted tariffs as a wedge issue designed to split “apart different domestic groups in the US.” This is full-fledged policy and actions of the Chinese government to meddle in U.S. elections by overtly trying to shift American opinion away from one political party.
The media cannot possibly be unaware of the states being targeted, and the CGTN efforts to explain the targeting; that it is to paint Trump in a negative light among voters in those states. But then again, recall that President Obama publicly tried to defeat the Brexit vote in the U.K., and defeat the re-election of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. So he was meddling in the elections of democratic allies — as a foreign power — and yet the media purred contentedly on his lap.
But an inquiring mind could reasonably ask the next question: What is the point of that? What is China’s end game?
One purpose could be to try to blackmail Trump into backing down from his tariffs on China by threatening the outcome of U.S. elections. That is a form of meddling on the policy side. But the bigger, long-range goal, and one much more in line with the alleged Russian-style meddling, would be to defeat Republicans in those states in tight races, to give control of Congress to trade-deal compliant Democrats in the 2018 midterms. Further, the strategy would weaken the Trump presidency and separate those voters from Trump in 2020.
That’s a pretty direct and forthright assault on U.S. elections by a foreign power. And it is sitting on the table right in front of us.
Yet it’s not clear that one Democrat or mainstream media member gives a fig about this obvious meddling that would hurt Trump and Republicans, while at the same time hyperventilating over the alleged meddling by Russia that might have helped Trump.
All of which makes their righteous indignation over possible Russian interference in 2016 look a little contrived, one could even say, fake.
No way ,China is the Democrats Sugar Daddy
All's fair in love and trade wars. Stop whining.
The difference is the establishment is making a fortune with China so its not a problem.
I think this is a very good article.
This shows very well, exactly the truth.
China has bought a huge section of people, who (should) be for America first.
They are sold out. Both parties. Almost everyone.
They are the real problem.
Not “Russians”.
China.
Most people in the mid west live is cities. Only 1 million Americans are actual full-time real farmers. It's time to pop this myth. Most crops are grown on corporate farms not owned by individuals, contracted or leased from owners. Farmers are over resented in the Republican Party. I don't get it. I guy that inherited 2,000 acres from mom and dad and leases it to a huge corporation, is he a farmer? ADM has pulled a fast one.
No no no it’s only Russia that does that just ask the news media.
/s
The US has interests in every country, therefore every country has concerns about how we protect those interests and project power to do so, their survival depends on doing all they can to influence us at every level to be friendly to them.
The leadership of China, and indeed the leadership of any country, would be negligent if they didn’t try to insure that people who they perceive as hostile to their country stayed out of elected American offices.
Much as we would be negligent if we don’t elect people who put the interests of America and its people first.
I really didn't take it as whining. I took it more as calling out the hypocritical leftists for not going apoplectic about it like they are over Russia. I guess not all meddling in US elections is created equal.
Maybe they can say Trump is colluding with China as well, since this wouldn't have happened had he not imposed tariffs to begin with?
Looks like reelection 2020 is entering landslide territory.
If America has a real geo-political enemy it IS China. Funny for all these newly converted Russia haters, they have nary a word about China’s abuses.
How? Let us have your evidence now, not tomorrow, now.
Every country wants to be the global tyrant of sorts.
A good America just wants to be prosperous.
We are.
And yes, China should be dealt with, and I think Trump is doing that.
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