CNN Opinion: What Trump is trying to achieve with 'Obamagate'

CNN ^ | May 16, 2020 | By Julian Zelizer, CNN Political Analyst

[Oldeconomybuyer]

With the nation in the middle of a horrendous pandemic, President Donald Trump has decided to devote much of his time fueling the "Obamagate" conspiracy. Trump went on a Twitter rampage this past week, sharing falsehoods and misleading claims that promote the conspiracy theory that former President Barack Obama led a supposed "coup" to sabotage his presidency.

But when a Washington Post reporter pressed Trump earlier this week to explain what Obama did, the President failed to clarify and said, "You know what the crime is. The crime is obvious to everybody. All you have to do is read the newspapers, except yours."

What's clear is that President Trump is attacking Obama with the goal of discrediting his opponent in 2020: Joe Biden. Trump understands that he will never be a widely beloved public figure -- he is more like the long list of "heels" in professional wrestling who gain their fame by stirring the fans to boo them.

President Trump's response is predictable -- he's going after Obama to undermine the foundation of Biden's reputation. By painting the Obama administration as corrupt and Nixonian, Trump may be trying to cast Biden as a new Spiro Agnew, Nixon's vice president who resigned in 1973 due to a tax evasion scandal.

Of course, the problem is that Obama wasn't corrupt and there isn't evidence that the previous administration was involved in some grand effort to set Trump up as a Russian stooge. Whatever one thinks of his policies and leadership, Obama's administration was also remarkably free from major scandals especially compared with other Presidents in recent times.

The "Obamagate" conspiracy theory needs to be understood in the context of the 2020 election. It is Trump's attempt to rewrite the history.

[230FMJ]

The Communist News Network rushing to defend the Kenyan? I’m shocked, shocked I tell you!

[VeniVidiVici]

Of course, the problem is that Obama wasn't corrupt and there isn't evidence that the previous administration was involved in some grand effort to set Trump up as a Russian stooge. Whatever one thinks of his policies and leadership, Obama's administration was also remarkably free from major scandals especially compared with other Presidents in recent times.

Repeat a lie often enough ...

[petitfour]

Barry and Mo recorded a book reading that was released in the last week. It’s a children’s book about Words. The message Barry wants his minions to get is that they need to flood the media with words. Words and more words. Shuck and jive.

[milagro]

Of course he wasn’t. He did NOTHING wrong—EVER—because he is sits on the throne the media so lovingly built for him.
In front of that throne they have spent almost a decade praising him for being gloriously wise and WONDERFUL while at the same time carefully cleaning up the piles of dirty laundry and pure CRAP that were left behind it.

[John Milner]

“With Liberty and Justice for ALL,” b!tches!!!

[From The Deer Stand]

CNN believes only Republicans can be investigated. Democrats get to skate.

[Savage Beast]

Note tagline.

Truth will triumph.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Of course, the problem is that Obama wasn’t corrupt and there isn’t evidence that the previous administration was involved in some grand effort to set Trump up as a Russian stooge. Whatever one thinks of his policies and leadership, Obama’s administration was also remarkably free from major scandals especially compared with other Presidents in recent times.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is complete and utter propaganda.
The Kenyanesian Usurpation was the worst thing to ever happen to this country.
The crimes committed were myriad and we know that the last ones were exactly what CNN says they weren’t, an attempt to take out a legitimate President by an ineligible criminal.

[MAGAthon]

the opinion writer, Julian Zelizer, is a professor of political history at Princeton! pity the students. his Twitter description states “Contributor, NPR’s Here and Now. Co-host of Politics & Polls”. remember Barr saying winners write the history. make sure this guy is never in that position. Trump 2020.

30 Sept 2019: CNN: What would it really take for Trump to resign?
by Julian Zelizer
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke said Saturday that the best thing President Trump could do for the country is to resign. Rather than forcing the country to go through a divisive impeachment process or scorched-earth election, O’Rourke said, the President should decide, for the sake of the country and his own self-interest, that he needs to bow out...

There are some experts who speculate that this mess could all end with the President stepping down, not for the good of the nation, but for the good of his own future. They envision some kind of a deal giving him legal immunity from prosecution in exchange for leaving office. In other words, resignation would be his get-out-of-jail-free card...

If Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell met with Trump to deliver the news that his colleagues would not support the administration should a trial prove that articles of impeachment were sound, the President would suddenly be the one sitting on the other end of the boardroom table about to be told, “You’re fired!”...
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/30/opinions/what-would-it-really-take-for-trump-to-resign-julian-zelizer/index.html

18 Apr: Barrons: America’s Love Affair With An Elderly Epidemiologist
by Daxia ROJAS, AFP
“In a moment of crisis like this, Americans are desperate for heroes,” said Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University.
“Even in a difficult political environment, Fauci has insisted on speaking the truth — even with an angry president standing besides him,” said Zelizer...

When asked about a petition drive to have him declared People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2020, he replied: “When they show this to me at my age, I say, ‘Where were you when I was 30?’”
So far, more than 18,000 people have signed the petition.
https://www.barrons.com/news/america-s-love-affair-with-an-elderly-epidemiologist-01587260404

[marktwain]

CNN: Who are you going to believe? Me or your lying eyes?

[Rurudyne]

Yep. They could excuse away Biden groping a toddler while singing Only You live on TV while Hillary accepted ChiCom money and Obama was praying towards Mecca in the background.

[gloryblaze]

I actually read most of it. It was genuinely painful - even worse than I expected, and I expected bigly bad.

[gandalftb]

When honorable surveillance tools become available to dishonorable, haters this will keep happening.
............
Obviously we need more checks and balances.
...........
Clearly, all FBI activity has to be predicated by a probable cause warrant, issued by a judge. No more fishing trips. We have 16 other intel agencies and congressional investigators that can develop that probable cause and then hand off to the FBI.
..............
Any untoward domestic intel the FBI finds they hand off to Homeland Security or state investigators. Anything foreign they hand off to CIA, etc. Once the problem rises to probable cause, FBI, go at it.
..................
Other wise this will happen again and again.

[jerod]

It’s taken three years, but the lamestream media is finally at the point of admitting that this scandal is worthy of a ‘gate’ status... Meaning there IS something there.

Obama and his minions committed crimes that made Nixon’s antics look like amateur hour. Serious crimes with many of the suspects acting in a manner treasonous to the United States and its constitution.

Nixon’s plumbers on the other hand were at the very least patriotic in their actions.

[cdcdawg]

“Trump went on a Twitter rampage this past week”

Meaning that a few things that CNN doesn’t like we posted on his Twitter account. That’s what a “rampage” is.

[Jess Kitting]

It's not many presidents that get a "-gate" named after them.

One thing Trump has achieved is to get CNN to repeat "Obamagate" over and over again.

That in and of itself is brilliant.

[SoCal Pubbie]

“Trump understands that he will never be a widely beloved public figure — he is more like the long list of “heels” in professional wrestling who gain their fame by stirring the fans to boo them.”

What CNN doesn’t understand is the voters pulling the lever for Trump usually express no love for politicians. Unlike lefties, who worship the various Dear Leaders from FDR through Obama, those on the right might admire or respect a president, but have no need for beatification.

[ballplayer]

So something CNN refuses to cover,such as Fast and Furious, IRS scandal,Obama,Tell Vladimir I have one more Election to win then I can be more flexible,now claims the Coup attempt a Conspiracy? Of course since they have closed their eyes to the obvious what other conclusion can they come too,BECAUSE FOLKS THE TRAITORS WHOSE ASSES THEY HAVE PROTECTED FOR YEARS PROVE THAT THEY ARE COMPLICIT AS WELL.
So if you care to learn the truth turn off CNN,you won’t get it there.
The next CNN story is the Conspiracy of Hitler’s death camps,all made up by Republicans.

[Vision]

Morality, truth, and justice are concepts alien to CNN. The media outlet need this explained to them, lol.

[ballplayer]

I thought until this very minute that I had seen everything the democrats could do or try to pull off.
This is even beyond Satire.