Friday July 29, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday July 29, 2016 Donald Trump Again Praises PutinÕs Leadership, Saying ItÕs Better Than ObamaÕs GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Ñ Donald J. Trump called PresidentÊVladimir V.ÊPutinÊof Russia Òa better leaderÓ than President Obama, offering the praiseÊin an interview with ÒFox and FriendsÓ on Thursday, just a day after sayingÊhe hoped Russian intelligence services had successfully hackedÊHillaryÊClintonÕs email. Asked about comments he had made Wednesday at a news conference inÊFlorida, where he said, ÒPutin has much better leadership qualities thanÊObama,Ó Mr. Trump reiterated his views in slightly starker terms. ÒI said heÕs a better leader than Obama,Ó Mr. Trump said. ÒI said heÕs aÊbetter leader than Obama, because ObamaÕs not a leader, so heÕs certainlyÊdoing a better job than Obama is, and thatÕs all.Ó Mr. Trump also tried to walk back, in part, comments he made WednesdayÊabout Russia hacking Mrs. ClintonÕs emails Ñ anÊextraordinary momentÊinÊwhich the Republican nominee basically urged Russia, an adversary, toÊconduct cyberespionage against a former secretary of state. ÒOf course, IÕm being sarcastic,Ó Mr. Trump said in the interview tapedÊWednesday that aired Thursday morning. ÒBut you have 33,000 emailsÊdeleted, and the real problem is what was said in those emails from theÊDemocratic National Committee. You take a look at what was said in thoseÊemails, itÕs disgraceful. ItÕs disgraceful.Ó Mr. Trump seemed to be conflating the roughly 30,000 emails on Mrs.ÊClintonÕs private server during her time as secretary of state, which herÊlawyers deleted as personal, and the roughly 20,000 emails DemocraticÊNational Committee emails that had been hacked. Mr. TrumpÕs comments Wednesday about Russian hacking set off aÊfirestorm of criticism, and his efforts to recalibrate his remarks began justÊhours after he looked into a bank of television cameras and declared,ÊÒRussia, if youÕre listening, I hope youÕre abl

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday July 29, 2016

Donald Trump Again Praises Putin’s Leadership, Saying It’s Better Than Obama’s

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Donald J. Trump called President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia “a better leader” than President Obama, offering the praise in an interview with “Fox and Friends” on Thursday, just a day after saying he hoped Russian intelligence services had successfully hacked Hillary Clinton’s email.

Live sketch of Clinton's acceptance speech

Live sketch of Clinton’s acceptance speech

Asked about comments he had made Wednesday at a news conference in Florida, where he said, “Putin has much better leadership qualities than Obama,” Mr. Trump reiterated his views in slightly starker terms.

“I said he’s a better leader than Obama,” Mr. Trump said. “I said he’s a better leader than Obama, because Obama’s not a leader, so he’s certainly doing a better job than Obama is, and that’s all.”

Mr. Trump also tried to walk back, in part, comments he made Wednesday about Russia hacking Mrs. Clinton’s emails — an extraordinary moment in which the Republican nominee basically urged Russia, an adversary, to conduct cyberespionage against a former secretary of state.

“Of course, I’m being sarcastic,” Mr. Trump said in the interview taped Wednesday that aired Thursday morning. “But you have 33,000 emails deleted, and the real problem is what was said in those emails from the Democratic National Committee. You take a look at what was said in those emails, it’s disgraceful. It’s disgraceful.”

debate2016sm

Debate Night, Sept 26, 2016

Mr. Trump seemed to be conflating the roughly 30,000 emails on Mrs. Clinton’s private server during her time as secretary of state, which her lawyers deleted as personal, and the roughly 20,000 emails Democratic National Committee emails that had been hacked.

Mr. Trump’s comments Wednesday about Russian hacking set off a firestorm of criticism, and his efforts to recalibrate his remarks began just hours after he looked into a bank of television cameras and declared, “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.”

Mr. Trump posted on Twitter on Wednesday that he was simply urging Russia — if it had indeed hacked Mrs. Clinton — to hand her emails over to the proper authorities. “If Russia or any other country or person has Hillary Clinton’s 33,000 illegally deleted emails, perhaps they should share them with the F.B.I!” Mr. Trump wrote. (Source: New York Times)