If you have trouble understanding the whole Trump-Russia connection, I really recommend you read this New Yorker article by Jane Mayer on Robert Mercer. You probably haven't heard his name before but you will.
The Russians influenced the presidential election by the aggressive use of social media to spread lies about Hillary Clinton. The big question is how did Russia know what lies to spread and where and how to spread them? That would seem to require detailed knowledge about the U.S. electorate. How would they know what lies to spread and who to spread it to? How would Russia come by that knowledge?
It's clear from this article that Robert Mercer, a reclusive, sinister, oddball billionaire, paid vast sums of money to Cambridge Analytica to collect incredibly detailed knowledge about the U.S. electorate and how lies could be used to affect the Presidential election. It is exactly the sort of information Russia would have needed. Mercer was well aware of how lies and disinformation could be used to influence public debate since he is the money man behind Breitbart News.
It should be said that Mercer probably didn't think any of it was lies. He has all sorts of weird beliefs about Hillary Clinton and is eager to use his money to share his weird beliefs with the world.
By the way, Cambridge Analytica worked on the successful campaign to promote Brexit. Russia also favored Brexit.
It should be said that Mercer probably didn't think any of it was lies. He has all sorts of weird beliefs about Hillary Clinton and is eager to use his money to share his weird beliefs with the world.
By the way, Cambridge Analytica worked on the successful campaign to promote Brexit. Russia also favored Brexit.
Ms. Mayer is not accusing Mercer of giving Cambridge Analytica data to Russia or knowing it was given. However, it's hard to believe that Russia didn't get the data one way or another. I don't know how Russia's involvement in the election could have been effective otherwise.
In case you're not familiar with the New Yorker, it has a reputation for the most obsessive fact checking of any publication anywhere.
6 comments:
I still can't believe people fell for that stupid Pedophiles in a Pizza Parlor story...
You obviously don't deal with the American public much. Conspiracy theories have been becoming more prominent since the "Vince Foster murder" in the 90's. Right wing media thrives on this crap and mainstream media like the History Channel are really garbage conspiracy and alien story outlets. Many American's greatly prefer the far out, stupendous theories of events over the obvious truth. Years of bad education and healthcare along with drug and alcohol abuse have not helped the American brain much.
What it boils down to is cheating and cheaters should not be able to win...Democracy and decency is crumbling in our great country. I pray that we come out of this a better nation, somehow. It just stinks!
Cheating is the core to the American way. Cheating is honored and encouraged in America. Getting caught is not. Many states "cheated" the number of people living in the state to gain statehood. Cheating on taxes has become a point of glory more than an offense, unless it is someone you don't like, then they deserved to get caught. NFL championship teams have cheated, filming opponents practices for playoffs. The spitball is the stuff of legend and honored. Stock Car cheaters are praised for the creativity. Bootleggers cheated. You can cheat the years of hard work by going on a tv show and singing to get to the top. The lotto is there to get you rich quick. Cheating is the American way!
The American way is also the highway to hell...
Congratulations Charles! I think you are thinking several steps ahead on this one. I think Mercer could be the ultimate American destination and tie to this Russian thing.
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