When the DNC was hacked, and e-mails revealed that some members made a concerted effort to defeat Bernie Sanders, the FBI reported that the attack came from Russia. Questions immediately arose regarding a “budding bromance” between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Last year, around the same time that Trump claimed that John McCain was not a war hero because he was captured, the NSA confirmed that a cyber-attack had been waged against the Senator from Arizona. McCain has been one of Putin’s more avid detractors.
It has now been revealed that Trump’s campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, had worked for former President Viktor F. Yanukovych. Handwritten records show payments in the amount of $12.7 million to Mr. Manafort from Yanukovych’ pro-Russian party between 2007 and 2012.
Currently, an investigation is in process regarding a group of offshore shell companies, organized by Manafort and Russian oligarch, Oleg Deripaska, a close ally of President Vladimir V. Putin. These companies are responsible for the lavish lifestyle of Mr. Yanukovych when he was Ukraine’s president.
I’m entirely certain that Trump will defend his number one man, and claim that Manafort’s actions were simply ‘good business,’ and that he understood the ‘art of the deal.’
Even the least-informed American voter is aware that Trump cannot defeat Hillary Clinton on the issues. He is desperate in his efforts to discredit her years of service to the nation. It would not be surprising that he sought assistance from Putin through cyber-attacks on the DNC.
Subcontractors who worked on Trump’s projects have reported that he is a fraud, and has failed to pay their workers. Trump has no moral center; we witness that fact every day from his vile and fallacious attacks against anyone who has the audacity to offer criticism to the man with an extremely weak temperament. Seeking help from Putin would not be a surprise. Sadly, if it is true, his supporters would fail to denounce him. It is a fact that he has some of the most loyal men and women in politics in his corner. They agree with him, and therefore, like their leader, hate America. This is far more frightening than Trump himself. The dark side or a small number of our nation’s people has been exposed.
America must rid itself of fear, anger, and hatred if it is ever to become a great nation. I am grateful that I am old enough to remember a country based on compassion, tolerance, acceptance, and forgiveness. We once truly believed in ‘liberty and justice for all.’ Individual freedoms were respected, and religion was a private and personal matter.
Manafort is emblematic of Trump’s questionable campaign staff. A few days ago a spokesperson for Trump claimed that President Obama invaded Afghanistan. These are individuals who have no knowledge regarding the American government, or the history of our nation. They represent Trump, and he represents the Republican Party of 2016.
Sad.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of Disney | ABC Television Group
Follow me on Twitter: @jamesturnagenov
The Truth With No Restrictions 