Issues Under Fire: Who Hacked the DNC and Why it Doesn't Matter

 

President Obama's last G-20 Summit should've remained focused on foreign policy, international affairs, the global economy and pressing climate issues, but somehow the headlines coming at the close of the event have the U.S. President being called "the son of a whore" by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for criticizing how he's prosecuting his country's drug war and President Obama making a not so veiled threat to the Russians of what could happen if they don't stop hacking into the U.S. 2016 elections process.

Now while the "son of a whore" comment is hot as hell right now, the possibility of a full-blown cyber-war between Russia and the U.S. sounds too good to pass up. Besides, Valdimir Putin is by far a worthier opponent to engage than some Philippine pipsqueak. 

According to the Russian leader and perennial pain in the Obama administration's ass, whomever hacked their way into the DNC to gain access to private e-mails, phones numbers and other personal records did the world a public service, while at the same time denying any Russian involvement.

"Does it even matter who hacked this data?" Putin said. "The important thing is the content that was given to the public." And from this observer's perspective, I couldn't agree more. But wait, there's more. "There's no need to distract the public's attention from the essence of the problem by raising some minor issues connected with the search for who did it,", while adding again, "But I want to tell you again: I don't know anything about it, and on a state level Russia has never done this."

"We the People" should be grateful for these cyber intrusions (by whomever) and subsequent public sharing of data (by whomever). Otherwise, governments, political actors and "the powerful" would keep us in the dark forever. If the information is accurate and verifiable, are we to ignore it because the data was obtained by unscrupulous means and sources?

Think about it, if you were given photos of your spouse in the arms of another lover, would you not look at the ugly truth because that spouse didn't consent to the photos being taken? Don't bother answering this question, we've read your mind on this one.

The hacked e-mails released by WikiLeaks clearly exposed the DNC's covert support for Hillary Clinton over her rival Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination. That leak and others, led to DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz's resignation and the Party being forced to sheepishly acknowledge and apologize for what had occurred.

While these revelations weren't exactly news to Bernie supporters, having proof of the scandalous efforts to undermine the Sanders campaign was just what his dispirited followers needed. Those revelations reenergized many of those Progressive hard liners to consider Jill Stein of the Green Party as their next choice.  On the other hand, the Clinton forces could only scream foul-play.

When a Clinton campaign computer network, along with the Democratic Party's fundraising committee for the U.S. House of Representatives were compromised, the Russians were accused (without evidence) of trying to influence the outcome of the U.S. 2016 elections. 

Putin denied the allegations saying, "We have never interfered, are not interfering, and do not intend to interfere in domestic politics". "We will carefully watch what happens and wait for the election results. Then we are ready to work with any American administration, if they want to themselves." Apparently, as far a Putin is concerned, that's that.

In reality, considering the United States has a well documented history of spying on and destabilizing weaker governments, by providing opposition parties resources (leaked data included) to topple current leaders, it's doubtful the Clinton campaign or the Obama administration, for that matter, will get much traction or sympathy over these accusations. 

Vladimir Putin is correct, it's the message that's important here, not the shady messengers.

Bottom line: It doesn't matter who's behind these revealing and helpful cyber intrusions, nor their motives, because the American people sealed their fate when they allowed themselves to be manipulated into selecting the two most politically undesirable candidates imaginable to represent them. Podcast Below!