So what's the best way to respond to this?

[moose65]

We've all seen this on social media, I'm sure: an article, tweet, or post about Trump's cavalier dismissal of receiving information from foreign governments or agents, and someone inevitably replies "But Hillary's campaign got help from a foreigner - Christopher Steele!!1!1!!'"

What's the best way to deflate that line of thinking? By pointing out that Steele is British, so he doesn't represent a hostile foreign government? By saying that Steele was paid, first by Republicans and then by Democrats, and that's not the same as foreigners offering information in return for something later on? By saying that Steele was an intelligence agent who had investigated many things in the past, and he didn't have his own agenda?

I know that the hardcore Trumpers won't listen to reason, but we have to push back, lest that line enters the popular consciousness as just another "both sides do it" alternative fact.....

[Moostache]

1. Tell them that Steele shared EVERYTHING he had with the FBI too...

Then watch them repeat something about e-mails or Benghazi.
Then smack them clean across the face and go do something better with your time, like pluck eyebrows or rub down your feet with a smoothing stone...

[moose65]

13. I like your screen name

As you can see from mine, I have an affinity for the moose as well. I also have a mustache 😆

[tableturner]

2. Here's how:

It is illegal to be given something of value by a foreign entity. That is what Russia/Wikileaks did for Trump. It is also illegal to have not reported that illegal contribution, so even if it were a legal contribution, which it definitely was not, that would be a campaign violation.

It is not illegal to pay a foreign entity for work performed, which is what the Democrats did with Steele.

Big difference!

[Fresh_Start]

3. Tell them Steele and Clinton did not attack state elections elections systems

Tell them Steele is not an agent of a foreign government
Tell them Steele was hired by a conservative GOP organization to perform research on multiple GOP candidates
Tell them Steele contacted the FBI directly about concerns about Trump
Tell them Steele was not trying to control the US election and install a puppet

[StarfishSaver]

4. The difference is that Steele conducted an investigation and turned the information over to the FBI

And while he wasn't an American citizen, he wasn't acting on behalf of a foreign government or interests. He was HIRED by Americans to conduct an investigation.

Not even close. But, as you say, it doesn't matter. The people Trump and his minions are talking to don't know or care about the difference.

[underpants]

5. The dossier originated from the Republican owner of the Washington Free Beacon

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/27/trump-russia-washington-free-beacon-fusion-gps-244265

McCain took it to the FBI
I think it was in Jeb’s Operation at one point too

[Dennis Donovan]

6. Both the Republicans and the Dems worked with FusionGPS, an American company

Steele was a sub-contractor of FusionGPS. Trump worked with Wikileaks - not a US company but a bad actor working with our enemies.

[Solly Mack]

7. Steele didn't represent any government, hostile or otherwise.

He wasn't acting as an agent for a government.

He is a former intelligence officer for the British government. Former. He went into the private sector in 2009. Meaning, he did not represent any government. At all.

Steele did NOT work for Hillary Clinton. Steele was hired as an outside contractor for Fusion GPS - and that company was hired by lawyers with the Clinton campaign and the DNC. Fusion GPS hired Steele after they had the other contract.

Steele turned the info he found over to the proper authorities within the US. (FBI)

Trump solicited help from a foreign government. A hostile foreign government at that. And he did so publicly, on air, for all the world to see and hear. Then they agreed with meet with agents of said government.

Government entity. Private entity. Not the same at all.


Trump apologists won't care about any of this. Facts get in the way of their whine-fest.

[mr_lebowski]

8. People ... the Conservative site Free Beacon had nothing to do with Steele's Dossier

They hired Fusion to do oppo-research on Trump for regular domestic dirt, NOT about Russia. Once Trump was nominated, they stopped paying.

Clinton Campaign found out about the work, then presumably bought the info already gathered and continued paying Fusion, and specifically asked Fusion to look into Trumps Russia Ties.

Fusion THEN hired Steele, UNBEKNOWNST to The Clinton Campaign.

Steele then compiled his intel dossiers, and once he realized they were too explosive for 'politics', he went to the FBI with the Docs, and the Clinton Campaign NEVER GOT the Dossier. They didn't even know about it until it hit the news after the election.

Ergo Clinton did not 'hire' Steele by any logical definition nor did she receive the intel he gathered. But neither did the Free Beacon.

[Tanuki]

9. I thought this long thread by David Frum was helpful:

Link to tweet

[BigmanPigman]

10. Lindsey Graham started this false equivalent yesterday.

He brought up the Steele issue trying to trick people into believing his ridiculous both-sidesism.

[arthritisR_US]

11. Steele was hired by Fusion GPS not

by Clinton. He had been working with Fusion long before the GOPIGS hired Fusion.

[moose65]

12. Thanks to all of you!

Very good information in this thread. I appreciate all of your input.