A Bernie Sanders Campaign Adviser Was a Russian. Now He's Speaking Out. (Intercept)

[Amaryllis]

A high-level adviser and operative for the 2016 Sanders campaign was Vitali Shkliarov, a Soviet-born citizen of Belarus. Shkliarov, who had previously worked on the 2012 Obama re-election campaign and for several other successful Democratic Party campaigns, has also become increasingly in demand as a political adviser and campaign manager in Russia, working for liberal candidates in opposition to President Vladimir Putin.

Possessing a unique background and vantage point, Shkliarov, now that the 2016 election is over, has many interesting observations to express on the state of American politics, the Democratic Party, U.S.-Russian relations, and the impact of rising anti-Russian sentiment in the U.S.

snip

Shkliarov’s anti-Putin bona fides, and his now-entrenched status in both the Russian and American community of liberal and leftist political consultants, makes him a unique voice on a wide range of issues of current prominence, particularly the state of US-Russia relations and the impact of anti-Russian discourse in the U.S. Last week in Rio de Janeiro, I spoke with him about his experiences with the Sanders campaign, his views on Trump’s victory, the dangers posed by rising tensions between Moscow and Washington, and what it’s like now to be a Russian who works in U.S. politics.

Of particular interest is Shkliarov’s analysis of – and his warnings about – the dangers posed from escalating U.S.-Russia tensions (on Tuesday night, the U.S. scrambled jets in response to Russian warplanes flying 100 miles off the coast of Alaska for the first time since Trump became President).

Especially noteworthy are Shkliarov’s concerns about how intensifying anti-Russian sentiment in U.S. discourse is alienating Russian liberals from the U.S. and uniting them behind their own government – as happens in most countries when people, even those who loathe their own government, perceive that their nation is being demonized and targeted by a foreign power.

snip

The transcript of our discussion, edited for length and clarity is below, along with several video clips:

Lots more:
https://theintercept.com/2017/04/19/a-sanders-campaign-adviser-was-a-russian-vitali-shkliarov-speaks-out/

[FreepFryer]

1. Greenwald deflection to discredit/dissuade Russia investigation by reducing it to "demonization".

Especially noteworthy are Shkliarov’s concerns about how intensifying anti-Russian sentiment in U.S. discourse is alienating Russian liberals from the U.S. and uniting them behind their own government – as happens in most countries when people, even those who loathe their own government, perceive that their nation is being demonized and targeted by a foreign power.

Sorry Glenn, you are gonna have to do WAY better than that to make a dent.

[FreepFryer]

2. He was much more forceful with these bullshit tactics back in August...

https://www.democracynow.org/2016/8/31/a_new_mccarthyism_greenwald_on_clinton

[emulatorloo]

3. Greenwald's The 'Ivancept' says Russia/Trump story is 'fake news'

This article is their way of trying to distract from the very real evidence of collusion between Putin's people and Trump campaign people.

[FreepFryer]

6. +1. (n/t)

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Thanks for posting this material.

Glen Greenwald is just another Wing Nut trying to tell the World how great he think he is.

[JudyM]

5. Interesting - a win-win for Putin in drumming up more allegiance from Russian liberals by the

fallout from his US antics: "intensifying anti-Russian sentiment in U.S. discourse is alienating Russian liberals from the U.S. and uniting them behind their own government"