Collusion Against Trump
Mark Steyn, the renowned commentator, succinctly summed up the developing story on the Trump dossier. He said it appears that "everyone is colluding with Russia except Trump."
There are now two dark clouds hanging over the DC Swamp, Hillary Clinton and the political left. Here's a brief review.
The first cloud results from yesterday's breaking news that the infamous "dossier" on Donald Trump was paid for by the Democrat National Committee and Hillary Clinton's campaign. Virtually all the salacious allegations in the dossier have been debunked.
But the document was used by the Clinton campaign and the Obama Administration, including elements of the FBI and the Justice Department, to attempt to destroy President Trump.
The dossier was put together by former British spy Christopher Steele, who ran the "Russian Desk" for MI6, the British intelligence agency. Steele used Russian sources to compile the dossier's lies. There are allegations that the FBI also paid Steele for his services. The FBI is refusing to answer congressional inquiries on that matter.
All of this points to Russian involvement and collusion in our election to hurt President Trump, not to help him.
The second scandal is called the "Uranium One" affair. It involves the sale of 20% of America's uranium reserves to a Russian owned company, which took place in the early years of the Obama Administration.
During this time, a massive Russian bribery scandal aimed at influencing the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton State Department was uncovered. Incredibly, the FBI failed to brief Congress about this corruption. The Clinton Foundation was receiving millions of dollars from Russian entities who would benefit from the uranium deal and Bill Clinton received lucrative speaking fees in Russia. Something smells rotten.
Breakthrough?
We have also learned that an informant who worked undercover on the "Uranium One" scandal wanted to go public with what he knows about the corruption. He was blocked from doing so by the Obama Justice Department. But late last night, the Trump Justice Department lifted restrictions on him, allowing him to appear before congressional committees.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) is calling for a special council to be appointed to investigate this whole mess.
Bashing Bannon
There is word today that major establishment Republican groups are going to attempt to smear Steve Bannon, and by extension the candidates he is supporting. As you may know, Bannon recently announced a campaign to recruit primary challengers against sitting Republican senators.
I would understand if these establishment groups wanted to battle Bannon over issues, like open borders and globalism. Bannon is against globalism and open borders, many of them are for globalism and open borders.
But according to this morning's report, these GOP groups intend to bash Bannon as an "anti-Semite" and a "white nationalist." That sickens me. I have known Steve Bannon for years and he is neither of those things.
Steve Bannon was a regular guest on the "Bauer & Rose Show." My co-host, Tom Rose, is an Orthodox Jew and former publisher of the Jerusalem Post. We regularly talked about the U.S./Israel alliance and growing anti-Semitism in the West. I do not recall one case in which Steve Bannon demonstrated anything that could be remotely considered anti-Semitic.
Bannon is also speaking at this year's annual gala for the Zionist Organization of America, a group led by my friend Mort Klein.
Bannon has made it clear that America First has no room for either anti-Semitism or racial bigotry. He rejects the whole concept of white nationalism and reminds audiences that economic nationalism benefits of all our citizens, regardless of race.
The themes these GOP establishment groups are reportedly going to use are the same themes the left is using against every conservative organization in the country, including the Family Research Council and the Alliance Defending Freedom. Both of these groups have been labeled "hate groups" by the left. It is unconscionable for any Republican organization to use that tactic.
And here's one final point for these so-called "Republican" groups to consider: The president will become collateral damage in their disgusting smear campaign.
Steve Bannon worked for Donald Trump for a year, on his campaign and in the White House. He still champions the Trump agenda. The left-wing media will immediately seize these ads to say, "Even these Republicans believe Steve Bannon is a bigot, so Trump must be too since Bannon worked for him."
It is hard to imagine how any Republican consultant could be so stupid. But, then again, they wasted $100 million on Jeb Bush last year and $30 million on Luther Strange this year.
In Defense Of Christians
Vice President Mike Pence delivered a powerful address last night at the In Defense of Christians Solidarity Dinner. Unlike the past eight years when the Obama Administration repeatedly praised Islam and largely ignored the genocide against Christians in the Middle East, the Trump Administration is committed to defending these ancient Christian communities, which predate Islam.
Pence's remarks are receiving wide attention in part because he announced that the Trump Administration would begin channeling U.S. relief efforts away from the United Nations and through faith-based organizations.
The vice president also announced that he would be traveling to the Middle East in December. "One of the messages that I will bring on the president's behalf," Pence said, "is that now is the time to bring an end to the persecution of Christians and all religious minorities."
Here are some excerpts of his address:
"Nearly 2,000 years ago, the disciples of Jesus left their home country. They left their land, radiating outward from Israel in every direction, bringing with them the Good News that is proclaimed to this day. But sadly today, Christianity is under unprecedented assault in those ancient lands where it first grew. . .
"Let me assure you tonight, President Trump and I see these crimes for what they are -- vile acts of persecution animated by hatred for Christians and the Gospel of Christ. And so too does this President know who and what has perpetrated these crimes, and he calls them by name -- radical Islamic terrorists. . .
"But tonight, I came to tell you: Help is on the way. President Trump and our entire administration are working tirelessly to protect these ancient communities. . . Our fellow Christians and all who are persecuted in the Middle East should not have to rely on multinational institutions when America can help them directly.
"And tonight, it is my privilege to announce that President Trump has ordered the State Department to stop funding ineffective relief efforts at the United Nations. . . The United States will work hand-in-hand from this day forward with faith-based groups and private organizations to help those who are persecuted for their faith. . .
"We stand with those who suffer for their faith because that’s what Americans have always done. . . I know the American people offer forth a chorus of prayers for these communities from our hearts to the heart of heaven."