Russia’s Interference in US Elections, Myth or Reality

Obama accused Trump of trying to “curry favor” with the Russian president, whom he compared to Saddam Hussein in one of his harshest comments yet about Vladimir Putin.
 
Obama blasted Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump for offering a soundbite to the Larry King Politicking Show that airs on RT.
 
The interview came on the heels of an NBC News national security forum Wednesday night during which Trump criticized Obama and lauded Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Trump said has an "82 percent approval rating" according to "the different pollsters."
 
“Certainly, in that system, he’s been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader,” Trump said during his time onstage with forum host Matt Lauer.
 
The Trump campaign has repeatedly been criticized for appearing too chummy with Russia, as Wednesday didn't mark the first time the candidate has praised Putin and some of his top advisers have been scrutinized for their pro-Kremlin ties.
 
Meanwhile the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been urged to hold a hearing to investigate alleged Russian cyberattacks against US election systems ahead of the November presidential election.
 
The call has been made by Senator Jeanne Shaheen said in a letter to Committee Chair Bob Corker and Ranking Member Ben Cardin on Wednesday.
 
Can Russia Influence US Elections?
 
Almost three decades after the end of the Cold War US citizens still have a phobia against Russia.  According to a CNN/ORC poll in August, 48 percent of U.S. voters suspect Moscow of trying to manipulate their presidential election.
 
US media and politicians claim that Russia was involved in making public some e-mails revealing dishonesty and malpractice by the Democratic National Committee. The allegation is that Russia would prefer that Trump rather than Clinton be elected in November.
 
Russia has on several occasions rejected claims of state-sponsored data breaches against US systems. Moscow has also rubbished accusation of in meddling in the internal affairs of the US.
 
However, this being the general public opinion in the US, other polls suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin is popular among Republicans.
 
In August, an Economist-YouGov poll found that only 27 per cent of registered Republicans have a negative view of the Russian president, compared with 66 per cent two years ago. Eighty-five per cent of Republicans say they view Putin to be a strong leader, while just 18 per cent of Republicans say the same of Barack Obama.
 
Among voters backing Trump, the Russian president’s approval ratings are even higher, with one-third of Trump supporters saying they view Putin favorably.
 
In his campaign, the Republican nominee has made positive comments on Russia a core point of his policy platform, repeatedly claiming that he would get along with Mr Putin and be able to negotiate deals with him.
 
Why are Democrats blaming Russia?
 
The Democrats are diverting the issue from the scandalous contents on leaked emails by focusing instead on claiming that Russian hackers infiltrated US computers systems. By riding on the wave of concerns about Putin's alleged expansionist policies and accusing Trump of complicity, the Clinton campaign is trying to reignite the Cold War and betting that American voters who have over decades been paranoid about Russia will  vote for Hilary Clinton.
 
Trump's Business Interests in Russia
 
The Trump Organization, owned by the billionaire Republican presidential candidates is said to have major business dealing in many parts of the world including Russia and Ukraine. According to US media outlets, Trump Organization has ties with a prominent Russian figure, Vladimir Potanin, a billionaire with interests in mining, metals, banking and real estate. Potanin is reportedly close to the Russian government and obtained much of his wealth through state connections. The Trump Organization has reportedly registered the Trump name in 2008 as a trademark for projects in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sochi.
 
US Interference in other countries
 
The US is once again revealing its ugly face of hypocrisy by claiming, without concrete evidence that Russia is trying to influence the November elections. This is while, for decades leaders of the US have been actively trying to influence the elections of other countries in a way that is favorable to the centers of American political and economic power. Often, this meddling is also done to prevent the election of governments opposed to US hegemony such as Iran and Venezuela or those seen too close to Russia or China.
 
As the November elections in the US draw closer, the global media outlets are once again providing undue coverage to the circus aimed which comes every four years.
 
Every time election year rolls around, millions of Americans are encouraged to head to the booths to cast their votes, believing that it actually makes a difference while it is a select few, the super delegates in the primaries and the Electoral College in the national polls, who have the final decision on who rules the country.