Russia Trolls The U.S., Offers A “Helping Hand” In Overseeing Elections

We Are Change

Russia has asked to send election monitors to three different U.S. state polling stations — Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma — according to reports by Russian media.

What can only be described as a trolling against the United States, which routinely accuses Russia of meddling in its elections, ignores all the corruption and illegal practices that have been perpetrated by both Hillary Clinton and her presidential campaign.

The U.S. State Department was not amused by Russia’s request. One state election official threatened criminal action if Russian monitors showed up, according to Russia Today. State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner called the Russian’s suggestion a “PR stunt.”

WH says Russia's intent unclear in seeking to monitor US election. @PressSec doesn't dispute @StateDept that Russian request a P.R. stunt.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 21, 2016

This all stems from when Russia’s consul general in Houston, Alexander K. Zakharov, wrote letters back in September to officials in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, requesting that a Russian officer be present “for a short period of time, when convenient, with the goal of studying the U.S. experience in organization of the voting process.”

In response to Mr. Zakharov’s letter, the Texas secretary of state, Carlos H. Cascos, wrote back. “We are unable to accommodate your request to visit a polling station; however, our office is available to discuss generally the election process or perhaps facilitate a meeting with local election officials in Harris County to go over the general process with your representatives.” Cascos added that, “[A]nyone entering a polling place without authorization would be committing a misdemeanor crime.”

A spokeswoman for Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler, Meg Casper, called it a “propaganda ploy.” “We’ve allowed observers from overseas in the past from other countries, never from Russia,” she said. She added that “…the FBI and Department of Homeland Security also told us not to do this.”

Oklahoma Secretary of State, Chris Benge, turned down the request as well, citing Oklahoma law. “While it would be our honor to offer the opportunity to observe our voting process, it is prohibited under state law to allow anyone except election officials and voters in or around the area where the voting takes place,” Chris Benge said.

This is so contradictory, it’s nearly laughable. For instance, the United States often sends monitors to observe elections in countries with a history of voter fraud. So this is a retaliatory intervening by Russia, claiming that U.S. elections are rigged. And the U.S. is hypocritical for not allowing Russia to monitor its elections at the state level.

The further irony of all this?

“U.S. officials participated in a similar observation mission for Russia’s parliamentary elections in September,” according to Mark Toner, State Department deputy spokesman.

And there you have it.

 

(Writing by Aaron Kesel; editing by Bryan William Myers)

The post Russia Trolls The U.S., Offers A “Helping Hand” In Overseeing Elections appeared first on We Are Change.

from We Are Change http://wearechange.org/russia-trolls-the-u-s-offers-a-helping-hand-in-overseeing-elections/