Jeff Hanlon

Summary

Trump is accused of using "Obamagate" as a distraction from unwelcome stories while elevating himself and exciting his base.

Abstract

The article discusses Trump's accusations against Obama, referred to as "Obamagate." It suggests that Trump's attacks on Obama have been baseless and exaggerated, and that Trump uses these stories to distract from unwelcome stories while elevating himself and exciting his base. The article also references a Politico article by Tina Nguyen and a piece by Jonathan Chait of the Intelligencer, which further criticizes Trump's use of "Obamagate."

Opinions

Trump's attacks on Obama are baseless and exaggerated.
Trump uses these stories to distract from unwelcome stories while elevating himself and exciting his base.
The details of Trump's accusations are rarely important.
"Obamagate" is a tactic Trump has employed throughout his political career.
"Obamagate" is Trump's name for the crimes he's trying to commit himself.

CRAZY CLIPS (:59) Trump is accusing Obama of What Exactly?

Something, I guess.

and a more fun version (:58) from Tooning Out the News . . .

From Tina Nguyen of Politico:

The blunderbuss trumpeting of an anti-Obama narrative is a tactic Trump has employed throughout his political career. Over the years, Trump’s attacks on Obama have veered from the baseless — the president is not an American citizen, Obama tapped my phones — to exaggerations and falsehoods about his predecessor’s record — Obama shipped plane loads of cash to Iran, Obama left the strategic national stockpile empty. In each case, the real estate developer-turned president has used these stories to distract from unwelcome stories while elevating himself and exciting his base. The questionable details are rarely important.

Or as Jonathan Chait of the Intelligencer wrote: ‘Obamagate’ Is Trump’s Name for the Crimes He’s Trying to Commit Himself”