12/13/2016

TheTaintedElectionTheNewYorkTimes

TheTaintedElection
PaulKrugman

DEC.12,2016

1116

DonaldTrumpatacampaigneventinFloridatheSaturdaybeforeelectionday. DamonWinter/TheNewYorkTimes

TheC.I.A.,accordingtoTheWashingtonPost,hasnowdeterminedthat
hackersworkingfortheRussiangovernmentworkedtotiltthe2016
electiontoDonaldTrump.Thishasactuallybeenobviousformonths,but
theagencywasreluctanttostatethatconclusionbeforetheelectionoutof
fearthatitwouldbeseenastakingapoliticalrole.
Meanwhile,theF.B.I.wentpublic10daysbeforetheelection,dominating

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headlinesandTVcoverageacrossthecountrywithaletterstrongly
implyingthatitmightbeabouttofinddamningnewevidenceagainst
HillaryClintonwhenitturnedout,literally,tohavefoundnothingatall.
DidthecombinationofRussianandF.B.I.interventionswingtheelection?
Yes.Mrs.ClintonlostthreestatesMichigan,Wisconsin,andPennsylvania
bylessthanapercentagepoint,andFloridabyonlyslightlymore.Ifshe
hadwonanythreeofthosestates,shewouldbepresidentelect.Isthereany
reasonabledoubtthatPutin/Comeymadethedifference?
Anditwouldnthavebeenseenasamarginalvictory,either.Evenasitwas,
Mrs.Clintonreceivedalmostthreemillionmorevotesthanheropponent,
givingherapopularmarginclosetothatofGeorgeW.Bushin2004.
Sothiswasataintedelection.Itwasnot,asfaraswecantell,stoleninthe
sensethatvoteswerecountedwrong,andtheresultwontbeoverturned.
Buttheresultwasnonethelessillegitimateinimportantwaysthevictor
wasrejectedbythepublic,andwontheElectoralCollegeonlythanksto
foreigninterventionandgrotesquelyinappropriate,partisanbehavioron
thepartofdomesticlawenforcement.
Thequestionnowiswhattodowiththathorrifyingknowledgeinthe
monthsandyearsahead.
Onecould,Isuppose,appealtothepresidentelecttoactasahealer,to
conducthimselfinawaythatrespectsthemajorityofAmericanswhovoted
againsthimandthefragilityofhisElectoralCollegevictory.Yeah,right.
Whatwereactuallygettingarewildclaimsthatmillionsofpeoplevoted
illegally,falseassertionsofalandslide,anddenigrationoftheintelligence
agencies.
Anothercourseofaction,which

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theincomingadministration,

mediataking,istonormalize
basicallytopretendthat

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mightbejustifiedifthere
wereanyprospectof
responsible,restrained
behavioronthepartofthenext
president.Inreality,however,
itsclearthatMr.Trump
whosepersonalconflictsof

SEESAMPLE PRIVACYPOLICY

interestareunprecedented,and
quitepossiblyunconstitutional
intendstomoveU.S.policy

radicallyawayfromthepreferencesofmostAmericans,includinga
pronouncedproRussianshiftinforeignpolicy.
Inotherwords,nothingthathappenedonElectionDayorishappening
nowisnormal.Democraticnormshavebeenandcontinuetobeviolated,
andanyonewhorefusestoacknowledgethisrealityis,ineffect,complicitin
thedegradationofourrepublic.Thispresidentwillhavealotoflegal
authority,whichmustberespected.Butbeyondthat,nothing:hedoesnt
deservedeference,hedoesntdeservethebenefitofthedoubt.
Andwhen,asyouknowwillhappen,theadministrationbeginstreating
criticismasunpatriotic,theanswershouldbe:Youhavetobekidding.Mr.
Trumpis,byallindications,theSiberiancandidate,installedwiththehelp
ofandremarkablydeferentialtoahostileforeignpower.Andhiscriticsare
thepeoplewholackpatriotism?
Willacknowledgingthetaintontheincomingadministrationdoanygood?
MaybeitwillstirtheconsciencesofatleastafewRepublicans.Remember,
many,thoughnotall,ofthethingsMr.Trumpwilltrytodocanbeblocked
byjustthreeRepublicansenators.
Politicsbeingwhatitis,moralbackbonesonCapitolHillwillbestiffenedif
thereareclearsignsthatthepublicisoutragedbywhatishappening.And
therewillbeachancetomakethatoutragefeltdirectlyintwoyearsnot

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justincongressionalelections,butinvotesthatwilldeterminecontrolof
manystategovernments.
Now,outrageoverthetaintedelectionpastcantbethewholeofopposition
politics.Itwillalsobecrucialtomaintaintheheatoveractualpolicies.
EverythingweveseensofarsaysthatMr.Trumpisgoingtoutterlybetray
theinterestsofthewhiteworkingclassvoterswhowerehismost
enthusiasticsupporters,strippingthemofhealthcareandretirement
security,andthisbetrayalshouldbehighlighted.
Butweoughttobeabletolookbothforwardandback,tocriticizeboththe
wayMr.Trumpgainedpowerandthewayheusesit.Personally,Imstill
figuringouthowtokeepmyangersimmeringlettingitboiloverwontdo
anygood,butitshouldntbeallowedtocool.Thiselectionwasanoutrage,
andweshouldneverforgetit.
Readmyblog,TheConscienceofaLiberal,andfollowmeonTwitter,@PaulKrugman.
FollowTheNewYorkTimesOpinionsectiononFacebookandTwitter(@NYTopinion),
andsignupfortheOpinionTodaynewsletter.

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