Kremlin Considers Tucker Carlson an Asset?

[Hammster]

That doesn't mean that he was taken out of context. He could be. But that would need to be demonstrated by comparing what is being broadcast on Russian television and his broadcasts on Fox here. Wouldn't it?

And if Tucker Carlson's messaging here, in full context, has been pro-Putin--then does it really even matter? If Carlson's talking points benefit the Kremlin (even in context), then the broadcasting of "fragments" from his show doesn't take them out of context, but are accurate to the context.

I'm not arguing that's the case, merely presenting a counter-point. Neither of us is working with evidence, and both of us are working on what-ifs.

So the only way to really answer this is, as I said, to compare said fragments with the fuller context of the broadcasts. Agreed?

-CryptoLutheran

The states that they were to post fragments. You can choose to believe that they may be doing this honorably, but I can’t bring myself to that point.

 

[Opdrey]

The states that they were to post fragments. You can choose to believe that they may be doing this honorably, but I can’t bring myself to that point.

I think it's pretty clear Russian media isn't doing anything honorably. The problem is is Tucker espousing a soft-on-Russia or even slightly pro-Russia position.

This has been an ongoing discussion for some time.

Some examples of his comments which definitely seek to frame Russia's reasons for the invasion include:

“...getting Ukraine to join NATO was the key to inciting war with Russia.”

He has framed this through a lens that the US is seeking to antagonize Russia:

“Why in the world would the United States intentionally seek war with Russia? How could we possibly benefit from that war?”

(links)

It's perfectly reasonable to think about these things and try to understand why Russia is doing this. But Tucker has also expressed his ambivalence about Russia's actions.

“Has Putin ever called me a racist? Has he threatened to get me fired for disagreeing with him? Has he shipped every middle-class job in my town to Russia?” Tucker has said on air.

He's questioned whether Ukraine is a democracy (giving support to Putin's false claims that Ukraine needs to be "freed", etc.)

Tucker could very well be playing "devil's advocate" in trying to understand what this has to do with us, but at some point playing devil's advocate turns into being a satanist.

Tucker's job is to speak to people who dislike the Left. That's all he has to do to make a living. And that's fine. We've known that is his job for a very long time. Just as there are people on the left who make a living talking to people who dislike the Right.

Unfortunately for Tucker, in his zeal to speak his mind on air his positions are easily leveraged by pro-Russian groups. Especially when he tries to frame it in terms of "People on the Left are causing this war". This is where a certain responsibility arises.

And I'd be remiss if I didn't admit that in some ways I feel that Bill Maher was unduly crucified back in the 2000's when he made his comment about the 9/11 terrorists that cost him his show.

I don't see Tucker's points as being particularly nuanced, he's much more like Lindbergh after being feted by Hitler in the 1930's. This is a story as old as time. During WWI Tucker would have been thrown in prison due to the sedition laws. We don't want to go back to that. But by the same token it is important to know how our conversations in our free and open society are taken by people who don't always have our best interests at heart.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Kremlin apparently not as big a fan of Fox News correspondent Ben Hall.

Fox News journalist Benjamin Hall injured covering Ukraine war


(Not to mention the late Brent Renaud and his injured colleague Juan Arredondo.)

 

[dqhall]

Tucker Carlson should consider joining the NATO forces. 6 of the top 10 global economies are in NATO, with defenses forces much stronger than Ukraine. His friends the Russians might not be able to protect him.

British aircraft carrier leading massive fleet off Norway

 

[Opdrey]

Tucker Carlson should consider joining the NATO forces. 6 of the top 10 global economies are in NATO, with defenses forces much stronger than Ukraine. His friends the Russians might not be able to protect him.

British aircraft carrier leading massive fleet off Norway

It's really sad for those of us who grew up in the Cold War to see it all come back around. We are literally facing the same horrors only now instead of Russia being an 'economic philosophy' that differs from ours we have a ideology-free dictator. But other than that pretty much everything else is the same.

This is REALLY frustrating. I remember when the Wall came down and it was an amazing time to realize that all the non-stop just-below-the-surface fears of wars with the Russian Bear possibly involving nuclear annihilation were maybe coming to a close!

But coming from that era I also remember that the Right in the US was pretty sure it was going to be the Left that sold us out to the Russians. So I guess things do change.

 

[dqhall]

It's really sad for those of us who grew up in the Cold War to see it all come back around. We are literally facing the same horrors only now instead of Russia being an 'economic philosophy' that differs from ours we have a ideology-free dictator. But other than that pretty much everything else is the same.

This is REALLY frustrating. I remember when the Wall came down and it was an amazing time to realize that all the non-stop just-below-the-surface fears of wars with the Russian Bear possibly involving nuclear annihilation were maybe coming to a close!

But coming from that era I also remember that the Right in the US was pretty sure it was going to be the Left that sold us out to the Russians. So I guess things do change.

President John F. Kennedy opposed Russian communist world domination. A man with a Russian wife spent time in Russia, moved back to the U.S. and assassinated Kennedy. My dad was flying missions over North Vietnam with the USAF when I was in third grade. The North Vietnamese communist revolutionaries were firing Russian made surface to air missiles at his plane. He survived. I was glad when the Berlin wall came down and Russia became a democracy recognizing some freedom of religion. The USSR disbanded. Now Putin wants it back. It is sad to see Russian tanks invading Europe and democracy suppressed, freedoms taken away when an antiwar protestor might get sentenced to 15 years in a Russian prison labor camp.

 

[ViaCrucis]

The states that they were to post fragments. You can choose to believe that they may be doing this honorably, but I can’t bring myself to that point.

I don't either. But I fully believe that Russian media would absolutely broadcast someone on American television that agrees with Russian propaganda. I mean, if they can outsource their propaganda why wouldn't they? They aren't honorable; and, best as I've been able to see, neither is Tucker.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Asset in terms of "they're paying him to say pro-Russia stuff"? Likely not...

But it's easy to see how they could be inclined to take certain snippets of things he says and run it on their TV stations.

He sort of set himself up for that. In his never-ending desire to "own the libs at all costs", when people on the left started showing undying support for the Ukraine and Zelensky, he felt "compelled" to give some counter-narratives to that.

 

[Vylo]

most of the GOP is a Russian asset at this point, namely our last president.

 

[cow451]

They aren’t doing that, though, are they.

They don’t need to. Carlson is giving the Kremlin more than they need.

 

[cow451]

The states that they were to post fragments. You can choose to believe that they may be doing this honorably, but I can’t bring myself to that point.

It’s terrible how the Kremlin is using Carlson’s words. It’s like they are using his statements to cheer up the Russians. Sad.

 

[FireDragon76]

It's really sad for those of us who grew up in the Cold War to see it all come back around. We are literally facing the same horrors only now instead of Russia being an 'economic philosophy' that differs from ours we have a ideology-free dictator. But other than that pretty much everything else is the same.

This is REALLY frustrating. I remember when the Wall came down and it was an amazing time to realize that all the non-stop just-below-the-surface fears of wars with the Russian Bear possibly involving nuclear annihilation were maybe coming to a close!

But coming from that era I also remember that the Right in the US was pretty sure it was going to be the Left that sold us out to the Russians. So I guess things do change.

It's not a new Cold War, just a holy war by one guy and a few of his sycophants living in dark fantasies.

And covering that subject in more depth:

I used to be an Orthodox catechumen at one time, I devoted years of my life to it in fact. I encountered alot of people that were into running away from the challenges of the modern world by hiding in a warped fantasyland within that religion. I have no doubt Putin's "faith" is the same as alot of post-Soviet, formerly atheist Russians, more superstition and romantic fantasy than ethical and ascetic.

 

[Hammster]

It’s terrible how the Kremlin is using Carlson’s words. It’s like they are using his statements to cheer up the Russians. Sad.

And it’s your contention that these fragments are all used in the proper context, correct?

 

[cow451]

And it’s your contention that these fragments are all used in the proper context, correct?

Yes.

 

[KCfromNC]

Asset in terms of "they're paying him to say pro-Russia stuff"? Likely not...

I don't know how likely it is or isn't, given Russians have funded other Republican lobbying efforts, e.g. NRA got more money from Russia-linked sources than earlier reported
Special counsel eyeing Russians granted unusual access to Trump inauguration parties
Political Operatives Indicted for Alleged Scheme Involving Illegal Campaign Contribution to 2016 Presidential Campaign

 

[Hammster]

Yes.

Can’t say I’m surprised.

 

[wing2000]

And it’s your contention that these fragments are all used in the proper context, correct?

By design, Tucker's commentary are designed to create (misleading) headlines without context (...as evidenced by some of the thread titles I see on these forums).

Maybe those who watch his "show" should ask themselves why his comments are so easily exploited by Russian propaganda?

 

[Hammster]

By design, Tucker's commentary are designed to create (misleading) headlines without context (...as evidenced by some of the thread titles I see on these forums).

Maybe those who watch his "show" should ask themselves why his comments are so easily exploited by Russian propaganda?

I don’t watch his show. But it’s incredible to think that anyone believes that Russia is using fragments of his commentary (or any American new source) with any level of integrity.

 

[Opdrey]

By design, Tucker's commentary are designed to create (misleading) headlines without context (...as evidenced by some of the thread titles I see on these forums).

Maybe those who watch his "show" should ask themselves why his comments are so easily exploited by Russian propaganda?

If Tucker Carlson were known for trenchant, intellectual commentary one could possibly say he's trying to explain why Russia is doing what it is doing (regardless of who is really in the wrong here) and proposing different ways of looking at the war.

But Tucker is not known for that anymore (since dropping the bowtie and the pseudo-intellectual facade of his earlier days). Tucker is making a case for Russia, in a very real sense. Maybe, at best, it is an "isolationist" case. That America shouldn't involve itself in this. But there's always the possibility of something worse.

In reality the ONLY thing Tucker has to do is demonize the Left in America. That's it. That's his job description. And if that means becoming a de facto apologist for Putin then so be it.

 

[Opdrey]

I don’t watch his show. But it’s incredible to think that anyone believes that Russia is using fragments of his commentary (or any American new source) with any level of integrity.

I occasionally watch his stuff. It isn't far fetched to think Russia would find easy pickings among this commentary that they can leverage for support.

As noted earlier it is slightly possible that Tucker is taking an "American Isolationism" position and attempting to explain away Russia's actions in hopes that we don't get involved.

Right now Russia can very easily use his exact phrases with no alteration to make it sound like the US has factions within it that are, if not wholly supportive of Putin, at least not as mortified by the ongoing warcrimes as a decent society should be.