It feels wrong to be writing with such anger on Thanksgiving – but a dark cloud is descending now as somehow the political heat is rising from people who should be celebrating and planning how to move forward with their win. To be sure, according to Rawstory, President-elect Donald Trump has received death threats and none of us should tolerate such under any circumstances – none. Now Elon Musk adds even more danger as he used his Wednesday before Thanksgiving to put Frm Lt. Col. Alexander Vinman’s life in grave risk – with false accusations that invite someone who is mentally “off” to threaten Vinman.
According to The Hill, Elon Musk posted a tweet late on Wednesday (Tweet at bottom) that is as disturbing as any. From The Hill’s report:
Elon Musk on Wednesday suggested retired Army Lt. Col Alexander Vindman “committed treason” and “will pay” after the former Trump impeachment witness accused the tech billionaire and close Trump ally of being unwittingly used by Russia. “Vindman is on the payroll of Ukrainian oligarchs.”
Let’s take great care in setting this out because of the gravity of the situation. Vindman risked his life and has had his life in danger ever since coming forward with then President Donald Trump’s “perfect phone call.” He is far braver than most all. And Vindman did make some strong comments in a recent interview – but just note exactly what Vindman is saying. At no point does Vindman accuse Musk of knowingly doing anything morally wrong or even intentionally against American interests:
“Clearly Putin has a type. He likes narcissists and egomaniacs that he knows as a case officer can easily pander to manipulate, to do his dirty work. Russia has been using different levers — whether that’s corruption networks, in this case, it’s influencers like Donald Trump, like Elon Musk, to kind of sow discord.”
Carefully read that Vindman was cautious and purposeful with his language. He says Putin uses corrupt networks – and even Putin would probably admit as such with pride. Then Vindman says that, unlike Putin’s corrupt actors, Putin also uses “influencers” like Donald Trump and Elon Musk to “kind of sow discord.” Vindman goes on to state:
“It’s possible that some [intelligence] is seeping through,” Vindman said, adding, “He’s [Putin] been using the richest man in the world to do his bidding. In some cases, that’s encouraging him probably to support Donald Trump.
Now, it is a bit uncomfortable to hear Vindman address whether Musk is unwittingly allowing top intelligence to get to Putin. On the other hand, it sure wouldn’t be hard given that any business deal that Musk might make with the Russian people (And thus through the government) simply can’t be done without some information on American use of satellite distribution due to business deals already in place. (I am going out of my way to give Musk the full benefit of the doubt here, as one should absent hard evidence.) All of this is on Putin and Putin alone. Russian television media has made it extremely clear that they prefer Donald Trump. Of course, Putin wants Musk in Trump’s corner.
Vindman is very carefully saying that A) Neither Musk nor Trump are within any corrupt network, and more importantly B) that Putin is simply using the discord that comes from influencers like Trump and Musk – not that either Trump or Musk intentionally serve Putin’s interests. Putin is a former KGB officer and knows exactly how to “use” people’s own beliefs to his end.
In reality, Vindman is only accusing Vladimir Putin of using people for Putin’s own interests – again, something that Putin would likely admit. But let’s momentarily consider the dynamic if Vindman did directly accuse Musk of serving Putin’s interests. Musk can gleefully sue him for defamation. Or – just as effectively, Musk could post something like: “Vindman’s accusations are laughably and provably wrong. He took his shot at Donald Trump’s presidency and lost last time. He is irrelevant and should be ignored. Donald Trump is back and Vindman just doesn’t like it.” The comment would serve Musk’s purposes – while also giving Vindman some mustard, but not really risk anything.
Instead, Musk accuses Vindman of treason without any evidence. Vindman is the one who now has a lawsuit presuming he is not on the payroll of oligarchs, and then the ominous “will pay” for it. This is a direct invitation to any supporter to make Vindman pay in the worst way. Musk is essentially saying that Vindman deserves what he will inevitably get. So why not take matters into their own hands? Musk likely doesn’t want anyone but Donald Trump to punish Vindman – and that is bad enough – but Musk is certainly not being careful with his language.
This is all just so damned dangerous. Yes, things are as heated as they can be right now. But there is no excuse for killing, nor violent threats, nor threats of political imprisonment – none of it. If it need be said, the threats against incoming Pres. Trump need to stop this instant. All of it is so dangerous and so unneeded.
It is really odd that people like Musk – who won, and have the world at their hands because of that win, seem to be thinking far more about revenge than implementing their plans for the country going forward. Musk is now one of the top five most-powerful people on earth due in part to his relationship with Trump. Why does Musk even care what Vindman says? How does Musk even have time? Why wouldn’t Musk just blow this off as nothing while preparing to “sort of” rule the world?
It makes no sense. It all increases the political temperature past where it stands right now, and – obviously, it does so without any solid purpose going forward. Other than intimidating people to shut up, there is nothing. And strong leaders need not intimidate anyone. They know what they have and can do it without fear anyway.
God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected] and @JasonMiciak and on Blue Sky (Musk’s new rival) with fewer ads.
Vindman is on the payroll of Ukrainian oligarchs and has committed treason against the United States, for which he will pay the appropriate penalty
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 27, 2024
Well, yah, what’s the point of being the richest man in the world and paying for the election of and transition of Trump and being a South African-American oligarch if you can’t threaten the lives of anyone you want to?! 🤔✊️
Yeah. Try saying something about Musk and you see just how much REAL value he puts on “free speech.”
But, the simple reason why Musk found “time” to respond was because his name was mentioned. Maybe it’s time for someone to do a “Beetlejuice” parody swapping out “Elon Musk” for “Beetlejuice.” Say–or tweet–Elon’s name three times, and you get slapped with a defamation lawsuit and a Twitter ban. I think that’s actually a more disturbing concept than summoning Beetlejuice (“Beetlejuice,” at least, was intended as simple fantasy and even his worst behavior was usually pretty mild and didn’t really hurt the summoner).
This is so typical and accomplishing Putin’s propaganda goals. Putin’s corrupt oligarchy and fascist regime has been calling Ukraine corrupt when they have the flourishing democracy from what I can see. Or at least a young, developing democracy that was ousting the corrupt oligarchs. Now, we have that dynamic in our own country, with Trump, Musk and company pushing that agenda. Absolutely disgusting. We must still resist, and fight to regain control of our country. Working with local democratic organizations to elect dems up and down the ballot, just like they did to get here.
Vindman better watch out if he goes into any highrise buildings with windows. This is the diatribe we’ll be getting from 47 and his ilk for the next 4 years. Someone/s will die because of it.
I have several comments probably better left in the recesses of these keys. That said, I was reading yesterday evening about threats against the President-elect. Then I read that there were threats yesterday (Thanksgiving day) from the MAGA right against several Democratic members of Congress. And I thought, this has to stop! All of it, from BOTH sides. I mourn the deaths of critical thinking, and of the ability to see the bigger picture, in favor of one’s own personal feelings. This is what could destroy us all, and will if it continues.
It’s likely that in the near future, standing up for what’s right will involve calculated risks. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it. But if I think that drawing first blood (and I mean that literally) is for the greater good of all, then my priorities need some serious re-wiring.