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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBannon now claims he didn't know he was on the record in interview.
For those at home playing along at home with the Bannon interview saga tonight, here's the latest.
The White House chief strategist has told associates he never intended to do an "interview" with an editor at the American Prospect, a left-wing publication.
Bannon has told associates that he admired the author's stance on China, and so called the journalist, Robert Kuttner, on Tuesday, to discuss his piece. Apparently Bannon never thought that the journalist might take his (very newsworthy) comments and turn them into a story. It's Anthony Scaramucci all over again (minus the curse words.)
The result is not good for Bannon, who is already under pressure, with colleagues lined up against him and a president who agrees with him ideologically but tells associates he thinks Bannon is a leaker.
https://www.axios.com/bannons-colleagues-disturbed-by-interview-with-left-wing-publication-2473835346.html
Was it a drunk call, or some strategic move on his part? I honestly can't decide which at this point.
greeny2323
(590 posts)LOL. Earlier Ryan Lizza jokingly tweeted that Bannon would claim it was off the record.
herding cats
(19,567 posts)He's pretending it was a big oops and the mean leftist publication took advantage of him. Poor little victim.
comradebillyboy
(10,175 posts)herding cats
(19,567 posts)He gets loaded at night and starts calling people spilling the beans?
The Mercer's will not be happy if he's out of the WH. That much I do know.
tanyev
(42,610 posts)herding cats
(19,567 posts)If he doesn't get fired, then he has to be Trump's superior.
SweetieD
(1,660 posts)herding cats
(19,567 posts)I suppose we'll know by if he gets fired or not?
Egnever
(21,506 posts)uponit7771
(90,364 posts)Corgigal
(9,291 posts)He just wants to be seen as the mastermind to all the nazi crap that he is stirring up. Of course, he thinks they are nuts, but I guess he doesn't believe they will read a left wing magazine or at least believe it.
Congrats, drunk looking boy, you helped murder a young woman.
herding cats
(19,567 posts)But, he's been manipulating them for power and profit for ages now.
He can't be stupid enough to believe the interview wouldn't be seen by his minions, though. I personally helped several read it tonight on Twitter by providing them the link to the google cache of the article when the servers went down due to excessive traffic at the site.
I'm still not sure what his game is, but I don't believe him for a nano second.
brooklynite
(94,727 posts)In-ter-view (N): a meeting at which information is obtained (as by a reporter, television commentator, or pollster) from a person
herding cats
(19,567 posts)He knew what he was doing. Why is my question?
The_Casual_Observer
(27,742 posts)Hahaha
herding cats
(19,567 posts)That may be more to the point than we all realize.
asiliveandbreathe
(8,203 posts)I also think it is Bannon and the POS who tweet from the POS's twitter...Bannon is cunning...and evil -
herding cats
(19,567 posts)So, what the hell is his game here. Because he has to have a goal in all this.
asiliveandbreathe
(8,203 posts)loud and clear..mission accomplished...not so much as a distraction - as kicking the hornets nest...my best guess...his message was very provocative....
Pris
(6 posts)The Democrats, the longer they talk about identity politics, I got em," the former head of Breitbart told The American Prospect in an interview. "I want them to talk about racism every day."
"If the left is focused on race and identity, and we go with economic nationalism, we can crush the Democrats, he added.
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/346898-bannon-i-want-democrats-to-talk-about-racism-every-day
herding cats
(19,567 posts)So, is this him throwing himself under the bus to try and force us to shift gears? Because it's not making me feel like I shouldn't be calling out Trump on racism and his mainstreaming of Nazis. I'm still as disgusted as I was yesterday and they day before, etc. with Trump.
Welcome to DU!
rzemanfl
(29,568 posts)oxbow
(2,034 posts)herding cats
(19,567 posts)If only he were as harmless.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)Not sure what I think about this at all.
This seems like a float of possible actions ? Hoping to see how the left responds?
Not really buying Bannon called a reporter on the left and just forgot not to be on the record. Someone he had never contacted before?
herding cats
(19,567 posts)It just doesn't feel right does it? As it sits it makes him appear to be more in control than Trump. Which we all know isn't a light Trump wants to be cast in.
There's motivation behind this is my best guess, but I'm not sure what it is exactly. Maybe you're right and it's just to see how the left responds?
My response on social media has been, "if Trump doesn't fire him we know he's the real puppet master." We'll see how our Democratic leaders react tomorrow.
uponit7771
(90,364 posts)JonLP24
(29,322 posts)If that is what occurred good for him but journalists usually don't burn their sources like that if that is what happened.
herding cats
(19,567 posts)I'm just not really sure I'd buy that. He's extremely well seasoned at this game.
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)I think Bannon probably Mooched himself like a poster said above.
herding cats
(19,567 posts)It's just seems so unlikely, but you never know. I've seen much stranger things come out of this WH. Hubris does seem to be the one common thread to most of the events, too.
trixie2
(905 posts)It has to be strategy. Is he playing to the GOP saying the alt-right is a bunch of clowns?
I will be watching this.
Who the hell knows what is going on? Seriously? It's hard to imagine the spot our country is in within our boarders and across the globe.
herding cats
(19,567 posts)That's all I can say at this point. We're off the tracks on this crazy train by this point.
EthanBlue
(48 posts)He's arrogant, clouded, but not this stupid. This has to be some kind of game or angle. I'm just having a hard time trying to figure out what he has to gain from this. The "President" has no love for leakers, and no love for being called out on his mistakes. So why put himself in the fire like this?
herding cats
(19,567 posts)Link to original article: http://prospect.org/article/steve-bannon-unrepentant
I'm not sure of the game here, but my gut tells me there's a game being played.
Skittles
(153,193 posts)Skittles
(153,193 posts)leftynyc
(26,060 posts)This is what he wanted out there.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)I'm not gonna link there, but they're reporting it.
I can't imagine that would happen without his express ok.
grossproffit
(5,591 posts)ehrnst
(32,640 posts)No way he would have "inadvertently" spoken to a reporter so soon after the Mooch did.
He's giving cover to Cult 45 for firing him. That way "libs" are satiated with a sacrifice, but he doesn't admit doing it under pressure about being a Nazi.
tblue37
(65,487 posts)excited about Trump's press conference that he couldn't contain himself.
After what happened to Scaramucci, you'd think everyone would know they have to ensure an off the record agreement has been established before spouting off like that to a reporter.