DAVE ROSS

How the alt-right uses the president

Aug 17, 2017, 6:58 AM

(File, AP Photo/Evan Vucci)...

(File, AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

(File, AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

HBO on Tuesday broadcast a Vice News documentary on Charlottesville, Virginia focusing on Christopher Cantwell, one of the alt-right organizers of the Charlottesville rally.

RELATED: Did we catch a glimpse of the real Trump?

“Donald Trump is not doing anything I find particularly useful, frankly…”

Reporter Elle Reeve and her crew actually jumped into Cantwell’s escape van when the fighting started. They ended up talking for hours with all of it, including the outtakes, recorded by Cantwell to protect himself.

“… worst case scenario, you’re going to go out of your way to make me look like an [expletive deleted], at which point I’m going to have to prove you’re dishonest people, right?”

Along with the talk about race statistics, and creating a white homeland, and how it’s sometimes tough to get a date, he also explains he had a plan to exploit the president’s reaction, no matter what he said.

“When Donald Trump comes out and condemns all hate, bigotry, and violence, then we have to say Donald Trump understands we were attacked. And if Donald Trump came out and said I hate The Daily Stormer, then, Andrew, I’m going to have to publish a piece that I understand, Mr. President, you had to do it.”

What he’s saying is he was ready to turn any statement to his advantage.

“So, if Donald Trump came out today and said Christopher Cantwell of the radical agenda is the worst person who ever lived, I’d make it part of the introduction music to the Radical Agenda [his podcast], and that is information warfare.”

The way Cantwell sees it, it’s a victory either way. The only way he could’ve lost would be if the other side hadn’t engaged, or if social media didn’t exist.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

4 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

11 days ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

1 month ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

1 month ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

1 month ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

2 months ago

How the alt-right uses the president