July 2, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Obama: Russia wins if U.S. adopts value to ‘discriminate against people’

President Obama at final news briefing in 2016. (Screenshot courtesy White House)
President Obama at final news briefing in 2016. (Screenshot courtesy White House)

BY CHRIS JOHNSON  |  Amid growing revelations that Russia engaged in cyberattacks on the United States to influence the election in favor of Donald Trump, President Obama said Russia can only succeed in changing America if the nation adopts values like believing it’s OK to “discriminate against people because of their faith or what they look like.”

Obama made the remarks Friday during his final news conference of 2016 when asked if he would declassify intelligence briefings revealing Russia’s role in hacking the emails of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign chair John Podesta — as well as information on whether Vladimir Putin himself was responsible for directing it.

“They can impact us if we abandon our values,” Obama said. “Mr. Putin can weaken us just like he’s trying to weaken Europe if we start buying into notions that it’s OK to intimidate the press, or lock up dissidents, or discriminate against people because of their faith or what they look like.”

Although Obama didn’t explicitly mention anti-LGBT discrimination, such persecution is among the human rights violations in Russia. The State Department’s 2015 report on Human Rights Practices found “continuing violence against LGBTI individuals” and LGBT activists who reported “threats and attacks in public” to which the police often won’t respond.

In 2013, Russia enacted a notoriously anti-gay law criminalizing the “propaganda” of non-traditional sexual relations to minors, which effectively limits the rights of free expression to advocate for LGBT people.

Obama made an implicit comparison between Putin and Trump. The president-elect campaigned on criticizing the media as “dishonest,” a pledge to ban Muslims from entering the United States and demonizing Mexicans as criminals and rapists.

But Obama also cautioned against placing too much weight on the impact of Russia on the election, saying the real problem in the United States is a “hyper-partisan” political culture.

“The Russians can’t change us or significantly weaken us,” Obama said. “They are a smaller country, they are a weaker country, their economy doesn’t produce anything that anybody wants to buy except oil and gas and arms. They don’t innovate.”

Citing a poll by the Economist and YouGov finding a growing number of Republicans, now 37 percent, approve of Putin, Obama quipped, “Ronald Reagan would roll over in his grave.”

“And how did that happen?” Obama added. “It happened in part because for too long, everything that happens in this town, everything that’s said is seen through the lens of does this help or hurt us relative to Democrats or relative to President Obama. And unless that changes, we’re going to continue to be vulnerable to foreign influence because we’ve lost track of what it is that we’re about and what we stand for.”

In the aftermath of an NBC News report that Putin himself was responsible for directing the cyberattacks, Obama initially declined to say whether the order came from Putin. Pressed on the issue, Obama conceded, “Not much happens in Russia without Vladimir Putin.”

“This is a pretty hierarchical operation,” Obama said. “Last I checked, there’s not a lot of debate and democratic deliberation, particularly when it comes to policies directed at the United States. We have said and I will confirm that this happened at the highest levels of the Russian government and I will let you make that determination as to whether there are high-level Russian officials who go off rogue and decide to tamper with the U.S. election process without Vladimir Putin knowing about it.”

On the issue of whether cyberattacks directly influenced the vote counts on Election Day in favor of Donald Trump, Obama said “we feel confident that that didn’t occur and that the votes were cast and they were counted.”

Related Posts

Top Military Commander Urges Return of Troops Deployed to ICE Protest Response

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

General Requests 200 National Guard Soldiers Be Returned to California Wildfire Unit The senior U.S. military officer overseeing federal forces...

(Video) Los Angeles County Supervisor from the 2nd district, Holly J. Mitchel, Gives a Powerful Speech

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Supervisor Mitchell Called on Residents to take action at the rally for Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano in Culver City.

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Parents Opposed to LGBTQ Books in Schools

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Decision Could Pave Way for More Opt-Out Challenges Across the Country The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that a Maryland...

The Westside Lights Up for July 4: Fireworks, Drone Shows, and Parades Return Across West Los Angeles

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

From Marina Del Rey’s Fireworks to Culver City’s 1980s-Themed Drone Show, Get Ready to Celebrate From fireworks over Marina del...

Tens of Thousands Defy Ban at Budapest Pride as Hungary Cracks Down on LGBTQ+ Rights

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Marchers Risk Fines and Jail Under New Law Targeting LGBTQ+ Gatherings Tens of thousands marched through the streets of Budapest...

California Judge Rules FAIR Plan’s Smoke Damage Policy Unlawful

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Court Says Wildfire Insurance Program Illegally Denied Claims Legal protections for California homeowners took a step forward this week after...

(Video) Culver City Residents and City and County Leaders Rally for Disappeared Ice Cream Man Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

US Representative for California’s 37th Congressional District, Sydney Kamlager-Dove Speaks About What is happening to the disappeared.

Drake Slashes Price on Beverly Hills Estate to $79 Million Amid Market Slowdown

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Price Cut Adds to a Broader Retreat From His Los Angeles Real Estate Holdings. Musician Drake has reduced the price...

Iranian Pastor in West L.A. Speaks as Church Rocked by Immigration Raids 

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Five Detained as Fear Spreads Through Persian Christian Faith Community  Fear has spread through a West Los Angeles congregation after...

Cinespia Brings Fireworks and Fan Favorites to Hollywood Forever This July

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Watch Top Gun, La La Land, and More Under the Stars at Hollywood Forever Cinespia, Los Angeles’ iconic outdoor movie...

LGBTQ State Senator Scott Wiener Signals Bid to Succeed Pelosi in Congress

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Wiener Files Paperwork to Run for California’s 11th District in 2028 State Sen. Scott Wiener, a prominent Democrat representing San...

California Doubles Down on Hollywood: $750M in Tax Credits Approved for Film and TV Industry

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

State Lawmakers Back Major Expansion of Production Incentives, Raising Job Projections Los Angeles’ film and television industry is poised to...

Corporate Pride Pullback: Major Brands Scale Down LGBTQ+ Support Under Trump’s Second Term

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Mastercard, Target, and Others Retreat From High-Profile Campaigns as Federal Policy Shifts Shifts in federal policy under President Donald Trump’s...

Community Seeks Answers After SF Drag Performer Detained by ICE

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Hilary Rivers Vanished After a Scheduled Immigration Appointment Members of San Francisco’s queer and trans communities gathered outside the local...

EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles Returns with Star Chefs, Firefighter Tribute, and Wildfire Relief Efforts

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Culinary Festival Features Exclusive Restaurant Collabs, Support for Small Businesses  EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles, the celebrated food festival curated by The...