# Americans, do you care about foreigners trying to influence presidential elections? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 25, 2016, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896 "2016-08-25T12:26:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/1 "2016-08-25T12:26:32Z")
Inspired by Nigel Farage (he’s just [an ordinary bloke](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn6Rds4kbFE)) urging [Trump supports to go out and campaign harder](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/37182075). Do you in any way resent non US citizens chipping in and attempting to sway the presidential election? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/2 "2016-08-25T12:35:52Z")
Simply by asserting their opinions? No. I may disagree with the specific content, but it isn’t categorically inappropriate for a citizen of one state to have something to say about the politics of another. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/3 "2016-08-25T12:43:18Z")
Considering the US, at times is extremely involved in the politics/elections of other countries, it would be a bit hypocritical for us to take affront to people from other countries weighing in on ours. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/4 "2016-08-25T13:19:09Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Considering the US, at times is extremely involved in the politics/elections of other countries, it would be a bit hypocritical for us to take affront to people from other countries weighing in on ours. This. It’s far too common to read about the high dudgeon of one US department or another (up to the Oval Office) huffing and snorting about “interference” from a foreign country in some more or less internal US matter… the inverse of which is something the US has blithely done for… many decades if not a century or more. But I voted yes; I think nations should stay out of other nations’ internal politics. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/5 "2016-08-25T13:31:11Z")
I think after what the USA did in Ukraine I doubt Putin will ever calm down and stop interfering in US elections. Way, way over the line. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/6 "2016-08-25T14:17:15Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > I think after what the USA did in Ukraine I doubt Putin will ever calm down and stop interfering in US elections. Way, way over the line. Why am I not shocked that you are a Putin fanboy? ---
**Author:** ![Mnemnosyne](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mnemnosyne/32/3347_2.png) [@Mnemnosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mnemnosyne)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/7 "2016-08-25T14:46:12Z")
Considering who the US elects in a variety of federal offices, but especially president, affects the entire world in one way or another, it only seems logical for me that everyone else in the world should be interested in influencing US elections, one way or another. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/8 "2016-08-25T16:32:33Z")
As long as it is aboveboard as in publicly expressing for the record their opinion about the election, I have no problem. Under-the-table funding or digging up and spreading dirt, that I object to. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/9 "2016-08-25T16:35:40Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > I think after what the USA did in Ukraine I doubt Putin will ever calm down and stop interfering in US elections. Way, way over the line. What did we do in Ukraine? ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/10 "2016-08-25T17:03:56Z")
Opinions are fine. Nigel Farage can say whatever he likes. For most foreigners, I’m going to assume an ulterior motive, but doesn’t every endorser have some kind of ulterior motive? Farage is no worse than the Hollywood crowd, who would mostly be foreigners if they had followed through on their promises to move to Canada. (Though I understand if Canada doesn’t want them either). Anyway, there are some world leaders that I’d be interested to hear from, mostly in an academic sense. Endorsements are not something I put a lot of stock in, even if it’s someone I respect or generally agree with. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/11 "2016-08-25T21:22:45Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > Inspired by Nigel Farage (he’s just [an ordinary bloke](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn6Rds4kbFE)) urging [Trump supports to go out and campaign harder](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/37182075). > > Do you in any way resent non US citizens chipping in and attempting to sway the presidential election? Well, Obama did see fit to give the Brits a good scolding over not leaving the Euro Union. Good for goose/good for gander? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/12 "2016-08-25T21:54:41Z")
> [@Duke\_of\_Rat](#): > > Well, Obama did see fit to give the Brits a good scolding over not leaving the Euro Union. Good for goose/good for gander? Indeed, though I recall a great many over here opining that the POTUS should’ve minded his own business on that one, so I wanted to see if the feeling is mutual. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/13 "2016-08-25T22:06:33Z")
Damn right I do! It’s America’s job to influence every other country in the world, not the other way around! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/14 "2016-08-25T23:45:14Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > As long as it is aboveboard as in publicly expressing for the record their opinion about the election, I have no problem. > > Under-the-table funding or digging up and spreading dirt, that I object to. Had something typed up, but this says it as well as I could. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/15 "2016-08-26T01:03:00Z")
I guess a lot depends so I went for the middle ground. But I really don’t see that its ever been possible to keep foreign money and influence out of US elections; the best we can hope for is some reasonable control. ---
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/16 "2016-08-26T01:45:25Z")
I’m an American living overseas who frequently opines on local politics, so I’d have to be a super-sized hypocrite to oppose it going the other way. Common sense, really; it affects me, so damn right I’m going to express an opinion on it. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/17 "2016-08-26T02:54:10Z")
If they try to influence it legally and ethically, I think it’s fair game. What happens in the United States has a big impact on other countries, so it’s reasonable for them to want to affect the elections. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/18 "2016-08-26T02:59:15Z")
How many remember the Guardian’s attempt in 2004? > [@](#): > > The result of the US election will affect the lives of millions around the world but those of us outside the 50 states have had no say in it - until now. In a unique experiment, G2 has assembled a democratic toolkit to enable people from Basildon to Botswana to campaign in the presidential race. And with a little help from the folks in Clark County, Ohio, you might help decide who takes up residence in the White House next month. Oliver Burkeman explains how. > **[My fellow non-Americans ...](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/oct/13/uselections2004.usa11)** > > The result of the US election will affect the lives of millions around the world but those of us outside the 50 states have had no say in it - until now. In a unique experiment, G2 has assembled a democratic toolkit to enable people from Basildon to... It did not go well. The reaction– > **[Reaction from the US to the Guardian's Clark County project](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/oct/18/uselections2004.usa2)** > > Last week G2 launched Operation Clark County to help readers have a say in the American election by writing to undecided voters in the crucial state of Ohio. In the first three days, more than 11,000 people requested addresses. Here is some of the... ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/19 "2016-08-26T03:02:35Z")
Not an American myself, but I think the question is of general relevance. Probably there’s a distinction to be made between a private individual foreigner, even a well-known one, expressing views on one side or the other of an election contest, and a foreign state or foreign official doing so. Obama as President of the US opining about the UK’s Brexit vote is probably more problematic than, say, Stephen Fry tweeting about the US presidential election. Farage as an elected representative is not quite as significant an official figure as the President of the United States, but he probably would still do better to shut up. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896/20 "2016-08-26T08:54:35Z")
Here’s one Briton’s view of American interference in our politics: [EU referendum: with respect, Mr Trump…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=794757) And [Obama](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=19285376&highlight=obama#post19285376). And what **UDS** said. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-do-you-care-about-foreigners-trying-to-influence-presidential-elections/763896.md?page=2)