# Trump accuses Obama of wiretapping him **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 4, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384 "2017-03-04T15:07:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/121 "2017-03-05T22:52:35Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Kinda like all the breathless NYT and WaPo articles about Trump’s campaign collusion with Russians and other sundry Russian shenanigans always rely on sketchy, anonymously sourced reports? Please provide a cite that the NY Times or the Washington Post has stated that the Trump campaign has colluded with the Russians. An article, not an op-ed, please. This is GD and claims like this require cites. Thank you. > [@Quartz](#): > > But if they were tapping someone abroad and Trump happened to call them… Then they weren’t tapping Trump Tower phones, right? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/122 "2017-03-05T23:03:13Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > This guy is so stupid, he’s backed himself into a corner in an oval office. OK, you owe me a new keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/123 "2017-03-05T23:07:13Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > This guy is so stupid, he’s backed himself into a corner in an oval office. Wins this thread. I hope. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/124 "2017-03-05T23:19:32Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Apparently, Comey wants the justice department to [call Trump a liar](http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/comey-asks-justice-dept-to-reject-trumps-claim-that-obama-ordered-wiretap-of-him/). Karma sucks, eh Comey? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/125 "2017-03-05T23:20:37Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > This guy is so stupid, he’s backed himself into a corner in an oval office. Well done! ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/126 "2017-03-05T23:37:33Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Apparently, Comey wants the justice department to [call Trump a liar](http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/comey-asks-justice-dept-to-reject-trumps-claim-that-obama-ordered-wiretap-of-him/). What a goddamned hypocrite. In a just world, Comey would be left twisting in the wind for weeks while the Justice department investigates the supposed allegations. ---
**Author:** ![Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearl_Clutching_Provocateur)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/127 "2017-03-05T23:41:27Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I hope to correct rather than hijack, but the IRS did not target the Tea Party groups. Liberal groups as well as conservative groups had to pass additional review before getting their tax exempt status. Not a single conservative group was denied that status while some liberal groups were. So quit trotting out that old chestnut, it has no substance whatever. > > Now for the main event. Comey is a dick. But good on him for asking the DOJ to deny the allegation. “IRS admits targeting conservatives for tax scrutiny in 2012 election” [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/irs-admits-targeting-conservatives-for-tax-scrutiny-in-2012-election/2013/05/10/3b6a0ada-b987-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8\_story.html?utm\_term=.00d1b8b345c2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/irs-admits-targeting-conservatives-for-tax-scrutiny-in-2012-election/2013/05/10/3b6a0ada-b987-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8_story.html?utm_term=.00d1b8b345c2) As for the idea liberal groups were targeted as well as Tea Party groups, allow me to put forth this analogy. Suppose you have a racist cop who targets Black people. His defense could be, " I"ve stopped white people also." See it would be nearly impossible for a cop to do his job and not stop some white people unless they patrolled an area that almost completely Black. Likewise, the IRS had to reject some liberal tax applications if they were doing their job in the least. No signature. Incomplete forms. Wrong forms. Didn’t meet certain criteria. Whatever. The rejection of liberal tax free applications is no defense that they were not targeting Tea Party groups. ---
**Author:** ![sear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sear)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/128 "2017-03-06T00:04:51Z")
> [@](#): > > " he’s backed himself into a corner in an oval office. " J #119 & #123 & #125 hmmm It would be interesting to know if he ever gives any thought to the consequences of his words. NBC-TV’s 6:30PM/ET News lead was this story. This president is unhinged. He’s not fit to serve as an assistant manager at Piggly Wiggly on the swing shift. What the $#@! is he doing in the White House ?!?! ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/129 "2017-03-06T00:04:51Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > This guy is so stupid, he’s backed himself into a corner in an oval office. Bruce Bartlett‏ again: > > [@](#): > > “Consensus seems to be that there was no wiretap, that Brietbart made it all up, Trump believed it and tweeted it, meaning he’s stupid/crazy.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/130 "2017-03-06T00:12:21Z")
I don’t know, but people are saying it! ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/131 "2017-03-06T00:17:47Z")
Not just unknown people. > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Apparently, Comey wants the justice department to [call Trump a liar](http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/comey-asks-justice-dept-to-reject-trumps-claim-that-obama-ordered-wiretap-of-him/). > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON — FBI director James B. Comey asked the Justice Department this weekend to publicly reject President Donald Trump’s assertion that President Barack Obama ordered the tapping of Trump’s phones, senior U.S. officials said Sunday. Comey has argued that the highly charged claim is false and must be corrected, they said, but the department has not released any such statement. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/132 "2017-03-06T00:22:41Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Bruce Bartlett‏ again: > > [x.com](https://twitter.com/BruceBartlett/status/838243138716172289) Man, Trump needs someone who can be a sort of liaison to Brietbart to avoid these kinds of fuckups in the future. Someone Trump can talk to who knows the ins and outs of how Brietbart works and who can call them up and figure out what is going on before the President sticks his neck out over a lightly sourced story like this. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/133 "2017-03-06T00:34:09Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > This guy is so stupid, he’s backed himself into a corner in an oval office. #blatantlystolen ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/134 "2017-03-06T00:41:22Z")
> [@davida03801](#): > > The Obama administration unleashed the IRS on his political opponents. They also wire tapped reporters. Not much of a leap to think that he would also put a wiretap on Trump. > > It remains to be documented absolutely, but to imagine this happening is not difficult. Uh, yeah right. The IRS has been investigating Trump since at least 1999. But it’s big bad Obama with a grudge who put them onto Trump’s scent. Sure, buddy. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/135 "2017-03-06T01:41:35Z")
> [@Yersenia\_Pestis](#): > > I’m still amazed there are dopers that actually voted for this guy… wow, your minds are truly warped! Let’s keep this sort of unproductive partisan sneering out of Great Debates or Elections and leave it in The BBQ Pit. [ /Moderating } ---
**Author:** ![CatandMouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@CatandMouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatandMouse)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/136 "2017-03-06T01:41:39Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Sure. It is also possible (in fact, I’m 100% certain) that all the contacts between Sessions and the Russians were completely above board. Yet he’s being smeared, tirelessly, by your side. See how that works? Then why did he lie? ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/137 "2017-03-06T01:47:21Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Apparently, Comey wants the justice department to [call Trump a liar](http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/comey-asks-justice-dept-to-reject-trumps-claim-that-obama-ordered-wiretap-of-him/). Note that Comey (allegedly) did not ask the Justice Dept. to refute the claims that Trump Tower was wiretapped. Only that Obama didn’t order the wiretap. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/138 "2017-03-06T01:55:16Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Note that Comey (allegedly) did not ask the Justice Dept. to refute the claims that Trump Tower was wiretapped. Only that Obama didn’t order the wiretap. Sounds like you’re agreeing. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/139 "2017-03-06T01:59:31Z")
> [@CatandMouse](#): > > Then why did he lie? Habit. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/140 "2017-03-06T02:02:24Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Sounds like you’re agreeing. I am pretty sure Obama was smart enough to have loads of plausible deniability if he did. “Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384.md?page=8)