If you are a conservative and you spend any time at all on Twitter, chances are you have been added to a hate list by a leftist troll. Most of us who write for Twitchy get added to them almost daily. Hell, just today, I was added to two of these lists. One was called 'Dykes for Donald' (which is interesting since last I checked I was a male). The other was called 'F**got Magat Homos.'
No, I am not joking. Nice people, right? Most of the trolls who make these lists peaked their maturity at about seven years old.
Luckily, it is pretty easy to remove myself from these lists. They only exist so the left can report us to Twitter en masse and try to get us suspended. But I just block them and move on. (OK, maybe I taunt them a little at first. LOL. I'm only human, after all.)
But what happens when you get put on an 'enemies' list by an NGO working for a foreign government? Even worse, what if that NGO was funded by our very own U.S. State Department?
That would seem ... problematic. And yet, that is what just happened to Congressman Jim Banks and many, many others.
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I've just been notified that I am listed on an "Enemies list" compiled by the Ukrainian government, alongside other US congress members and a select few Americans
— Jim Banks (@Jim_Banks) June 8, 2024
To make matters worse, this list was published on a database that received funding from the US government.
My…
Banks' tweet concludes, 'My office will be reaching out to the other Americans who are being targeted by the Ukrainian government.'
Oh, there are a LOT of other Americans being targeted. You can view the complete list here.
Remember, this is from Ukraine, the country we are shoveling hundreds of billions of dollars into so they can fight a war that has nothing to do with us.
Some gratitude.
How does this happen? It's a little complicated, but fortunately, Robby Starbuck (who was also named to the list) explained it all in a lengthy tweet.
This is insane. A Ukrainian NGO just put out an enemies list that includes US citizens. This list blames us for Ukraine’s issues on the battlefield.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) June 8, 2024
Here’s where it gets crazy… The founder of this NGO (https://t.co/I5l9UMJ39c) was TRAINED by the U.S. State Department. The list… pic.twitter.com/ALJoBnRbhx
The founder's name is Anatoly Bondarenko and he was trained at the State Dept’s 'TechCamp.' Now he’s using that training to target US citizens with an enemies list.
The NGO also received US funds. This is beyond unacceptable. Not only are we being forced to fund a meat grinder killing countless young men and women when peace could’ve been attained but now that country that’s been taking our money has a group targeting US citizens AND the US government trained their founder!
We need answers from the US government about what they’re doing to ensure the safety of everyone on the list and what consequences there will be for the creation of this enemies list. Is this the thanks @elonmusk gets for providing Ukraine Starlink? Insane. I expect to see a lot more info coming out over the next week about this group. Will @JoeBiden speak up in defense of American citizens or allow them to be targeted by a foreign nation that he’s led the charge to fund?
Trained by the State Department and funded by the U.S. government? It would seem Joe Biden and Antony Blinken have some 'splainin' to do.
And yes, Elon Musk is on the list. As Starbuck mentioned, this is the same Elon Musk who has provided FREE Starlink access to Ukraine since the war began. But according to this list, he is a Russian propagandist.
I have to admit, I am a little disappointed not to have made the list myself. But you won't be surprised at some of the prominent conservatives who did. They include nearly everyone at The Daily Wire, David Sacks, Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Dan Bongino, Ron Paul, Matt Taibbi, and more. And Jim Banks wasn't the only politician named. Others include Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. Jim Jordan, Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Chip Roy, Rep. Thomas Massie, Sen. J.D. Vance, and even Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Robert Kennedy Jr.
But here's the funny part. Along with those conservative politicians, the list includes everyone in The Squad. Also featured are anti-war pundits and organizations like Glenn Greenwald and Code Pink.
Russian puppets, one and all, LOL.
Some of those named had pretty humorous reactions to this new level of celebrity they achieved.
Oh man, I’m on so many of these lists that if something ever happens to me, they can each blame it on the others.
— Thomas Massie for Congress (@MassieforKY) June 9, 2024
Well, I’m in good company. Me too!
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) June 8, 2024
I’m on this list, too. Interesting to learn of government support.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) June 8, 2024
Also on the US-sponsored hate list: Stephen McIntyre, described as a "scholar" and "expert". https://t.co/NQevT2YFjN pic.twitter.com/wT3b61KthO
— Stephen McIntyre (@ClimateAudit) June 9, 2024
Hey, take the compliment.
Still others who didn't make the list were curious as to how they could.
How can I get on the list? https://t.co/kLRUtQiNpt
— Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) June 9, 2024
We're pretty sure all you have to do is disagree with anything Adam Kinzinger or any of the other 'NAFO fellas' say and they'll add you.
All kidding aside though, this is a serious matter and many on the list were demanding answers.
I’m on the list alongside you, Rep. Banks. Would appreciate your getting to the bottom of who produced it and the role of US government funding. https://t.co/mD6hdjoK66
— Sohrab Ahmari (@SohrabAhmari) June 9, 2024
Why is the U.S. State Department funding an NGO with an “enemies list” consisting of American citizens, including elected officials? Is their goal to create more Gonzalo Liras? https://t.co/uVzGwOCLdx
— David Sacks (@DavidSacks) June 9, 2024
Those are both very good questions. Biden and Blinken need to answer them. And answer them definitively, not let Karine Jean-Pierre dance around a non-answer.
In an attempt to play defense, the makers of the list put out a statement on June 9 on their website:
This article has sparked a swift and organized wave of hate on social media platform X, based on manipulative accusations. Therefore, we find it necessary to provide an explanation for readers who draw their own conclusions after reviewing the material.
The table of research subjects, which has generated the most controversy, is neither a "list of enemies of Ukraine" nor a "kill-list," as it has been labeled in numerous posts circulating on platform X.
Isn't it interesting how they always claim to be attacked by 'hate' after they have created a hate list? And while it may not be a 'kill list' (we hope), there is no question that it is an 'enemies list' when you read through the website to see what they have to say about each person named.
The statement went on further but it doesn't really matter. It's not good enough and it's not who we need to hear from. Frankly, this group can do whatever they want and name whoever they want. The U.S. doesn't control that.
What the U.S. DOES control is the money we are sending to this country. And the question Americans must demand an answer to is this, 'Why is the U.S. funding and training an organization that is targeting American civilians, organizations, and politicians?'
There should not be another single penny or bullet sent to Ukraine until that is answered, investigated, and people in the State Department are held accountable.
Given the demonstrated corruption of the entire Biden administration though, I'm not holding my breath for that one.