When the right loved Vladimir Putin
Back when Putin was in the news for oppressing LGBT people, many conservatives said he had his virtues
ELIAS ISQUITH
Following Russias de facto annexation of Crimea this weekend, Republican leaders have begun forcefully criticizing President Obama, blaming his supposed weakness and tendency toward indecision for Putins aggressive move while suggesting that Russias autocrat wouldnt have seized Crimea if he were more intimidated by U.S. power.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who has long been one of Obamas most hawkish Republican critics on issues of foreign policy,
said on CNN that America has a weak and indecisive president, a situation that invites aggression. GOP Rep. Mike Rogers, meanwhile,
complained on Fox News that Putin was playing chess while the U.S., under Obamas leadership, was merely playing marbles.
Yet all this tough talk from Republican circles is obscuring a salient fact: Until recently, conservatives were far more divided when it came to their estimation of Russias president. While no high-ranking Republican in his or her right mind would ever praise Russia itself, it wasnt so long ago that many conservatives especially those of a more socially reactionary bent were celebrating Putin for his countrys controversial anti-gay laws, which they described as being interested primarily in saving Christianity and traditional values rather than discriminating against LGBT people.
Here are just a few examples of right-wingers cheering on Putin:
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http://www.salon.com/2014/03/03/when_the_right_loved_vladimir_putin/