2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumCotton wants Trump to change his mind about Putin
By Steve Benen
Among most congressional Republicans, Vladimir Putin is not a popular figure. The GOPs foreign policy has been largely defined by skepticism of Russia even after the Cold War ended and the countrys authoritarian president has only heightened the partys attitudes.
And so it must come as something of a shock to Republicans to see their partys presidential nominee not only speak highly of Putin, and not only cozy up to Putin, but even surround himself with pro-Putin advisers. By most measures, Donald Trump is running as the most pro-Russia U.S. presidential candidate in generations.
That leaves some in the GOP in an exceedingly awkward position. How does a senator like Tom Cotton (R) of Arkansas reconcile his support for Trumps candidacy with the senators antipathy towards Russias autocratic leader? CNBCs John Harwood asked him about this the other day.
COTTON: Vladimir Putin was a KGB spy and he never got over that. He does not have Americas best interests at heart and he does not have any American interests at heart. I suspect, after this week, when Donald Trump is the nominee and he begins to receive classified briefings, similar briefings to what I receive as a member of the Intelligence Committee, he may have a different perspective on Vladimir Putin and what Russia is doing to Americas interests and allies in Europe and the Middle East and Asia.
Oh. So according to the Arkansas senator, Trump is only pro-Putin because Trump doesnt know what hes talking about. How reassuring.
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http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/cotton-wants-trump-change-his-mind-about-putin?cid=eml_mra_20160726
liberal N proud
(60,334 posts)And it would be very difficult for him to get out of the little bromance
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)denounce him if that were the case. Need not affect any relationship.
But I think it's way too late to just "change his mind" about Putin. Trump apparently has a number of people around him who've also been closely involved with Russians suspiciously close to Putin's circles, in legitimate business and who knows what else, including at least one of his sons. Russia has been the Christian right's version of "the Great Satan" for a very long time.
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)LonePirate
(13,416 posts)JRLeft
(7,010 posts)Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)and it trickled down to constituency. How strong and masterful he was, how much control he had over the party and the Country, looking at that bare chested horseback rider, I think they confused him with the Marlboro man...but I digress.
Trump was doing more or less what he does. And that is to play to his own pocket book and iterate what the party had already been promoting.