Push Back On GOP Talking Points Against Obama’s Handling Of Crimea
Posted by Michelle Moquin on March 19th, 2014
Good morning!
Bush’s Defense Secretary Destroys GOP Talking Points Against Obama’s Handling Of Crimea
Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates pushed back on Sunday against conservatives who’ve blamed President Obama’s “weak” foreign policy for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Crimea.
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Gates dismissed arguments that Obama’s handling of the conflict in Syria or his efforts to trim the defense budget emboldened Putin, arguing that the Russian president also invaded Georgia during the George W. Bush administration.
“My own view is, after all, Putin invaded Georgia when George W. Bush was president. Nobody ever accused George W. Bush of being weak or unwilling to use military force,” Gates, who served as Defense Secretary for Presidents George W. Bush and Obama said. “So I think Putin is very opportunistic in these arenas. I think that even if — even if we had launched attacks in Syria, even if we weren’t cutting our defense budget — I think Putin saw an opportunity here in Crimea, and he has seized it.” Earlier this week, Gates told the Washington Post that the GOP lawmakers should “tone down” their criticism and “try to be supportive of the president rather than natter at the president.”
Though most Republicans agree with Obama’s policy for handling the Crimean crisis, some conservatives have argued that Obama’s perceived “weakness” on the global stage has given Putin the space to move Russian troops into Crimea. “We have a weak and indecisive president” and that “invites aggression,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said last week. “Putin is playing chess and I think we’re playing marbles,” Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee claimed, adding that Russia is “running circles around us.”
During his appearance, Gates also dismissed criticism of Obama’s weekend vacation. “I’ve seen this happen year after year, president after president. President takes a day or two off and plays golf. Doesn’t matter whether it’s President Obama or the first President Bush going fishing. I think you’ve got to give these guys a little time off, you know, mostly they are working 20 hours a day.”
Gates said he does not believe that “Crimea will slip out of Russia’s hand.” “I think it’s part of a long-term strategy on Putin’s part to create a Russian sphere of influence, a Russian bloc,” he explained. “I don’t think he will stop in Ukraine until there is essentially a pro-Russian government in Ukraine, in Kiev.”
UPDATE
On ABC’s This Week, Ted Cruz (R-TX) reiterated the claim that Obama’s foreign policy gave Putin the green light to invade Crimea:
A critical reason for Putin’s aggression has been President Obama’s weakness. That Putin fears no retribution. Their policy has been to alienate and abandon our friends and coddle and appease our enemies. You better believe that Putin sees in Benghazi, four Americans are murdered and nothing happens, no retribution. You better believe that Putin sees that in Syria, Obama draws a red line and ignores it.
*****
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Peace out.
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March 19th, 2014 at 11:18 pm
Awfully quiet lately in blogsville, what’s the story?
Hi Mischa, sorry we’ve been playing a bit of vmail tag, been busy lately…
Luv, Zen Lill
March 20th, 2014 at 7:52 am
Yes, it seems that you Zen Lill sometimes is the only one who can post. I have been trying for a week. I keep getting error messages.
As for the article. I would believe Gates far more than Cruz.
March 20th, 2014 at 7:52 am
Anyone in high political office that uses threat of military action instead of discussion to avert hostilities is on the wrong course, Period!
March 20th, 2014 at 7:53 am
Ditto, Heather. Glad we do not have a GOP WARMONGER in charge…
March 20th, 2014 at 8:07 am
I applaud President Obama as he has already kept us from getting involved in at least three or four more wars, not matter how much goading the Republican war hawks “natter.”
March 20th, 2014 at 8:08 am
How does an ass like Mike Rogers belong on a committee that incorporates the word “intelligence” in its’ title?
March 20th, 2014 at 8:08 am
Well, if one thing is clear, it’s that Hussein Obama is a delusional marxist.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:09 am
Despite the headline and tone of this story, quite clearly both Gates and Cruz make correct points. Gates has admitted Bush’s failings versus Putin in Georgia, and Cruz correctly describes ‘Obama’s weakness’ – even if maybe that weakness is only a secondary factor and not a ‘critical reason’ for Putin’s aggression.
Cruz is wacko on many domestic issues, but not here on foreign affairs. Disturbingly, Gates’ (as quoted here) describes Putin’s strategic objectives as almost a done deal – as if no one will stop him.
A world in which aggressors are not stopped sooner rather than later is a world which is dangerous and gets even more so. And that’s what we have now, thanks to White House policy delusions
March 20th, 2014 at 8:09 am
Gates’ career was undoubtedly well served by his PhD in USSR matters. He was a leading expert yet he and the CIA totally failed to recognize that their economy was in a meltdown, something every cab driver in Moscow could have told him.
The only Buish v. Obama issue would be the decision to deploy the missile defense system. Bush would not have backed down on that but this may be an opportunity for Obama to deploy and show the world that Putin isn’t about to push him around.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:14 am
Bobbi#7, You don’t even know what Marxism is. You are just spouting some talking point given to you by those who think for you.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:14 am
Bobbi#7, if that is what you believe, then you are the delusional person. Stop letting Rush indoctrinate you into these absolute fantasies.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:15 am
marijoca#5—> YOU are sooo OnTarget.
I find Pres. Obama too opaque on why he does things so unconstitutional and odd. But he has been the Only Voice of Reason in this thicket of Republican Stupids.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:16 am
Know why they’re saying the same thing all at once?
They just got back from the CPAC where they were told what to recite.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:17 am
k&r… & fuck ted cruz
March 20th, 2014 at 8:17 am
Whoops! Bet they wish they’d invited Gen. “The Jews are the problem” Boykin instead.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:18 am
Putin would be behaving the same way regardless of who the POTUS was.
All this GOP “weakness” talk is just silliness.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:18 am
To Ted Cruz’s claim that Obama’s foreign policy gave Putin the green light, we need to
point out that the Bush mafia’s love for oil and Saudi sheiks gave the Saudi’s the green light to pull off 9/11.
I think we need to keep throwing that in their faces, every single time they try to come at Obama.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:19 am
Common sense to totally insanity which is the GOP party to date.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:19 am
Eat it, Repubbies. The Republicon Chickenhawk Claque needs to STFU
and the encourage their their sons and daughters to sign up for military service to the USA for a change.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:20 am
All the brain cells are being wasted on this matter.
It only takes a one-second look on the map to understand the strategic importance of Crimea. If one wants Putin to be playing a game then the game is Stratego not Chess.
Putin is walking a strategic tightrope that is only a couple of inches off the ground. If he missteps he only has to readjust and get back on the next offer.
It’s the talking points that are going crazy. Now the XL pipeline should be approved to put pressure on Putin “doncha know;” you betcha, wink.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:21 am
Fascists always want a “strong man” for Der Fuhrer
Of course Obama fails on that score. Bush “won” but it was all pretending and Cheney being so “strong”–that means willing to shed other people’s blood to impress other men.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:21 am
Doesn’t matter, the “truth” is already out: Obama let Putin invade one of our closest allies ….
They heard this on the “liberal media” so, it’s probably actually much worse.
March 20th, 2014 at 8:38 am
In more than 30 states, Americans can be fired just because they’re gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. I think that’s wrong.
That’s why I’ve taken up the late Senator Ted Kennedy’s mantle and fought to protect every American worker by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the United States Senate last fall.
Shamefully, Republicans in the House of Representatives have refused to hold a vote on the bill. The House Republicans may be blocking ENDA, but the president can make a big difference by signing an executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.
That’s why I started my own campaign on CREDOMobilize.com, which allows activists to start their own petitions. My petition, which is to President Obama, says the following:
It is wrong that American workers in many states can be fired from their job because they’re gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Please sign an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Tell President Obama: Sign an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
President Obama has pledged to make 2014 a “year of action” and to use his executive authority to make progress where Congress refuses to do so.
For nearly 75 years, since President Roosevelt signed an executive order banning discrimination in defense contracts in 1941, presidents have used their executive authority to end taxpayer-funded discrimination in the workplace. Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson took similar actions to expand workplace protections. Now it is President Obama’s turn.
Millions of Americans work for federal contractors. By signing an ENDA executive order, President Obama can ensure that taxpayer money does not go to employers who discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Will you join me and add your name to my petition urging President Obama to sign an executive order to end anti-gay discrimination by federal contractors?
Thank you for your support.
Senator Jeff Merkley