He wasn't one of their own. He was one of Putin's. You don't get invited to attend a special gala for the Russian propaganda "news" outlet, Russia Today (RT), and be seated two chairs away from KGB/FSB Putin, if you're not someone very special in their eyes. Check out my post above if you don't know what Russia Today is.
I was referring to him being a life-long democrat and a prior member of the Obama administration.