PUTIN TO USA: MIND YOUR OWN DEMOCRACY

Drudge Report ^ | 5/6/05 | Matt Drudge

[wagglebee]

MIND YOUR OWN DEMOCRACY, SAYS PRESIDENT PUTIN, DEFENDING RUSSIA'S AND CRITICIZING AMERICA'S ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM, IN AN EXCLUSIVE "60 MINUTES" INTERVIEW SUNDAY ON CBS

A combative Vladimir Putin tells Mike Wallace he should question his own country's democratic ways before looking for problems with Russia's. The Russian president also says the U.S. shouldn't try to export its democracy, as it is trying to do in Iraq, in an exclusive interview to be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday May 8 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Wallace gets quite a reaction from Putin by asking him about a recent change the Russian leader made. Says Wallace, "There was a time when the regional governors were elected, correct? And all of the sudden, Putin says, 'No, no, no. I shall appoint the governors.' That's democracy? That's not democracy the way I understand it," says Wallace. "The principle of appointing regional leaders is not a sign of a lack of democracy," Putin retorts. "You're absolutely wrong. For instance, India is called the largest world democracy. But their governors have always been appointed by the central government and nobody disputes that India is not a democracy," says Putin.

The Russian leader then points to what he believes are drawbacks to America's own brand of democracy, including the Electoral College system. "In the United States, you first elect the electors and then they vote for the presidential candidates. In Russia, the president is elected through the direct vote of the whole population. That might be even more democratic," Putin says. "And you have other problems in your elections," he tells Wallace. "Four years ago your presidential election was decided by the court. The judicial system was brought into it. But we're not going to poke our noses into your democratic system because that's up to the American people."

Putin also believes the U.S. democratic system does not travel well and that is precisely why he was against the war in Iraq from the beginning. "Democracy cannot be exported to some other place. [Democracy] must be a product of internal domestic development in a society," says the Russian president.

But pulling out of Iraq is not an option, says Putin. "But if the U.S. were to leave and abandon Iraq without establishing the grounds for a united and sovereign country, that would definitely be a second mistake," he tells Wallace.

[Destro]

Israel sells weapons to China. The EU of which England is part might do so soon.

[Grzegorz 246]

They have already arrived :)

[RussianBoor]

Oh, yes, in 20 years and even sooner I hope Arabs will embrace democracy, and not only in Iraq. "Imposing" works always in the sense that other people see the benefits of democracy and freedom and want to have them for themselves. The role of the US in this sense is absolutely indispensable and was surely felt in Russia as well. Israel is doing fine job showing the benefits of democracy to Palestinians. The point is that all kinds of pressure is counterproductive here. Military pressure from the US is far less efficient than ideals of freedom and democracy. It makes other people think the US is an enemy, and sharing ideals with an enemy is not an easy thing to do.

[Destro]

What is amusing or disturbing (or both) is that what Putin said is coming from a classical conservative background yet so called conservatives on Free Republic are slamming him for it. In other words some American conservatives no longer have a clue what it means to be conservative.

[Destro]

not undermining the US

So it's ok in those cases of "undermining".

[Gucho]

That would be like asking Hitler to join our fight against Japan. Putin is selling weapons, building nuclear reactors, and forming alliances with leading state sponsors of terror like Iran, Syria...not to mention his support for Communist revolution in Venezuela, etc.


Your right, he does a lot of shady business with rogue folks.

[wagglebee]

They have already arrived

I know. They have all of their Putin apologetic talking points very well organized and rehearsed, they tend to arrive en mass.

[Destro]

Russia sells advanced weapon systems and provides advanced military training to Saudi Arabia? Oh wait that's us!

[Destro]

It sounds rehearsed to you because you and your ilk are not the brightest bulbs in the bunch. For example, you thought this article made Putin look bad - yet can't explain why. Everything Putin said is right out of the Federalist Papers.

PS: Grzegorz 246 is not an American. He is an E.U. citizen.

[Destro]

They are a far cry from Syria and Iran

I agree - in Syria women can were blue jeans and attain higher education and Christians are equal citizens and in Iran women can vote hold office go to university and drive cars and ride bikes (in special designated areas).

So your side is degrades itself in saying that Saudi Arabia is "a stabilizing force in the Middle East?" If that is the opinion you have of Saudi Arabia how can your judgment of Putin be taken seriously?

With allies and stability like this who needs enemies!

[Destro]

They are so eager to score points against Putin (Cold War left over mentality) that they shoot themselves in the foot with hypocrisy. Everything Putin said would be exactly what a conservative American leader would say if confronted with specific issues of our democratic republic.

[Destro]

and indeed they are, albeit very slowly.

at this rate the Saudis will be a democracy in 200 years. PS: Islamists won the elections for municipal offices (i.e. dog cathcers and the like).

[Grzegorz 246]

"It sounds rehearsed to you because you and your ilk are not the brightest bulbs in the bunch."

Oh yes, we are in the shadow of huge intellectual potential of a guy, who has dolls on his home page :)