Posted on 06/04/2007 10:28:20 AM PDT by ASC2006
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's President Vladimir Putin has described himself as the world's only "pure" democrat and attacked the United States and Europe, which have criticized him, for falling short of their own ideals.
In an interview with Western media released on Monday, he rejected Western criticism that he has centralized power in the Kremlin, marginalized the opposition and increased state control over the media.
Asked whether he agreed with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's description of him as an "impeccable democrat", Putin replied laughing:
"Of course I am an absolute, pure democrat. But you know the problem? It's not even a problem, it's a real tragedy. The thing is that I am the only one, there just aren't any others in the world."
Putin said the West's record on democracy was less than perfect.
"Let's look what happens in North America -- sheer horror: torture, the homeless, Guantanamo, keeping people in custody without trial or investigation," Putin said in the interview ahead of this week's summit of the Group of Eight (G-8) industrial nations.
"Look what's going on in Europe: the harsh treatment of demonstrators, the use of rubber bullets, tear gas in one capital or another, the killing of demonstrators in the streets."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Probably because the Democrats here are to the left of Putin.
Is he running against Hillary and Obama for the nomination?
And still people want to vote democrap.
As opposed to using poison gas on hostage situations and radiation to assassinate detractors?
He’s more of a Rockefeller Republican.
Like that is something you want known in public.............
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen video of Putin’s thugs shooting a woman protester up with a syringe of something which caused her to pass out. Not sure we do that here.
Oh well, at least he is honest about “Communist” being the same as “Democrat”.
I believe Zell Miller is still alive.
I’m Spartacus!
Does Howard Dean know about this?
I’d have to hand it to him, he tells it like it is..........
"After the death of Mahatma Gandhi there's nobody to talk to," he concluded.
Hey, Putipute. Just channel him if you want a nice talk.
What’s his DU name?
I think Putin has gone mad — literally.
Our ideal isn’t democracy. We are supposed to be a constitutional republic of citizens, not a rabble led by a strongman.
Maybe that’s what Bush saw (and liked) when he “looked into Putin’s soul”.
So what?
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