McCain tells Russian people 'Putin rules for himself' in Pravda op-ed

Fox News ^ | September 19, 2013

[cunning_fish]

Senate Republican John McCain, one of the most vocal advocates for American military intervention in the crisis in Syria, is firing back after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s op-ed in the New York Times last week, in which the Russian chastised Americans for considering a military strike in Syria and slammed the notion of American exceptionalism.

In an op-ed submitted to the Russian newspaper Pravda, McCain tells the Russian people that Putin "rules for himself, not you." The piece was posted on the paper's website, Pravda.ru, shortly before 10 a.m. Thursday, Moscow time.

He also says that although he has been characterized in the Russian media as “anti-Russian” over the years, he believes he is more pro-Russian than the Putin regime, which he says “misrules” its people.

McCain tells Russian citizens they deserve to live in a society where they can live freely and in accordance with the “inalienable rights” enjoyed by Americans under the Constitution.

“President Putin doesn’t believe in these values because he doesn’t believe in you,” McCain writes. “He doesn’t believe that human nature at liberty can rise above its weaknesses and build just, peaceful, prosperous societies. Or, at least, he doesn’t believe Russians can. So he rules by using those weaknesses, by corruption, repression and violence."

McCain also addresses Putin’s alliance with Syrian President BasharAssad, saying Russians deserve a leader who will not fight on the side of a brutal dictator who carried out a chemical weapons attack against his own people. He says Putin’s allegiance to Assad is hurting Russia’s international stature.

[John Valentine]

So “Putin rules for himself.”

If that’s the case, Mr. McCain, how exactly does that differentiate Russia under the rule of Putin from America under the rule of Obama?

[SMGFan]

Ooh, tough guy , but how about showing that against Obama in 2008 and now. Afraid because he is 1/2 Black?

[BradyLS]

“When I criticize your government, it is not because I am anti-Russian,” he writes. “It is because I believe you deserve a government that believes in you and answers to you. And, I long for the day when you have it.”

Hey, John! I want one of those, too! Can you help us?

[BradyLS]

Arg! Meant that in reply to the original post!

[BradyLS]

Ooh, tough guy , but how about showing that against Obama in 2008...?

No kidding! He wants freedom and prosperity for the Russians. He wanted Obama for us!

[RginTN]

I see much projection here.

McCain attempted to repress political speech with McCain/Feingold. McCain was involved in corruption in the Keating 5. Mccain ally’s himself with terrorists in the Muslim Brotherhood and wants to topple MidEast govts using the US military...that’s violence.

Its a sad day when a Russian politician has more credibility than an US politician like Mccain!

[muir_redwoods]

Versus the completely selfless motives of our senators. /s

[elhombrelibre]

"He says Putin’s allegiance to Assad is hurting Russia’s international stature."

It may be hurting Russia's international stature, but President for Live Putin's got a real fan club here on FreeRepublic. Strangely, his sins as a KGB man and supporter of Communism and the Gulag are forgiven; he can arm the enemies of peace and Security for the money he can get from it, and be called a staunch enemy of al Qaeda. In the case of Assad, he was arming al Qaeda to kill Americans just a couple of years ago. Putin, President for Life, can sell advanced weapons to the mad mullahs in Iran, and still be praised by some as a great Christian without any cognitive disonance.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I’m glad that McCain is a man of the people and not some self serving piece of crap. McCain and 0bama are watching out for the middle class to make sure they cease to exist.

[Stand Watch Listen]

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

It may be hurting Russia's international stature, but President for Live Putin's got a real fan club here on FreeRepublic.

What do you find on the Russian border?

Russian soldiers.

No gay pride marches in the Russian army.

A flat tax, no capital gains tax.

Who is the communist?

[Witch-king of Angmar]

They don't respect your dignity or accept your authority over them. They punish dissent and imprison opponents. They rig your elections. They control your media. They harass, threaten, and banish organizations that defend your right to self-governance. To perpetuate their power they foster rampant corruption in your courts and your economy and terrorize and even assassinate journalists who try to expose their corruption.

This is actually a quite good description of America under the Obama regime.

[AlexW]

Even having enjoyed my eight years in post Communist central Europe,I never dreamed that I would have far more respect for the leader of Russia then I do our own, Barky Obumbo.
Putin is a real man. Obumbo is, at best, a pathetic man-child.

[Witch-king of Angmar]

How has he strengthened Russia's international stature? By allying Russia with some of the world's most offensive and threatening tyrannies. By supporting a Syrian regime that is murdering tens of thousands of its own people to remain in power and by blocking the United Nations from even condemning its atrocities. By refusing to consider the massacre of innocents, the plight of millions of refugees, the growing prospect of a conflagration that engulfs other countries in its flames an appropriate subject for the world's attention. He is not enhancing Russia's global reputation. He is destroying it. He has made her a friend to tyrants and an enemy to the oppressed, and untrusted by nations that seek to build a safer, more peaceful and prosperous world.

This coming from a man who demanded that Egypt re-instates in power the Muslim Brotherhood! You couldn't make this stuff up!

[mikey_hates_everything]

Dear Russians, Sorry about that. We don’t know how our crazy uncle gets himself out of the attic sometimes. Sincerely, Americans

[4rcane]

gawd, is mccain a child? So petty

[cunning_fish]

>>>Strangely, his sins as a KGB man and supporter of Communism and the Gulag are forgiven<<<<

Last time I’ve check, Gulag was dismantled in a period of 1953-1956 and about 90% of Soviet inmate population released at the time.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Just the state of California has more people in prison than any other country in the world.