What's Up with Liberals on Russia & Putin?

--Bill Scher, Senior Writer at Campaign For America's Future, joins David to discuss strains of the left wing who support Vladimir Putin's actions

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[pyramidheadrocks]

It's RT. I watched it and used to think Putin was pretty cool. Then I followed other online news channels... RT isn't bad news or anything, but have a very clear "nothing bad happens in Russia" bias.

[shirehorse]

The problem is black and white thinking. The US is bad so everything they do is bad vs anyone opposed to US is automatically good and everything they do is justified. Over simplistic thinking is always wrong because geopolitics rarely happens that way. Usually it's a complex choice with no clear cut right answers. Iran and Russia is never held accountable for the wars that they wage. For a left position to be made it has to be made based on well researched material and that is from peer reviewed material only. Unfortunately, the left news media just jump on a bandwagon and sell their viewers short.

[wtftode]

My friend said "WELL CRIMEA IS MOSTLY RUSSIAN SO IT'S OK"
That's exactly what everyone said when Hitler took Austria.

[AlohaSnackbar]

Remember the last time that two huge power blocks formed in Europe? yeah that ended well, the EU needs to stay outside of Russia's sphere of influence. I don't like what Putin is doing but he certainly has the power to do it, I honestly think that Ukraine should never have been forced into a corner in the first place.

[Nebukadnezzer]

Defending Russian actions in Ukraine is insane, irrespective of whether you are left or right. First, two wrongs do not make a right. "Hey, we messed up, so why shouldn't the Russians get the chance" is not a sound argument. Both actions are wrong _separately_. Second, this is neither about the US nor Russia. This is about Ukraine. Ukraine does not want a portion of its territory to be annexed by Russia. Under international law, Ukraine is entitled to the protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Third, even if Russia were right and Ukraine could go to hell, we'd still have the matter of realpolitik. The US messed up in Iraq, yes, but it still has genuine interests to protect overseas. So do the Europeans. It amazes me that people look to defend Putin and Russia in this matter.

[VanguardSupreme]

Oh please.

Hmm. Speaking as someone who has "defended" Russia's intervention in Crimea, it isn't my opinion that Russia is a lovely place or that Putin is an amazing person all leaders should aspire to be like,  it's that U.S. in particular has little to no business in Ukraine, the interest they have shown Ukraine since the protests is fishy at best, the issue is nowhere as absurdedly black and white as the media has very one-sidedly portrayed it, and on paper the legality of what Russia's done so far pales in shadiness compared to the actions of the U.S. and NATO have done and supported and insisted were/are "legal". Until Russia shows unambiguous military aggression in the matter,  spare me the sanctimonious bullshit.

Also, it's truly sad and pathetic to see douchebag political figures of all stripes from country after country lining up in adulation for Ukraine and pledging all sorts of monetary aid when it's obvious that the only reason they give half a shit about the place is because of Cold War East vs. West dick-waving.

The issue isn't that what Russia is doing is okay, the issue is that many of those who are accusing Russia the loudest are being opportunistic and hypocritical, and have since lost any moral authority regarding geopolitics.

[sylvainthibeault]

And if The US had taken no action and sent no aid, and all NGO's would actually follow mission statements, would Putin still have invaded Crimea? Probably. 

[niriop]

Slavoj Zizek has a good piece on this phenomenon; I think it was called "How the Racist Left Gets Ukraine Wrong", or something like that.

[TrueMathSquare]

I am on the side of Russia on this crises!

[devourerofbabies]

Really?  This guy is saying that the US is a force for good in the world and promotes democracy?  How can anybody say that with a straight face anymore?

Son, I am disappoint.

[mrmeee]

interesting to watch "liberals, " so to speak to talk so clearly about the reality of the world and what is really going on.  Educated, and they understand that just because blood is not being spilled doesn't mean things are just A OK.  So, glad to see you are reasonable that you don't have some simple answer to a complex thing globally.  I am a former liberal republican before the understanding of the 2008 financials that were allowed occurred and how it all went down during and after and today!  I'm younger, but you are younger yet!  I can now see a new generation that does have a good grasp of the world.  Solutions aren't always so clear.  

[Tespri]

How long it takes you guys to figure out that both left and right has idiots? Both sides are wrong on some issues and both are right on some issues. Whole split "left, and right" is really pointless.

[Random_characters_username]

talking about the referendum, was he there? even those people who boycotted the referendum showed up and voted, the native russian majority would still win the vote. Its sad how tax payers money are going to aid a country that  the government is trying to break away from the Russian influence, towards the west and Nato.

[Anita]

People are tired of Obama. The grass looks greener on the other side I suppose. There are alot of things that he does that we wish Obama would do like stand up to corporations, and banks, but on the other hand he is very draconian with civil liberties such as marriage equality. 

[larsoveful]

this is not different in europe.I am as leftwing as they get and I agree with putin on this one and maeny people do.

[jpfrssnv]

The Ukraine is to Russia what the old Banana Republics were to the United States.

[Hmmmook]

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