We now have the bizarre and unprecedented spectacle where a major party ticket has praised Russian strong man Vladimir Putin. At the pathetic commander-in-chief forum, Trump said Putin “has been a leader far more than our president [Obama] has been”. Mike Pence doubled down on the ticket’s praise for Putin by saying: “I think it’s inarguable that Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader in his country than Barack Obama has been in this country.”
Democrats expressed outrage while most Republicans tried to dodge questions about whether they agreed with Trump and Pence that Putin is a great leader.
Lindsay Graham was one of the few Republicans who showed any courage by blasting Trump and Putin when he said: ““Other than destroying every instrument of democracy in his own country, having opposition people killed, dismembering neighbors through military force and being the benefactor of the butcher of Damascus, he’s a good guy.”
Deb Fischer expressed concern over the remarks from Trump and Pence but she didn’t condemn them. Nor did she withdraw her previous endorsement of Trump.
Ricketts, Fortenberry, Smith and Bacon were even more cowardly than Fischer. They have said nothing about Trump’s budding alliance with Putin.
The voters need to have some answers. Do Nebraska’s most prominent Republicans stand with Vladimir Putin or the U.S.?