In what seems to be another instance of thinking the media will like him or be nice to him if he trashes Republicans, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) helped CNN advance a narrative about alleged “pro-Putin” Republicans, who he says have “spoken positively” about Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, Bash asked Romney about alleged “pro-Putin sentiment” from “some corners of your party.”
The first thing Mitt Romney does every morning is turn on The Weather Channel to see which way the wind is blowing that day.
— Kenny BooYah! 🖖🏾 (@KwikWarren) February 28, 2022
While Romney did not name those he claims are uttering “pro-Putin” sentiments, he did say in part:
But how anybody in this country which loves freedom can side with Vladimir Putin — who is an oppressor, a dictator, he kills people, he imprisons his political opponents. He’s been an adversary of America at every chance he’s had. It’s unthinkable to me. It’s almost treasonous, and it just makes me ill to see some of these people do that.
Again, he didn’t specify who is allegedly “siding with Vladimir Putin.”
He went on:
“But, of course, they do it because if they get shock value and it’s good to get the more eyeballs and maybe make a little more money for them or their network. It’s disgusting.”
Just to take things up a notch, Bash followed up by asking, “Treasonous is a big word, so I just have to quickly follow. Would that include the former president?”
Romney didn’t take the bait on that question, at least.
Romney’s remarks about ‘money for the network’ led Mediaite to speculate that Romney was referring to Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson.
Carlson has been a lone voice on cable news asking if it’s really in the American interest to go to war with Russia over Ukraine and questioning the official narratives coming from the government and the media.
You know, what journalists are supposed to do.
Figures who have asked similar questions have gotten similar treatment.
“I gotta be honest with you, I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine…I do care about the fact that in my community right now the leading cause of death among 18-45 year olds is Mexican fentanyl that’s coming across the southern border.” – @JDVance1 #OHSen pic.twitter.com/nf6MUzdWM5
— JD Vance for U.S. Senate Press (@JDVancePress) February 19, 2022
As is often the case during war, anything less than a full-throated, unconditional support of the establishment will surely bring charges of “siding with the enemy.”
No matter how much Mitt Romney and other Never Trumpers attempt to place blame for the crisis at the feet of conservative Republicans, the buck stops with Joe Biden. And currently, many Americans are not OK with that.
A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll showed that just 37% of Americans approve of how Biden has handled the crisis. An even more concerning number is that 59% of voters polled believe that Vladimir Putin chose this time to invade Ukraine is because he currently perceives Joe Biden as weak.
Charges about alleged “pro-Putin” forces are just a sideshow.
"It's unthinkable to me. It's almost treasonous. And it just makes me ill to see some of these people do that." – Sen. Mitt Romney reacts to pro-Putin sentiments from GOP members and some media outlets: https://t.co/5iRvWHNPwR #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/w70vHdoxxm
— CNN (@CNN) February 27, 2022
via simplypatriot
