President Obama is a weak leader, but then most textbook narcissists are. I get that. But Putin? A strong leader?
At Wednesdays’s Commander-in-Chief forum, Donald Trump cited Putin’s approval ratings (because I’m sure Russian polls aren’t cooked) as evidence of Putin’s “strong” leadership; leadership that Trump suggested is stronger than President Obama’s. While that might be true technically, are we really looking to compare the once free-world with a communist dictatorial foe?
Apparently so.
Speaking with CNN’s Dana Bash Thursday, Republican Vice Presidential candidate Governor Mike Pence doubled down on Trump’s odd comparison:
From CNN:
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Thursday defended his running mate’s statement that Vladimir Putin is a stronger leader than President Barack Obama, calling it “inarguable.”In a sit-down with CNN’s Dana Bash at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the GOP vice presidential nominee said Donald Trump was speaking “boldly” as did the 40th president of the United States.”I think it’s inarguable that Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader in his country than Barack Obama has been in this country. And that’s going to change the day that Donald Trump becomes president,” Pence said.But pressed by Bash on the difference between the two nation’s governments — namely that in the US democracy presidents share power with Congress, Pence acknowledged that Trump was not advocating for a dictatorship.”Donald Trump said last night he doesn’t particularly like the system,” Pence said in reference to Russia.
Is Assad a strong leader? What about the Ayatollah?
I get what Trump’s saying, but comparing the strength of a dictator to the leader of a Republic and then deciding in favor of the dictator is just…odd.
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