Pence Called Putin a Stronger Leader Than Obama in 2016

Yesterday, I was skeptical of former Vice-President Mike Pence's stance regarding there being "no room for Putin apologists in the GOP".

Well, it turns out that Pence was something of a Putin apologist himself during the 2016 presidential campaign. During a CNN Townhall in September 2016, Pence said of Putin, "I think it's inarguable that Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader in his country than Barack Obama has been in this country."

I think that point is very arguable. After all, Russians don't have a say in the matter where it concerns Putin who is cracking down harshly upon those who see fit to protest his war in Ukraine. No American President has or should have the powers Putin possesses.

Now I think it is entirely reasonable to criticize Obama's Russian reset policy up to and including making concessions on ballistic missile defense in Poland and the Czech Republic. Obama's "The 80's called and want their foreign policy" retort to Mitt Romney's assertion that Russia was our number one geopolitical foe looks more and more foolish with each passing day.

Yet it is entirely possible to criticize Obama's Russian foreign policy without heaping praise on Putin. Mike Pence chose that path and in doing so it makes his words about there being no room for Putin apologists in the GOP ring hollow.