Republicans on Russia trip face scorn and ridicule from critics at home
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Karoun Demirjian 1 hr ago
Republican lawmakers who went to Russia seeking a thaw in relations received an icy reception from Democrats and Kremlin watchers for spending the Fourth of July in a country that interfered in the U.S. presidential election and continues to deny it.
“Cannot believe GOP, once the party that stood strong against Soviets & only a decade ago sought to democratize the Middle East, is now surrendering so foolishly to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and the Kremlin’s kleptocracy — only two years after Russia interfered in U.S. election,” tweeted Clint Watts, an information warfare specialist at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and frequent featured expert before congressional panels examining Russian influence operations.
“Russians wooing with a shopworn song — repugnant as nails on a blackboard,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) wrote in a Twitter post in response to the delegation’s trip. “They are enemies and adversaries, attacking us.”
Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) led the eight-member delegation on a multiday tour of St. Petersburg and Moscow, a trip that included meetings with Russia’s foreign minister and parliamentarians. It did not include a session that senators had been hoping for: a meeting with Putin, whom President Trump is scheduled to meet at a summit this month.
Members of the delegation set off on their trip late last week promising to be tough with Russian officials ahead of the president’s visit, especially on matters of election interference. But they struck a conciliatory tone once there: The point of their visit, Shelby stressed to the Duma leader, was to “strive for a better relationship” with Moscow, not “accuse Russia of this or that or so forth.”
It played well in Moscow, but not on the home front.
“Politicians celebrate Independence Day in many ways. Some march in a parade. Some attend a barbecue or watch fireworks,” tweeted Richard Painter, an ethics lawyer in President George W. Bush’s administration who is running for the Senate in Minnesota as a Democrat. “But others must travel further to meet with their most important constituents.”
The senators who posted Fourth of July messages on social media while still in Moscow took some of the sharpest criticism, some of which highlighted that while they met with Kremlin-connected officials, Britain discovered that two of its citizens had been poisoned by a suspected Russian nerve agent, the same substance that injured a former Russian spy and his daughter in England in March.
Others pointed out that while the delegation was in Russia, the Senate Intelligence Committee released a report finding Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election with a clear preference for helping Trump defeat former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Only one of the delegation participants, Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-La.), sits on a congressional panel that has looked into the Russia probe.
Appearing Thursday on Fox News, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) said the Russia trip had been “productive.”
“We sent a very strong message and a direct message to the Russian government,” he said, ticking off four items he said they pressed while there: Don’t interfere in U.S. elections, respect the sovereignty of Ukraine, work with us toward peace in Syria, and uphold obligations under nuclear arms treaties.
That message did not appear to have much impact, though.
“We heard things we’d heard before, and I think our guests heard rather clearly and distinctly an answer that they already knew — we don’t interfere in American elections,” said Sergey Kislyak, the former Russian ambassador to the United States and now a member of Russia’s upper house of parliament.
On Russian state television, presenters and guests mocked the U.S. congressional delegation for appearing to put a weak foot forward, noting how the message of tough talk they promised in Washington “changed a bit” by the time they got to Moscow.
“We need to look down at them and say: You came because you needed to, not because we did,” Igor Korotchenko, a Russian military expert, said on a talk show on state-run television.
The congressional GOP’s prominent foreign policy voices have remained quiet about the trip, declining to comment about the visit’s significance. Last week, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) remarked only that Jon Huntsman, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, had been urging several colleagues to visit.
In comments to reporters, Huntsman defended the delegation’s efforts as important.
“Election meddling was stressed in ways that have never been discussed before,” Huntsman said Thursday, pointing out that the congressional delegation was the largest to visit Russia in recent memory. “The fact of the matter is that we have not had the kind of conversations, across-the-table conversations — about things like election meddling and malign activity — that really do need to take place.”
“You can’t solve problems if you’re not willing to talk about them,” he added.
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C'mon! If the President sucks up to Russia's dictator, why wouldn't his party follow his lead?
The republicans have gone mad. I don't know who thought the optics would look good for U.S. Leaders to be over on Russian soil during the U.S. Holiday celebrating U.S. Independence. The Russians are already using this trip to peddle their propaganda and to frame the narrative.
We have become fools in the eyes of the world.
So attempting to improve the relationship of the US with Russia is a bad thing? Would war be a better solution? That's what a large part of the left seems to be projecting?
When was the last time we were at war with Russia? This is not black and white, there are many many levels between cozying up to Russia and war.
Is it okay with you that Russia is meddling in U.S. elections? Why would we push for better relations with a country that is actively working against our country.
You mean countries like China, Iran and North Korea?
If they were actively working against our country, then yes include them. However there is no evidence at this time that they are doing so.
If they were actively working against our country, then yes include them. However there is no evidence at this time that they are doing so.
No evidence that China, Iran, and North Korea are working against our best interests?? Are you serious?
No one seems to be able to tell us just how the Russians meddled with out election. It apparently did not affect the outcome. It's also a matter of record that the Obama administration tried to interfere in the Israeli election.
I wonder how bad [deleted] would lose their mind if the US military did training with the Russian military.
That's an interesting question but this article isn't about that. What are your thoughts about our leaders going over to Russia on America's Independence day and also what is your reaction to Russia making fun of them and America?
I bring up the question because the training happened as far back as 1997. I was part of it, and not a word was said then, nor is it now.
As far as politicians going to Russia, if it's something that can smooth over the rift between our countries, then why not go. The liberal left are the only ones that are all hung up on the President and Russia. As unfounded as it is.
Jeremy - Russia was a part of the G8 during that time and relations between them and the world had improved immensely. There was hope around the world that Russia was moving in the right direction and becoming a good actor on the world stage.
Those sentiments have been changing since Putin rose to power. I get that you had a positive experience during your time in Russia but it's not the same Russia that you remember.
I remember when Republicans were patriotic.
Trump has ruined that, too, leading his followers to bow before Vladimir.
... are you proud?
And I remember when Democrats represented their citizens and was tolerant. Funny how Trump exposed that false impression.
[deleted]
Soldier's aren't paid to think, they're paid to take orders.
No, I've never served in the military but I was raised by a military man who taught me strategic thinking and problem solving. See the big picture and determine the steps to get there. Sometimes you have to take a step back before moving forward. And most importantly, don't be a fucking cry baby.
Let's be honest here. Not all soldiers are, or should be, leaders. Some are just smart enough to hold a weapon and follow orders.
I work with a branch of the military and it's amazing how completely self destructive they are. They won't deviate from process even if it means that the process is making things worse. Most incredible thing to witness. Following orders even if it means walking off the cliff. They are completely lost if left on their own or forced to make an individual decision. smh
I guess this must be a call for some new strand of isolationism on the left where we don't have any contact with any countries where they might not be our allies.
To paraphrase Obama- "The 1930s called and they want their foreign policy back."
Instead of misstating what 'the left' advocates in foreign policy, address the fact Trump has never criticized Putin, and in fact treats him (the person who helped get him elected) better than our closest allies. Trump has done more to help Russia at our expense throughout the world! I'm surprised conservatives are happy for Trump to be Putin's poodle. I'm surprised republicans are also showing such deference to a country that interfered in our elections, while Americans are waiting for something to be done to protect us this year. Why are republicans willing to prostrate themselves for political points at the expense of our democracy and sovereignty?
First of all, nobody on the left has any room to talk about democracy and sovereignty when they encourage pro left officials to manipulate FBI investigations to interfere with elections or when they promote open borders to anyone that crosses illegally with a kid.
Secondly most of our "allies" have no interests in anybody but themselves. Even the govts of our allies have had to give in to their own citizens for putting globalism and elitism in front of what's good for the citizens. Notice how Merkel had had to back down from her open borders policy?
Perhaps Trump has shown more courtesy to Putin because all he has here at home is a vindictive hostile media and half of the country so opposed to him they will literally take any contrary position no matter what, including sticking up for MS 13 and Kim Jong Un. Or maybe Obama was always pro Putin himself, as evidenced by his open mike comment about helping him after the elections.
What kind of sauce do you need to make it possible to swallow all that rightwing BS? Oh, and the poor, poor Trumpy angle is hilarious. He's the biggest POS ever to even drive by the WH much less occupy it and we should feel sorry for his lying, criminal ass? We think not. You may resume your crying jag now.
I don't need any kind of sauce. I just need to listen to the left talk about defunding ICE and having no plan about what to do about families at the border except to use catch and release.
What would conservatives do without their pithy slogans. 'catch and release' 'zero tolerance'
Since the gop is tearing apart all kinds government departments more important (like State, EPA and Education), why should we pay for ICE? This entire immigration 'emergency' is nothing but made up Trump bullshit to get that feedback from his base! Putin is egging it all on! The big bad immigration boogie man isn't ms13, its women and children fleeing violence! So sick of republican bullshit to feed the nasty.
So coyotes leaving people to die in trailers and 12 year old girls being put on birth control because their parents know they'll be raped making the trip north isn't a problem? Good to know.
I am locking this article. I have commitments today and will not be around to monitor.