What type of conservative values does Putin truly represent? Putin’s Christianity is as sincere as Obama’s was when he sat in the Reverend Wright’s church. Putin could stop abortion in Russia tomorrow. He has that much power. He won’t. At best he represents the traditionalism and conservatism of a benign autocrat, a Czar in a suit. His is the conservatism of a chauvinist. At worst he represents a former KGB Colonel out to restore the Soviet Empire while allowing no freedom at home. He’s not like Franco; he’s showing himself to be an expansionist. He’s provides advanced weapons to Iran and Syria; he has provided weapons that would endanger Israel. So the idea that Putin is a member of the Edmund Burke club is absurd.