Practice what you preach: Putin to US

The Indian Express ^ | Sunday, May 08, 2005 at 1430 hours IST | Press Trust of India

[CarrotAndStick]

Washington, May 8: Strongly refuting American criticism on democracy in Russia, President Vladimir Putin has bluntly told the United States that it should first examine shortcomings in its democracy, before criticising Moscow.

In an interview to CBS '60 minutes' to be broadcast on Sunday, Putin said the US should not try to export its democracy, as it is trying to do in Iraq. A summary of the interview has been given by CBS on its website.

Responding to a question on the Russian principle of appointing governors, Putin made a reference to the Indian system of appointing State Governors by the Central Government, saying that it was not a sign of lack of democracy in Russia.

When the questioner asked, "There was a time when regional leaders were elected, correct?," Putin said, 'No, no, no. I shall appoint the governors.' That's democracy? That's not democracy the way I understand it." "The principle of appointing regional leaders is not a sign of a lack of democracy," Putin retorted. "You're absolutely wrong. For instance, India is called the largest world democracy. But their governors have always been appointed by the Central Government and nobody disputes that India is not a democracy." The Russian leader then pointed to what he believes are drawbacks to America's own brand of democracy, including the Electoral College system.

"In the United States, you first elect the electors and then they vote for the presidential candidates. In Russia, the president is elected through the direct vote of the whole population. That might be even more democratic," Putin said.

[CarrotAndStick]

"You're absolutely wrong. For instance, India is called the largest world democracy. But their governors have always been appointed by the Central Government and nobody disputes that India is not a democracy."

How squarely wrong Putin is on this one! If I am not mistaken, in India, the position of the governor of each of its states is a ceremonial one, with very little legislative powers. On the other hand, each state has its own Chief Minister, who is elected by the people of the particular state, and it is with this post that almost all power at the state-level lies.

If anyone knows better, please do reply.

Is is disgustingly shameful when Putin lies through his teeth. An insult to liberty and democracy everywhere!

[inquest]

"In the United States, you first elect the electors and then they vote for the presidential candidates. In Russia, the president is elected through the direct vote of the whole population. That might be even more democratic," Putin said.

As if democracy is determined only by the act of voting.

Besides, it would help for Putin (and Bush, for that matter) to learn the difference between "democracy" and "republic".

[cripplecreek]

"Little Joe" Putin is delusional.

[KJacob]

"In the United States, you first elect the electors and then they vote for the presidential candidates. In Russia, the president is elected through the direct vote of the whole population. That might be even more democratic," Putin said.

So our Founders were smarter than Russian founders. We all know that.

[CarrotAndStick]

"Is is disgustingly shameful..."

Oops, my typo. It should read: "It is..."

[veronica]

He does have that short man bombast thing going.

[Liberty Valance]

I think Bush's visit has laid bare the still beating communist heart of Putin. It's been an interesting week to say the least.

[Brilliant]

He's just repeating the Dem talking points.

[DYR]

The press should really get over the governors appointment issue. One of the main problems in Russia is that the regional governments are way too corrupt, and oftentimes the elections are falsified or outright bought, because the federal government has limited control there and local law inforcement is practically nonexistant. Even federal inspections did not help, since locals almost always misled them. There have been recent scandals about it. Putin is simply trying to fight regional corruption by appointing governors himself. It has nothing to do with ideology, but with effective governance.

[Liberty Valance]

Welcome to Free Republic. What do make of Putin's criticisms of President Bush? Is this whole democracy thing overrated or is that just while a Republican is President?

[cripplecreek]

As I understand it Stalin had a pretty effective style of "governance" as well.

[GarySpFc]

How squarely wrong Putin is on this one! If I am not mistaken, in India, the position of the governor of each of its states is a ceremonial one, with very little legislative powers. On the other hand, each state has its own Chief Minister, who is elected by the people of the particular state, and it is with this post that almost all power at the state-level lies.

This article is a half-truth about Russia, similar to the one that was told about the monument to Stalin which was going to be erected in Volgograd.

Russia had with the regional governors being too corrupt, and so the law was changed so the Russian president chooses the governors. What is being left out is that the legislative body for each region has to confirm the choice, and they can accept or reject Putin's choice.

On Free Republic several of the Russianphobes were raising hell about the monument to Stalin which was going to be placed in Volgograd (Stalingrad.) They kept going on about the nostalgia for Stalin in Russia. We maintain a second home there, and so I wrote some of my friends and asked them about it. The statue was rejected by authorities in the Crimea and later by those in Moscow. The authority in charges of all monuments in Volgograd was not even aware of a statue of Stalin which was supposed to be placed there.

The moral of these stories is to believe about 2% of the bad things you hear about Russia.

[risk]

Is is disgustingly shameful when Putin lies through his teeth.

Bump - although India still needs a lot of reform. Putin just gets the reasons mixed up in his enthusiasm for confusing the political world. India should be praised as the most exciting democratic transformation of a nation in recent history. The reforms I personaly think are required are important but secondary to the issue of Putin's propaganda in this case.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

"In the United States, you first elect the electors and then they vote for the presidential candidates. In Russia, the president is elected through the direct vote of the whole population. That might be even more democratic," Putin said.

And the best the Russian people could do was to elect a statist dickhead like you, Mr. Putin. Perhaps a Russian electoral college would have made a wiser choice.

[Parley Baer]

I agree with the above post. He has been watching the democRATS in action. Hehehe.

[12 Gauge Mossberg]

We're not a democracy, Putin....go look at a naked pic of Catherine the Great or something.

[duckln]

Putin may well be the greatest Russian leader ever. He, IMO, beats the likes any leader Germany or France had since WW11.

FR has it's bigots and opportunists, and they don't make sense. They want to blame Putin for WWII, pre and post WWII and ridicule him in the style of DU and Move On.

Face it, Russia is on an upward slope and may become our staunchest ally in the years to come. He and W are compatible and I hope W doesn't bend to the neocons. Why this bothers people here is beyond me.

[DYR]

Well, unfortunately, that's where Putin shows his lack of PR skill. As to the criticism, it is not substantial, of course - Putin is just being defensive without knowing how to do it best. The point is that as a leader, he cannot possibly confess to world press that he is not entirely in control of his own real estate, and has to actually struggle for it. He will immediately become a laughing stock and such confession will for sure be abused. However, instead of coming up with some kind of evasive PR tactics, he tries to divert attention by criticizing Bush. Very clumsy, but this really is all there is to it. You might as well call it a "putinism" :-)

[DYR]

Uh, well, has any one really tried to read the original Putin's speach? Even with a babelfish? The quotes that the press uses to critisize Putin are really NOT the substantial part of it.

[inquest]

They want to blame Putin for WWII, pre and post WWII and ridicule him in the style of DU and Move On.

Now there's about the most clueless statement on the thread. If you can't respond to what's actually being said, then you obviously don't have a coherent point to make.