Pence: No room in GOP for 'apologists for Putin'

[left-of-center2012]

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Friday will rebuke those in the Republican Party who have praised Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, including most prominently former President Trump. "There is no room in this party for apologists for Putin. There is only room for champions of freedom," Pence will tell a gathering of Republican National Committee (RNC) donors, according to excerpts shared with The Hill.

The comments from Pence are a tacit criticism of Trump and others who have complimented Putin's intelligence and strategy as he directed Russia to invade Ukraine without provocation.
Trump last week said on a radio show that Putin's decision to unilaterally declare portions of eastern Ukraine as independent republics was "pretty savvy" and "genius." Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier this year also referred to Putin as a "talented statesman" with "lots of gifts." And Tucker Carlson, an influential Fox News host, questioned why Americans should hate Putin ...

Those comments have drawn blowback from many in the Republican Party, especially as Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukraine and indiscriminately fired missiles at civilian centers and a nuclear facility, raising the risk of catastrophic casualties.

Pence, in his speech on Friday night, is expected to praise the strength of the NATO alliance, which has offered reinforcements to Ukraine in the form of equipment and positioned troops along its eastern flank to protect against Russia expanding its attacks beyond Ukraine, which is not a NATO member.

“To those who argue that NATO expansion is somehow responsible for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ask yourself, where would our friends in Eastern Europe be today if they were not in NATO?" Pence will say, according to prepared remarks.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/596926-pence-no-room-in-gop-for-apologists-for-putin

[PortTack]

1. Right now...kudos to him..anyone using their voice to bring an end to this and shut the gqp up good!

[regnaD kciN]

2. I think Pence is about to learn...

…there’s no longer room in today’s GOP for him.

[Claustrum]

4. I think that's why he is positioning himself and call for the party to move on from Trump.

He is pretty irrelevant now and imagine how irrelevant he will be in 6 years. He needs the GOP to move away from Trump as 2024 is his only chance to ever be president.

[C_U_L8R]

3. Now, do Trump apologists

[Beastly Boy]

5. Did he just throw a certain orange bag of shit under the bus?

[left-of-center2012]

7. Yes

Along with this one:
“Pence to GOP: Stop 'fighting yesterday's battles'”
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216440864

Expect Pence to run in 2024.

[uponit7771]

19. +1,

[Karadeniz]

6. Good!! I hope divide and conquer works to our advantage!!!

[Wingus Dingus]

8. That was YOUR administration too, dude. That's part of what got you elected.

Fuck off with this self-serving horseshit.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

9. At this stage, Mike Pence has very little influence over the GOP

or the PPP....Putin's Puppet Party.

Too little, too late Miikey. They do not want you because you are a TRAITOR in their eyes for NOT overturning the election in TDFG's favor.

[malaise]

10. Hmmmmm

What was the story re his brother and Russia?

[Carlitos Brigante]

11. So he's kicking himself out? nt

[JHB]

13. +1

[gratuitous]

12. Sounds like Pence was very careful not to name names

If that's what qualifies for "blowback," I'd say it's pretty weak. Like trying to blow out a candle on the altar from the narthex.

[spanone]

14. You mean like, don trump mike?

[WA-03 Democrat]

15. Rich coming from Mike

Bannon had to lie to Trump his plane was broke so he could meet Pence who then became the VP pick. This was no accident and Mike is part of the problem and linked to Russia through numerous channels.

[WhiteTara]

16. Here I thought that he was Putin's

pick via Paul Manafort.

[milestogo]

17. So are they kicking out Ron Johnson?

[Tarc]

18. Even the Free Republic is fracturing badly over pro- and anti-Putin forces

It has been predicted many times before, but this just may be "The One" that detonates the GOP.