For Russia With Love: Right-Wing Media Mad For Vlad

Written by Brian Powell

Published

As Russian president Vladimir Putin flexes his military muscles by invading Ukraine in violation of multiple international treaties, right-wing pundits are fawning over the “macho” leader's strength while complaining that President Obama wears “mom jeans” and is weak on foreign policy.

In the wake of Russia's apparent invasion of the Crimean Peninsula -- an area within the sovereign territory of Ukraine -- right-wing media have renewed their crush on the Russian leader, praising his strength and equestrian skills after TIME's Michael Crowley tweeted a photo of Obama on a bicycle and Putin on a horse, saying the juxtaposition “does kind of capture the moment.”

Fox Nation made the photo its "Pic of the Day" and published a “highlight reel of Putin doing macho things” like “performing karate,” riding a horse and a motorcycle (though disappointingly not at the same time), and tranquilizing a tiger. 

Fox host Bill O'Reilly discussed the photo on his primetime show March 3rd, saying the photo depicted the “contrasting styles” of Putin and Obama. “Putin sees himself as a macho man who's going to do pretty much what he wants,” O'Reilly said. “The president sees himself as a renaissance man who wants to accommodate.” 

On the March 3 edition of Fox News' Hannity, contributor Sarah Palin questioned the “potency” of President Obama saying, “People are looking at Putin as one who wrestles bears and drills for oil. They look at our president as one who wears mom jeans and equivocates and bloviates.”

Other Fox pundits have followed the same theme. Foreign policy expert KT McFarland tweeted, “Putin seizes countries, Obama threatens maybe to kick Russia out of the G-8 club. Bet Putin's sorry now! Winners write history, not whiners”. Frequent Fox guest Rudy Giuliani lavished Putin with praise, saying that in contrast with Obama, Putin is “what you call a leader.”

Of course, no one praising Putin's leadership mentions his penchant for repressing dissent and stymieing the freedoms of his people. But at least he can fend off a wild animal without his shirt on.