When the Media Gave Russia a Pass

Drew Holden provided a sharp analysis of The Washington Free Beacon that reminded us just how inept the liberal media can be for Left issues.

In this case, Holden recalls the now infamous  2012 presidential debate between President Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney. Obama saw Romney across the table and said these words:

A few months ago when you were asked what’s the biggest geo-political threat facing America you said ‘Russia.’ Not Al Qaeda,you said Russia. And the 1980’s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back.

In the day, CNN was clearly skeptical, discussing Romney’s view of Russia as if he were from Mars, complete with a chyron that read “Reality Check” on screen as they dissected Romney’s supposed mistake.

Leave it to then-Democratic Senator John Kerry to say that Romney “talks like he’s only seen Russia by watching Rocky IV.”

Holden pointed out that what was most telling was the broad reaction to liberal media. Holden writes:

Several media outlets simply parroted the Obama campaign’s criticisms, with outlets including the Hill, the Daily Beast, and Salon amplifying the attack.

The New York Times editorial board went a step further, saying Romney’s comments displayed “either a shocking lack of knowledge about international affairs or just craven politics. They are unworthy to be a presidential candidate. For the Times, Romney’s position wasn’t just wrong: It was unsayable.

Glenn Kessler from The Washington Post did then conduct a fact checking. Kessler side-stepped whether the comment was “a Cold War throwback” and zeroed in on Romney’s specific allegation that Russia was “always” a roadblock for action against the world’s worst actors.

What is the conclusion? Significant omissions or exaggerations. Kessler would add that “The Russians may be tough negotiators, but there’s nothing wrong with that.

Let’s go back to that reference to The New York Times editorial on Romney’s Russian point. This is the editorial, which includes bold printing for emphasis.

Two decades after the end of the cold war, Mitt Romney still considers Russia to be America’s “No. 1 geopolitical foe.” His comments display either a shocking lack of knowledge about international affairs or just craven politics. They are either reckless or unworthy to be a presidential candidate.

Did you get that? You are one of the wise men Times believed Romney displayed “either a shocking lack of knowledge about international affairs or just craven politics.”

As this is written, here’s the front page, all caps headline from The New York Times:

              RUSSIAN TROOPS ENTER KYIV

The TimesStory reported as follows:

Ukrainians on Friday braced for a violent battle for their capital, Kyiv, as officials warned residents to stay indoors and “prepare Molotov cocktails” to defend against advancing Russian forces who had entered a northern district of the city. Russia said it would be open to negotiations with Ukraine, though it wasn’t clear what their conditions were.

While missiles lobbed at Kyiv, and a rocket crashed into an apartment building, President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Ukrainians to protect the country. He said that no foreign troops would be coming to their assistance.

It’s amazing, but not surprising.

The American Left’s utter ignorance about Russia and its role in world politics is evident. It could also be Russia, China or Iran. Or how to handle the neighborhood bully. What is perpetually on display, in this case in the liberal media’s rollover for Russia, is a willful naiveté about human nature. There is no comprehension of the pursuit for power, to control, dominate, or simply evil.

That is the essence of Vladimir Putin and every dictator throughout human history. Americans are unable to grasp this basic truth, despite being surrounded by liberal media.

It is, however, a very dangerous situation, which Americans have learned.