The claims are similar to the ones we’ve heard from Vladimir Putin himself.
Over the past several weeks, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has been lauded as a hero. Dodging more than a dozen assassination attempts, the former actor seems quite apt to defend his country from Russia and inspire the world to take a stand against authoritarianism, according to a top aide. And even if you think "hero" is over the top, it's hard to argue that Zelensky hasn't shown incredible bravery in the face of a terrifying situation, as Vladimir Putin did in his violent offensive. pushed forward, threatened nuclear war and directed his army to take over. out of the Ukrainian government. But Republican Representative Madison Cawthorne, who has spent most of her short adult life lying, has come to a very different conclusion on the Ukrainian leader... one that sounds very similar to Putin's talking points!
At an event in North Carolina on Saturday, the 26-year-old lawmaker told supporters: "Remember Zelensky is a thug. Remember that the Ukrainian government is incredibly corrupt, and it's incredibly evil, and it's fueling awakened ideologies. advancing.
.@CawthornforNC:
— The Republican Accountability Project (@AccountableGOP) March 10, 2022
“Zelenskyy is a thug. Remember that the Ukrainian government is incredibly corrupt and is incredibly evil and has been pushing woke ideologies.”
h/t @WRAL pic.twitter.com/cf3sew7MOp
There's a lot to unpack here, but let's start with the claim that Zelensky is a "thug." Naturally, it doesn't appear that Cawthorne—whose idea of a good time includes visiting Hitler's holiday home—backed this up with any anecdotal evidence. Here's what we know about the Ukrainian president: When he was offered the option to leave the country, he reportedly refused, according to the Associated Press, in light of the very real threat to his life. He has been called the "moral conscience of the West". He inspired people all over the world and made people shed tears. Not even Putin-loving Donald Trump has criticized Zelensky (though he did try to forcibly expel the Ukrainian president at the time, forcing him to withhold vital aid in hopes of digging up dirt on Joe and Hunter Biden). It is worth noting that these attacks on Zelensky are similar to those of Putin, who claimed the "objective" of his "operation", that is, the invasion, "is to protect those who have now lived in Kyiv for eight years." facing humiliation and genocide by the regime," adding that their goals are to "defame Ukraine" - a country with a Jewish presidency - and "prosecute those who have committed numerous crimes against citizens, including citizens of the Russian Federation." committed bloody crimes."
As for the notion that Ukraine is pushing "awakening ideologies", we really have no idea ... what Kawthorne is talking about. Presumably, the allegation was derived from some combination of (1) Republicans thinking someone is "wake up" is the worst thing about them, (2) Putin apologizing claiming that the Russian president is an ally in the fight "left-raised." ,” and (3) Cawthorne is an idiot.
In a statement, a spokesman for Cawthorne said that the US representative was "expressing his displeasure at how foreign leaders, including Zelensky, recently used false propaganda to entice the US to engage in a foreign conflict." Was." On Thursday, the lawmaker sent out a tweet saying that Joe Biden was to blame for the invasion of Ukraine, as his hero Donald Trump has often claimed: "It shouldn't shock anyone that Putin is Sleepy Joe." were not afraid of."
Democratic National Committee spokesman Ammar Moussa responded to Cawthorne's remarks in a statement, saying: "It is only natural that a Republican party, led by Donald Trump, regularly criticizes Vladimir Putin as 'talented' and 'sensible'. Praises as he will evolve into an unprovoked and unfair war on the people of Ukraine to attack the democratically elected President of Ukraine, who has shown true heroism in the face of Russian aggression." tweeted the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Did: "Putin shows the Republican his true, disgusting colors. Another day, another scathing attack from the House GOP.