McCain Claims to Be 'More Pro-Russian' Than Putin

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) wrote an op-ed which ran in Pravda.ru in which he claimed he is “more pro-Russian” than Vladimir Putin.

McCain’s op-ed was published on September 18 and according to CNN, although he it made clear he wanted it to run in Pravda–a Russian newspaper founded in 1912–his column ran instead on Pravda.ru, “an electronic news website founded in 1999.”

Nevertheless, McCain spoke his mind: “I am pro-Russian. More pro-Russian than the regime that misrules you today.”

Of Putin’s heavy hand he said: “They punish dissent and imprison opponents. They rig your elections. They control your media.”

McCain’s concluded with an appeal to the people :

I…believe in you. I believe in your capacity for self-government and your desire for justice and opportunity. I believe in the greatness of the Russian people, who suffered enormously and fought bravely against terrible adversity to save your nation. I believe in your right to make a civilization worthy of your dreams and sacrifices. When I criticize your government it is not because I am anti-Russian. It is because I believe you deserve a government that believes in you and answers to you. And I long for the day when you have it. 

Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins.