For some reason, CNSNews.com just loves it when Russian leader Vladimir Putin sounds like a right-wing activist in America by embracing the right’s anti-Biden, anti-liberal narratives — despite the fact that he is, you know, an enemy of the United States. That happened again in an Oct. 26 article by Michael W. Chapman, who lovingly transcribed another Putin rant … with added emphasis where needed:
Russian President Vladimir Putin, a former lieutenant colonel in the KGB, strongly criticized the “woke,” social justice warriors in the United States and Europe, arguing that they behave just like the Bolshevik Communists did in the former Soviet Union.
They are ruled by a “dogmatism bordering on absurdity,” he asserted, noting that “cancel culture” is nothing more than “reverse discrimination,” and teaching children that sexuality is flexible is potentially “a crime against humanity.”
In his Oct. 22 speech in Sochi, Russia, before members of the Valdai Discussion Club, Putin addressed some of the major issues affecting the entire world, such as the COVID pandemic, climate change, technological advances, and socio-economic challenges.
When it comes to change, however, Putin said he was surprised at the “social and cultural shocks that are taking place in the United States and Western Europe.” He stressed that these changes are none of Russia’s business, “we are keeping out of this,” but explained that he had seen such disastrous social upheaval before — in the Soviet Union.
[…]“In a number of Western countries, the debate over men’s and women’s rights has turned into a perfect phantasmagoria. Look, beware of going where the Bolsheviks once planned to go – not only communalizing chickens, but also communalizing women. One more step and you will be there.
“Zealots of these new approaches even go so far as to want to abolish these concepts altogether. Anyone who dares mention that men and women actually exist, which is a biological fact, risk being ostracized. ‘Parent number one’ and ‘parent number two,’ ‘birthing parent’ instead of ‘mother,’ and ‘human milk’ replacing ‘breastmilk’ because it might upset the people who are unsure about their own gender.
“I repeat, this is nothing new; in the 1920s, the so-called Soviet Kulturtraegers also invented some newspeak believing they were creating a new consciousness and changing values that way.And, as I have already said, they made such a mess it still makes one shudder at times. [Emphasis added.]
Chapman didn’t mention that the Valdai Discussion Club is little more than a pro-Putin think tank, meaning there’s little actual “discussion” going on there.
It makes one shudder that the managing editor of a conservative “news” operation is favorably quoting a foreign dictator best known these days for suppressing dissent in his own country trashing the United States. But then, CNS’ parent, the Media Research Center, has no problem embracing right-wing authoritarians if they parrot right-wing narratives.