Russian Propaganda Has "Infected" the Republican Base

With the likes of Tucker Carlson and many others on right wing "news" outlets actively pushing Russian propaganda not to mention all kinds of insane conspiracy theories and simple false facts, it is little surprise that at least some Republicans are beginning to belatedly admit that the Republican Party base is now thoroughly infected by Kremlin lies and falsehoods. Adding to the phenomenon is Donald Trump's endless efforts to push Vladimir Putin's agenda, raising thoughts once again of what exactly Putin has on Trump.  True, Trump would like to be a dictator like Putin, but the admiration of tyrants doesn't seem an adequate explanation for Trump's behavior and that of his minions within the GOP, especially in the House of Representatives.  Indeed, over the weekend Trump indicated that he wants (in addition to more tax cuts for billionaires) to force Ukraine to surrender part of its national territory to Russia, a move that would be akin to appeasement of Hitler in the lead up to WWII when the West sat by and saw Germany take over Austria and Czechoslovakia.  There was a time during the Cold War when such behavior might have been deemed treason, but not in today's Republican Party.  A piece in the Washington Post looks at those belatedly bemoaning how the GOP base is now drinking Russian Kool-Aid.  Here are highlights:

Rep. Michael R. Turner (R-Ohio), who chairs the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Sunday that it was “absolutely true” that some Republican members of Congress were repeating Russian propaganda about the invasion of Ukraine instigated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Turner did not specify which members he was referring to, but he said he agreed with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), who said in an interview with Puck News last week that Russian propaganda had “infected a good chunk of my party’s base” and suggested that conservative media was to blame.

When asked on Sunday, Turner said he agreed with McCaul’s sentiments.

“We see directly coming from Russia attempts to mask communications that are anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages — some of which we even hear being uttered on the House floor,” Turner said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

The pro-Russia messaging, Turner said, has made it harder for Ukraine’s supporters in the GOP to frame the conflict as “an authoritarian-versus-democracy battle.” “Ukraine needs our help and assistance now, and this is a very critical time for the U.S. Congress to step up and provide that aid,” Turner added.

Billions of dollars in badly needed military funding for Ukraine has stalled in Congress for months, amid growing opposition from Republicans, and particular vehemence from the GOP’s right flank. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has proposed forging a “peace treaty with Russia” in lieu of supporting Ukraine, has vowed to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) should he move forward with a vote on an aid package.

U.S. allies and NATO members are also growing increasingly worried about future Russian aggression. The Washington Post reported this weekend that if Donald Trump wins the November election, he is proposing to push Ukraine to cede wide swaths of its territory to Russia, thus expanding the reach of Putin’s dictatorship.

Still, some lawmakers are more optimistic about getting some type of deal passed. Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.), an outspoken Republican supporter of Ukraine aid, told CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday that he believed Johnson will prioritize passing supplemental security assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after Congress returns on Tuesday from a two-week recess.

The Senate earlier this year approved a $95.3 billion funding package. Many senators have echoed the White House’s warnings that without a fresh infusion of weapons from the United States, Ukraine risks ceding its war to Russia.

But Johnson, amid fierce opposition from his far-right flank, has so far refused to bring the Senate package to a vote on the House floor.

Hill, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, hinted Sunday that Johnson would probably introduce a version of the supplemental national security package that includes an additional provision to redirect certain frozen Russian assets toward paying for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

However, any changes to the legislation in the House would necessitate significant further delays to the provision of aid, by forcing the chambers to reconcile and approve the differences. But Hill said he believed there is widespread bipartisan support for the new provision, known as the REPO Act.

Large parts of the GOP has become the party of Putin.