GOP Rep. Turner: It’s ‘Absolutely True’ That Russian Propaganda on Ukraine Is Infecting the GOP Ranks

TAPPER: “Let’s turn to Ukraine, an issue that’s important to you and your fellow Republican Chairman Michael McCaul, who runs the Foreign Affairs Committee. Congressman McCaul made a comment this week about what he says sounds like Russian propaganda from some conservative media and why it’s so difficult to explain to Republican voters why supporting Ukraine is important. He told Julia Ioffe, ‘I think Russian propaganda has made its way into the United States, unfortunately, and it’s infected a good chunk of my party’s base.’ He singled out prime-time shows on conservative channels. Do you agree with him? And how big is this problem?”
TURNER: “Oh, it is absolutely true. 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. I mean, there are members of Congress today who still incorrectly say that this conflict between Russia and Ukraine is over NATO, which, of course, it is not; Vladimir Putin having made it very clear, both publicly and to his own population, that his view is that this is a conflict of a much broader claim of Russia to Eastern Europe, including claiming all of Ukraine territory as Russia’s. Now, to the extent that this propaganda takes hold, it makes it more difficult for us to really see this as an authoritarian-versus-democracy battle, which is what it is. President Xi of China, Vladimir Putin himself have identified it as such. We need to stand up for democracy. We need to make certain that we know that authoritarian regimes never stop when they start an aggression. 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.”