[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H3974-H3975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CONSERVATIVES HELPING PUTIN IN WAR AGAINST UKRAINE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Quigley) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, as we stand here on the House floor, 
Ukrainians are bravely defending their country against an illegal 
invasion by Russian forces ordered by Vladimir Putin.
  We have seen hospitals attacked and mothers and children crushed by 
the rubble. We have seen civilians fleeing this tragic conflict via 
humanitarian corridors, agreed to by the Russian Government, attacked 
by Russian troops. We have seen a theater-turned-shelter, with the word 
``children'' clearly displayed, reduced to rubble.
  The blood of all of these innocents lost in this senseless war is on 
the hands of one man: Vladimir Putin.
  Ukrainians are standing up to this tyrant. They are fighting to stop 
the advance of an autocratic leader who has launched an illegal, 
premeditated invasion.
  Yet, if you listen to certain prominent voices, you will hear some 
conservative leaders not condemning Vladimir Putin's war, not praising 
the heroism of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, Ukrainian troops, 
and Ukrainian citizens. No, they are instead lauding the so-called 
genius of a violent, power-hungry dictator.

  There is a term we use in politics for people who propagandize for a 
cause whose goals they don't understand and who are then used by the 
cause's leaders: useful idiots.
  I will not purport to know if the individuals who are praising Putin 
and spreading misinformation genuinely believe their own words, but I 
do know that Putin finds them useful.
  There is a concerningly long list of American conservatives who have 
turned themselves into Putin's useful idiots. When the invasion first 
began, one host claimed on his news show that Ukraine was not a 
democracy. This is the very same lie that Putin himself has used in the 
effort to justify his invasion of Ukraine. In fact, these comments were 
aired on Russian state television, and a member of the Russian Defense 
Ministry's public council said these remarks were excellent.
  Another conservative voice has used her platform to criticize 
Zelenskyy and echo Russian propaganda, including a Kremlin talking 
point that Russians created Ukraine, which has been used to justify 
this invasion. Her social media posts have been amplified and shared by 
other Russian accounts.
  Even our own former President has praised Putin, calling the horrific 
invasion of Ukraine ``genius.'' A Member of this very body called 
President Zelenskyy a ``thug'' and the Ukrainian Government 
``incredibly evil.''
  Exactly 2 weeks ago, every Member of this body had an opportunity to 
hear from President Zelenskyy directly as he joined us virtually from 
Ukraine's capital. His bravery and courage were on full display. He is 
a hero.
  Vladimir Putin is a thug, and the repeating of these lies by American 
voices is playing into his hands. Aiding Putin in this way is not just 
disturbing because of the role it plays in enabling his messaging of 
this premeditated invasion; it also speaks to a broader trend among 
some American conservatives toward sympathizing with autocrats that 
should worry us all.
  Last year, I spoke before this body to condemn conservative American 
pundits who were praising Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Like 
Putin, Orban is an autocratic leader who wields strict control of the 
media, restricts LGBTQ rights, and suppresses free speech. At that 
time, I expressed my concern at what this may indicate about the 
growing sympathy for autocrats in our own country. Unfortunately, this 
latest trend of praising Putin and condemning Zelenskyy tells me the 
slide toward autocracy continues.
  Praise for autocratic leaders and what they represent is dangerous. 
At a time when political polarization has reached new heights and 
American vulnerability to misinformation is increasing, we cannot 
afford to watch anyone of influence, whether they be a

[[Page H3975]]

Member, or a member of the media, peddle in propaganda.
  Conservatives should shake off the role of useful idiots and present 
Putin, this war, and all demagogic leaders as what they truly are.
  Vladimir Putin has poisoned journalists and jailed his opposition. He 
has bombed hospitals and schools. He has slaughtered innocents in 
Syria. Today, he is murdering civilians in Ukraine.
  If this has not been enough for these useful idiots and their ilk, I 
urge them to find the red line Putin would have to cross.
  To the puppets that are on our screens, our social media, and in the 
Halls of Congress perpetrating his lies, I say: Enough. You are helping 
Putin in this war. You are helping him strip Ukrainians of their 
freedom. You are helping our own country slide further from democracy.
  Lincoln reminded us that we cannot escape history, that we will be 
remembered in spite of ourselves. In the end, history will remember 
those who stood up for the truth and the cowards who did not.

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