I wonder if Putin will allow Obama to write an OpEd for the Russian newspapers...

[trumad]

Let's see--- let's make the subject about Russia's anti-gay law.

Think that will fly?

[The Link]

1. What would Obama say? "I evolved on the issue last year, what taking you so long?"

[trumad]

2. Nice try...

[snooper2]

6. I have no Idea WTF I am looking at

Please explain, or did something go right over my head, I looked behind and still didn't see anything

[SidDithers]

8. Russians kidnap a young, gay man...

beat and torture him over a period of hours, take pictures of their "fun" and post it online.

Fucking disgusting pigs.

Edit: here's a link to one reporting http://www.advocate.com/news/world-news/2013/07/26/russian-neo-nazis-torture-gay-teens-anti-pedophilia-campaign

Sid

[snooper2]

10. sick bastards

[trumad]

13. They have minutemen type militias doing this daily.

[SidDithers]

17. Yup...

and from the advocate link:

Russian authorities have either ignored or condoned the antigay violence, according to Spectrum. And since President Vladimir Putin signed into law a national ban on so-called "homosexual propaganda" earlier this month, LGBT victims of violence have little legal recourse.

There's some sick shit that goes on in this world.

Sid

[karynnj]

15. Obama's positions - since he had positions - are far to the left of Putin's

It is a HUGE jump from where Putin is to even where Bill Clinton and the US Congress was in 1996. At that point, many who HAD voted for other anti discrimination bills voted for DOMA.

[DCBob]

3. of course.. but it will need to be properly edited (censored) for public consumption.

[trumad]

5. That's right...

He'd never let it be published. We may not be exceptional---but we're a hell of a lot more exceptional than them.

[snappyturtle]

4. The topic is Syria. One problem at a time. nt

[trumad]

7. Huh?

Missed the point didn't you?

[snappyturtle]

9. No, you did. Why would Russia allow the POTUS to write

an editorial about Russia's anit-gay law when that is not
the current topic of the U.S./Russia talks?

[trumad]

11. It is a subject that has been discussed quite frequently the past year...

a subject that is becoming more important by the day.

Would Putin allow Obama to write an OpEd for the Russian newspapers?

No---he wouldn't.

So fuck him and his high and mighty bullshit.

[snappyturtle]

22. Well I, for one anyway, am happy that the NYT printed

Putin's OpEd.....and that Putin submitted it.

How do you know that Putin wouldn't allow an OpEd from
the POTUS?

I don't think diplomacy is your strong suit....be glad there's
some back and forth going on.

[karynnj]

18. Point taken - but would a Russian paper print an editorial on

Syria written by Obama?

[SidDithers]

21. Obama met with LGBT groups in Russia less than a week ago...

that's not current enough for you?

Sid

[mockmonkey]

12. They couldn't print it in the newspapers

because a child might see it and that would break the law and Obama would have to be extradited to Russia. Oh wait, never mind, the Russians don't honor those things.

[trumad]

14. Well the point of this Op is to basically say that Putin can go fuck himself.

[mockmonkey]

19. I know

I was just being *#*#*derp*#*#*

[Junkdrawer]

16. Great Idea! I'm all for a regular exchange of unedited OP-eds.....

And I'll bet that if Obama seized the opportunity, Putin would be forced to agree.

[ismnotwasm]

20. Well it'd have to innit?

Him being the hero of the hour and all

[sibelian]

23. Well that might be a problem for Obama, one day...

....if Obama ever gains an interest in addressing the Russian people directly on the subject of gay rights. Perhaps it forms part of his long game or perhaps it doesn't. We'll see.

As it is, the fact that Obama is unlikely to receive access to that channel of communication doesn't really invalidate Putin's opinions as expressed in his editorial for the New York Times. If you seek to refute his position, an indication of assymmetry between the channels of communication through which his and Obama's opinions might be made public leaves out the content of his position altogether, which is difficult to accept as a refutation.