WATCH: Cabinet Contender Spats With Jewish Anchor Over Putin
Image by YouTube
A candidate for Secretary of State in the Trump administration clashed with a Moldovan-born Jewish news anchor Wednesday over Vladimir Putin’s human rights record.
Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican California congressman known for his pro-Russian views, was speaking with Yahoo News anchor Bianna Golodryga about rights abusers in China when she said, “much could be said about Russia as well in that regard.”
“Oh, baloney,” Rohrabacher exclaimed. “Where do you come from?” he asked, and added, “the audience knows you’re biased.”
Golodryga, who described herself as a “political refugee,” mentioned accusations that Russia murdered journalists.
Rohrabacher said he wrote speeches for Ronald Reagan on Russia. He said the late former U.S. President “would love” his views on Putin.
Reagan helped to end the Cold War by reconciling with former Russian premiere Mikhail Gorbachev, who initiated democratic reform in Russia.
“Are you comparing Gorbechev to Vladimir Putin?” Golodryga asked.
“Absolutely I am,” Rohrabacher answered.
Rohrabacher, widely considered one of the most pro-Russian members of Congress, has been mentioned as a possible choice for secretary of state. Such a pick would be consistent with President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to forge closer ties to the Kremlin over issues like international security.
Golodryga is married to Peter R. Orszag, who served as President Barack Obama’s budget director until 2010.
Contact Daniel J. Solomon at [email protected] or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
