Try to stay on topic, please.

"It doesn't matter what I say, what matters is what's true."

What matters is you have no credibility on this issue. You're just an opportunist. Go the fuck away.

"Try to stay on topic, please."

Your shameless tolerance of the most vitriolic anti-gay bigots while lecturing others about their lack of defense of gay rights is the topic. Thanks.

How do you presume to know my personal views on this matter?

But again, justify Russia's persecution of homosexuals.

Justify your support of the Republican Party.

Your personal views don't mean shit, you vote for the party of Santorum and Bachmann.

@ Putin: "Jamie, why can't you bother to answer a simple question?"

I presume you mean your question about the Palestinians? It is actually a very complicated and difficult question which I may need some time to think on.

I asked my question to you first, and you have not answered it either.

But let's talk about some facts. It is a fact that your hero, Vladimir Putin, is homophobic. How else do you explain the following comments he recently made:

""Europeans are dying out. Don't you understand that? And same-sex marriages don't produce children."

“Berlusconi faces trial for bedding women. If he was gay, no one would ever lay a finger on him.”

"Without the values at the core of Christianity and other world religions, without moral norms that have been shaped over millennia, people will inevitably lose their human dignity. In Euro-Atlantic countries where any traditional identity... including sexual identity, is rejected... There is a policy equating families with many children with same-sex families, belief in God with belief in Satan.”

- Vladimir Putin, Valdai International Discussion Club, Novgorod, September 19, 2013

How is the first comment homophobic in the least?

I've already "justified" Putin's position. You haven't bothered to answer a straight-forward question. Seems like you're willing to single out Russia but declare the Arab issue "complicated". What a surprise.

The topic of this thread is Vladimir Putin. You created it. Justify his homophobia and his government's attack on LGBT people.

The first comment is somewhat ambiguous but appears to attack same-sex marriage. Why don't you have a go at the other two quotes?

The topic of this thread isn't your displeasure with the 'propaganda' law, actually. I never brought it up. I reject the premise of your question. Perhaps next you'll ask me when will I stop beating my wife?

So you refuse to give me a full answer? Ok, noted.

The only comment that is remotely homophobic is the third one, in which he affirms religious values as necessary for human dignity. A dubious, but widely held view. If that's the best you got, then please feel free to heap abuse on the vast majority of humanity.

Now, when can I expect your explanation of why you single out Russia but call your support for the Arabs "complicated"?

I presume you mean your question about the Palestinians? It is actually a very complicated and difficult question which I may need some time to think on.

Let me help you, it's because in your mind oppression percieved to be carried out by Jews is somehow distinct from all other forms or oppression in the world. So Arabs are given a great deal of leeway while Israelis should be criticized at every opportunity.

There you go. Enjoy the time I've saved you trying to play twister around that explanation.

Can't wait for obiwanobiwan to see this.

Russia's law and policies in plain English even FuckinPutin the shit suckin commy can understand.

http://www.policymic.com/articles/58649/russia-s-anti-gay-law-spelled-out-in-plain-english

"In April 2011, the Strasbourg court fined Russia for violating articles 11, 13, and 14 of the European Convention by banning 164 pride events and marches between 2006 and 2008. The unanimous decision in Alekseyev v. Russia came into force after the Russian government lost its appeal in Strasbourg, yet although the Kremlin paid the fine, they continued to ban pride rallies."

From the article posted above.

Sure, President PutFuck really respects gay rights. Uh huh. Tell that to the European Court of Human Rights.

Sorry... hang on..... Did Santa just accuse me of being an anti-Semite?

@ Draugnar: Putin33's position appears to be that Vladimir Putin does not control the Kremlin and is not responsible for Russia's anti-gay laws.

That is, he said: "Talking about being gay is not illegal and Putin is not responsible for the unanimously approved law with respect to information pertaining to minors. Even if he vetoed the law, it would have been overridden."

So he's basically saying that if Russia does have anti-gay laws, they're not President Putin's responsibility. I happen to find that a bizzare position, but there you go.

Jamie, who stands in the way of US militarism in the Middle East. Vladimir Putin or liberal gay activist groups? Who has stepped up to the plate every time the US has decided it wants to bomb a country to thwart their efforts? Who is too busy demonizing Russia to care about people's lives?

Still waiting for an answer on the Palestinian question.

If you're going to continually call me bizarre and deluded, can you at least do me the courtesy of justifying your own views. Thanks.

I'm a tad confused. I know a few liberal gay activists and I know a few anti-war activists, and quite often they are the same people. I see no harm in people waving different banners for different issues. If they don't it just muddies the water and reduces support, much like the UK Green Party does when it alienates countless thousands of environmentalists with their hard line left wing poltics.

That being said Vladi deserves a lot of credit for his handling of the Syrian issue, whether you support what he has achieved or not. As far as the gay issue in Russia goes I am not that well informed. Expecting him to drag Russia kicking and screaming into modern western style gay rights is unrealistic, so I would have to judge him on what direction he seems to be nudging his country in. From what I have heard the nudges are generally in the wrong direction.

V. Putin has been very good wrt the Syria crisis. He has been terrible wrt the LGBTQ* community. It is not contradictory to hold these two positions simultaneously.

Putin33 has a point regarding political opportunism. However, we're not all republicans here so this can't be a point to hide behind forever.

Putin:

Masterful use of the red herring... keep 'em all distracted bro.

lol yj

"So he's basically saying that if Russia does have anti-gay laws, they're not President Putin's responsibility"

Even though Putin *signed* it into law. He didn't veto it and let the Kremlin override it. No, he *signed* it.

C'mon, obiwanobiwan. This thread is crying out for a self-righteous essay.

"Sorry... hang on..... Did Santa just accuse me of being an anti-Semite?"

You don't need to be an anti Semite to hold Israel to a different standard, which you do. But you can be. I guess that's a question you have to ask yourself.

Searching the web for hard nosed journalism that gets to the truth behind world leaders I found this at Gulfnews.com...

"The tone had been set earlier in the day when Putin walked into a room to see Chinese President Xi Jinping standing alongside Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was strumming a guitar and singing Happy Birthday into a microphone.

A visibly surprised Putin smiled as Yudhoyono, a former general-turned-politician who in his spare time has made a series of love-song albums, serenaded him and Xi clapped along.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also gave Putin a bottle of sake. However the Russian leader said it was too early in the day for a drink so he gave it to his aides for safe keeping.

“We’ll get to it in Moscow,” he added."