[ [link removed] ]Sign now: Republicans must stop their pandering to Trump and Putin and
immediately denounce Russia's aggressive, illegal, and deadly invasion of
Ukraine.

Dear MoveOn member,

After Donald Trump called Vladimir Putin "a genius," reporters called
Republican senators to see if they agreed.^1 Only one of them offered a
statement against Putin.^2

Elected Republicans across the country are either agreeing with Trump or
staying silent about the Russian dictator who just launched a bloody,
costly, unnecessary war.^3

And it's not just Trump. Tucker Carlson has used his platform on Fox News
to praise Putin.^4 Steven Bannon has celebrated Putin.^5 And more and more
right-wing Republicans are either adding their agreement or staying silent
out of fear of Trump and his allies.

This isn't hard: Vladimir Putin is an authoritarian who has trampled the
rights of the Russian people for decades.^6 And now he has initiated an
aggressive war in Ukraine that's costing lives, devastating the country,
and destabilizing the global economy. Any Republican in Congress who is
too cowardly, craven, or wrong-headed to acknowledge this needs to be
shamed—or voted—out of public service.

[ [link removed] ]Will you sign this petition to demand that Republicans in Congress and
those seeking to serve denounce Putin and his war in public, forceful, and
unambiguous terms?

Putin is a dictator whose aggressive decision to launch a violent war
could cost many lives, devastate a country, and destabilize the global
economy. Yet most Republicans are staying silent. Every Republican must
speak up and publicly, forcefully denounce Putin and his war.

[3]Sign the petition

Russia's attacks on Ukraine are already displacing, terrifying, and
killing Ukrainians. After Putin failed to justify the invasion despite his
use of disinformation, he just launched the attacks anyway. The Ukrainian
and Russian people will suffer as this outrageous and devastating war
continues.

The brave Russians protesting the attack prove that there are people
within Putin's authoritarian reach who are willing to speak up.^7 Yet
Republicans in the safety of America are too scared—because Trump,
Carlson, and Bannon have decided to praise and celebrate Putin.

[ [link removed] ]Tell Republicans that speaking out in solidarity with the Ukrainian
people and against Putin is the least they can do at this moment.

The global community has condemned Putin, and the Biden administration is
working with international allies on sanctions and other options to
confront Putin's aggression. Protesters in Russia and defenders in Ukraine
are risking their lives and their freedom. Putin's long track record of
violent authoritarianism at home and disinformation and militarism abroad
speaks for itself.

Yet Trump calls him a "genius," Bannon praises him for his attacks on
human rights, and Carlson uses his national platform to attack and
demonize American kids over their sexual identity while offering a
positive view of Putin's politics.^8

As a country, we need to urge our leaders to find a resolution to this
conflict that is rooted in international diplomacy and to support the
refugees who will emerge through this crisis. We don't need Putin
apologists, loyalists, and sycophants polluting our discourse.

And we don't need Republicans in Congress too cowardly to denounce Putin
and his war.

[ [link removed] ]Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to
your friends.

Thanks for all you do.

—Mana, Isbah, Amanda, Oscar, and the rest of the team

Sources: 

1. "Trump sides with Putin as Biden tries to stop a war," CNN, February
23, 2022
[link removed]
 
2. Tweet by Mike DeBonis, February 24, 2022
[link removed]
 
3. "Republicans pick Putin over democracy — and Rick Scott's creepy
blueprint for America shows why," Salon, February 24, 2022
[link removed]
 
4. "Tucker Carlson echoed Putin's talking points on Fox News, arguing the
US should not care about Russia invading Ukraine," Business Insider,
February 23, 2022
[link removed]
 
5. "Former Trump Adviser Steve Bannon Backs 'Anti-Woke' Vladimir
Putin," Newsweek, February 23, 2022
[link removed]
 
6. "Some LGBTQ Ukrainians fear human rights abuses if Russia stays: 'We
will fight,'" CBS News, February 24, 2022
[link removed]
 
7. "Thousands of Russians protest President Vladimir V. Putin’s assault on
Ukraine. Some chant: ‘No to war!’," The New York Times, February 24, 2022
[link removed]
 
8. "Republicans pick Putin over democracy — and Rick Scott's creepy
blueprint for America shows why," Salon, February 24, 2022
[link removed]

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