Newt Gingrich takes on Putin: just one more in a long tradition of dictators and thugs

CNN’s Crossfire host Newt Gingrich says Americans should not take Russian President Vladimir Putin seriously on Syria.

Gingrich says that because the Russian president is a one-time KGB officer whose primary interest is nationalism.

“While we have to deal with him as the president of Russia, we don’t have to respect his views. We don’t have to respect his opinions,” said Gingrich, co-host of CNN’s “Crossfire.”

“And frankly, we should laugh at him when he tries to lecture America about exceptionalism, because he ain’t exceptional. He’s just one more in a long tradition of dictators and thugs.”

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