I’ll spot him “corrupt” here, as that’s been a problem with Ukrainian government for ages. Zelensky himself made it a topic of his comedy when he played Ukraine’s president on television.

But to call him a thug and his government “incredibly evil” at this moment of all moments, when the world is choosing sides between Ukraine and Russia, is obnoxious even for Madison Cawthorn.

And deliberately so. I don’t think these comments were ill-considered on his part, nor do I think this is a case of him failing to “read the room” when something like 80 percent of Republicans favor harsher penalties for Putin and Russia. This is a guy who knows who he is and where his political bread is buttered, and it doesn’t depend on him being popular with that 80 percent. He’s all-in with the nationalist fringe, out beyond the great majority of MAGA fans who love Trump but who also understand the balance of equities between Russia and Ukraine.

For Cawthorn, as with Marjorie Taylor Greene, Paul Gosar, Lauren Boebert, and the rest of the nationalist chuds in the House, the correct political move in almost all situations is to take whichever position will protect your culture-war cred with the nationalist right. Culture war is what gets them out of bed in the morning, culture war is what got them elected, culture war is what keeps their campaign coffers filled. They have nothing interesting or important to say about complex matters like a war in Europe or the optimal mix of diplomacy and sanctions needed to bring it to a rapid end. For the chuds, the calculus is this simple: Putin is an authoritarian icon and global bulwark against creeping progressivism to certain parts of the American nationalist right, therefore excuses should be made for his behavior in Ukraine.

Like, say, by accusing Ukraine’s government of being “woke,” whatever that means to this one-trick-pony culture-warrior imbecile.

 

There’s one other element here, the elephant in the room. Zelensky happens to be at the heart of Trump’s first impeachment, the man whom Trump asked for a “favor” during their conversation about releasing U.S. military aid to Ukraine. For someone as closely allied with Trump and the fringiest MAGAs as Cawthorn is, it may be impossible not to hold a grudge against the Ukrainian. It’s a dark irony to hear him grumbling about Zelensky being corrupt when the most famous incident of corruption with which Zelensky is associated was one perpetrated by Cawthorn’s own political hero, with Ukraine the victim.

By the way, only 17 members of the House voted no on the bill to ban Russian oil imports that came to the floor yesterday. Two were hard-left Democrats, Ilhan Omar and Cori Bush. The other 15 were a who’s who of the chud caucus. Including, of course, Madison Cawthorn.

Here’s Lindsey Graham today trying to clean up Cawthorn’s mess.