Russian President Vladimir Putin used a common idiom to brand former President Bill Clinton and Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton as two sides of the same coin, with a rather negative connotation.
Putin quoted a familiar Russian proverb: “As we say, husband and wife are the same Satan,” the Russian president said, laughing. The expression seems extreme to American ears, but it is well-known in that Eastern European country.
The president’s comments came during an 80-question Q&A session broadcast live on Channel One, Rossiya-1, and Rossiya-24 TV which lasted 3 hours and 40 minutes. This is an annual event for Putin, and his record is 4 hours and 48 minutes. Notably, Putin also praised Obama for admitting that he had made a serious blunder in not planning adequately for the fall of Moammar Qaddafi’s government in Libya.
A caller asked Putin, “Who is worse for Russia: Clinton or Trump?” The Russian president laughed and skirted the question. Instead, he warned America against “imperial ambitions,” in a long tirade about American foreign policy attitudes.
He did return to Clinton, however, in comments defending Russia’s political scene as not the only one with problems. He attacked American politics for being dominated by only two parties, saying that this system props up some political dynasties.
Thus, Bill and Hillary are “the same Satan.” Beelzebub follows Lucifer in the succession of Hell, and so one Clinton must follow another.
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