Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined Cavuto: Coast to Coast on Fox Business today to discuss President Biden’s press conference at NATO headquarters. He emphasized the need to impose harsh sanctions, including secondary sanctions, on Vladimir Putin and Russia. Excerpts and the full video are below.
On President Biden’s Press Conference in Belgium:
“Remember, this is the same President who said, ‘Well depends on whether it’s a minor incursion or not, that will determine how we respond.’ Remember he was the Vice President when Barack Obama drew a red line about chemical weapons in Syria and then when they crossed the red line [the Obama-Biden Administration] did nothing about it. He was the Vice President the last time Ukraine had a skirmish that resulted in yielding some land, [the Obama-Biden Administration] sent blankets. This is the problem with him. He talks tough, but his policies are always late. Even when he’s done the right thing in this situation, it’s been late. I thought, by and large it was a pretty good news conference up until the end, when I’m sure his entire communications team was going, ‘Please don’t take one more question.’”
“When he said ‘the point of sanctions is not to deter Vladimir Putin,’ I’m going ‘What the hell is the point of sanctions if it’s not to deter Vladimir Putin?’ Again, this goes back to why at the very beginning when he refused to do preemptive sanctions to deter Vladimir Putin, he said, ‘No, let’s wait until they invade.’ Well, who does that? We should be trying to avoid [an invasion].”
On President Biden Leading from Behind:
“He says he’s the leader and gave this long diatribe about ‘[being] the leader and I want to lead.’ He’s been leading from behind Boris Johnson this entire time. Basically the United Kingdom has become the leader –by the way, that maybe is okay… But to have these sort of timid responses to very serious questions, I think is exactly the problem. This nonsense at the end again about reelection and holding the House and the Senate, I think it demonstrates he’s really more focused on political outcomes than on doing the right thing.”
On Meeting with Ukrainian Refugees:
“Well, first of all I don’t think [Biden] should go into Ukraine, certainly not into Kyiv. I think his security is of paramount importance, but he could go to Poland and meet with Ukrainian refugees. I frankly think that would be one of the most noble things he could do. Let’s not forget, former Vice President [Mike] Pence has already done that. He went to [the Ukraine-Poland border], met with refugees, served meals for refugees. I think that sends a great message to the entire region and it’s a message of American compassion, if not American strength.”
On Sanctions and a Patriot Premium:
“I would [continue sanctions] and I think we have to look at several other bad actors around the world. There ought to be a ‘Patriot Premium’ for doing business with our allies and in the United States. I think a lot of companies that thought Russia was a great investment are regretting the decision now, particularly in the energy field. He talked a lot about food production. Of course, the President rightfully noted that Russia and Ukraine together are the third leading producer of wheat. Well, North Dakota is the number one producer of spring wheat and we’re the number two producer of oil in the United States. We can do a lot to feed the world. We ought to do that, but I think we ought to be looking at what I call a ‘Patriot Premium’ when it comes to investing and sanctions.”