White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the U.S. demonstrated its exceptional status with its sharp contrast to Russia Thursday when asked about Vladimir Putin's New York Times op-ed at the daily press briefing.
"Unlike Russia, the United States stands up for democratic values and human rights in our own country and around the world, and we believe that our global security is advanced when children cannot be gassed to death by a dictator," he said.
Putin said Americans should not be encouraged to view themselves as exceptional in the op-ed, stressing that all people are equal under God. This statement drew sharp criticism given Russia's record of human rights abuses under Putin, particularly toward homosexuals and journalists considered unfriendly by the Kremlin:
CARNEY: Russia is Assad's patron and protector. The world will note whether Russia can follow through on the commitments it's made. As for the editorial, you know, we're not surprised by President Putin's words, but the fact is that Russia offers a stark contrast that demonstrates why America is exceptional. Unlike Russia, the United States stands up for democratic values and human rights in our own country and around the world, and we believe that our global security is advanced when children cannot be gassed to death by a dictator. It is also worth noting that Russia is isolated and alone in blaming the opposition for the chemical weapons attack on Aug. 21. There is no credible reporting, and we have seen no credible reporting that the opposition has used chemical weapons in Syria, and we have been joined by now 34 countries in declaring that the Assad regime is responsible for the use of chemical weapons on that night. Even Iran, which is fighting on Assad's behalf in Syria, has publicly blamed the Assad regime for the Aug. 21 attack.