Remember when congratulating Vladimir Putin WASN’T a scandal?

[Ubiquitous]

Over the weekend, Vladimir Putin handily won re-election to a fourth
term as Russian president. And we’re sure the election was totally
above-board and not shady at all.

Well, anyway, Donald Trump has reportedly called Putin to
congratulate him on his big victory:

BREAKING: Kremlin: Trump has called Russian President
Vladimir Putin to congratulate him on re-election.
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 20, 2018

JUST IN: Pres. Trump says he congratulated Russian Pres.
Vladimir Putin on his reelection victory, an election in
which Putin faced little opposition. https://t.co/oRZrO7vy6q
pic.twitter.com/DglJWCYOE8
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 20, 2018

.@KremlinRussia_E says Pres Trump phoned congrats to Putin
on his re-election and to discuss ongoing warfare in Syria
and situation in Ukraine. Kremlin statement says Trump &
Putin also discussed possibility of a Summit meeting. WH
confirms phone call but has yet to issue readout
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) March 20, 2018

According to a statement from the Kremlin, Trump
congratulated Putin on his election victory during their
call this morning. The White House, which said yesterday
there was no call scheduled, has not issued a readout yet,
but says one is forthcoming.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 20, 2018

Can you believe it?!

@realDonaldTrump of course you did.
pic.twitter.com/FnaEHFEf3Z
— Erick W. (@EDub_Rage) March 20, 2018

If true, this is awful but not surprising. Vladimir Putin
attacked American democracy. He just used chemical weapons
on the soil of America’s closest ally. And the sham
“election” was rigged. Nothing to congratulate. Everything
to condemn. https://t.co/lVoCEqph9D
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) March 20, 2018

Was it not a sham worth condemning the last time around? The
Federalist’s Sean Davis dug up these tweets from 2012, which, oddly,
didn’t seem to generate much outrage:

Obama Congratulates Putin on Presidential Victory, Praises
Russia’s Cooperation on Iran, Afghanistan
http://t.co/qnlKS44m via @theblaze TG
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) March 10, 2012

Obama Congratulates Putin on Third Term http://t.co/rQ89pxfL
— Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) May 9, 2012

RT @markknoller: WH says Pres Obama did congratulate
Vladimir Putin today on his victory in the Russian
presidential election.
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) March 10, 2012

Pres Obama called Russian Pres-elect & PM Putin to
congratulate him on his recent victory in the Russian
Presidential election #cnn
— Nick Valencia (@CNNValencia) March 9, 2012

White House read-out of Obama-Putin says Obama did indeed
"congratulate" Putin (something Brit PM Cameron did not do)
— Olivier Knox (@OKnox) March 9, 2012

Things sure have changed!

--
Dems & the media want Trump to be more like Obama, but then he'd
have to audit liberals & wire tap reporters' phones.