CNN's Sally Kohn: GOP Using Russia-Ukraine Standoff for Political Gain

Is the Republican Party using the Russia-Ukraine standoff for political advantage? Out CNN host Sally Kohn says yes.

Kohn took aim at the party last night on Crossfire, arguing that Republicans were "practically cheering" for Russian president Vladimir Putin. "He's given them a new excuse to bash President Obama," Kohn said. "Republicans are out in droves suggesting that if the president were not such a weak leader, Putin wouldn't be threatening the Ukraine."

Pointing to Russia's invasion of Georgia in 2008 during George W. Bush's presidency, Kohn asserted that the Republicans did not ascribe weakness to Bush. Kohn asked panelist Danielle Pletka of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, whether the GOP is "hurting America's standing in the world" by "systematically undermining the president."

"I think polling shows us that the president has done more to hurt our standing in the world than the Republicans at this point," Pletka fired back.

"It's always lovely to talk about domestic politics as if it's somehow more important than the lives of the Ukrainian people or the Syrian people," Pletka continued. "Let me tell you, these are not games for the Republicans or the Democrats."

Watch the testy exchange here, via Real Clear Politics.