FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Top Democrats are jumping all over Mitt Romney for comments he made about Russia.
Both Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paint the likely Republican nominee as stuck in the days of the Cold War.
This all goes back to President Obama's so-called hot-mic controversy - when Mr. Obama was heard asking Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for some "space" on a European missile defense system. The President said he would have more "flexibility" after the November election.
Romney slammed Mr. Obama after that incident, calling Russia "our number one geopolitical foe."
But now Biden and Clinton are going after Romney for his limited foreign policy experience - and for calling Russia enemy number one.
Biden says it's not the Cold War 1950s. Although we have disagreements with Russia, he says they're "united with us on Iran" and that Russia is one of only two ways the U.S. is getting supplies into our troops in Afghanistan.
Hillary Clinton calls Romney's views on Russia "dated" and says there are more pressing foreign policy issues.
Romney's campaign shot right back at these criticisms, pointing out Russia's "opposition to crippling sanctions on Iran, its obstructionism on Syria and its own backsliding into authoritarianism." Romney insists that President Obama is too open to concessions when it comes to Russia.
The missile defense system has been a prickly issue between the two nations. The U.S. and NATO insist it would be used to protect Europe against an Iranian strike.
But Russia worries it would violate its sovereignty.
Here’s my question to you: How big a threat to the U.S. is Russia?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Tim:
Jack, The better question is: How big a threat are we to them? Their military is a hollow shell of what it once was, and so they have become reactionary. Their only offensive weapon in a conventional military sense is the destruction of the world. So they bloviate. This from a country with such poor health and such high alcoholism that it will be dead in a few decades if it's not careful.
Brian:
Jack, I'm a Canadian who married a Russian 14 years ago, so I've traveled to Moscow every year for a couple months at a time and spent the last 6 months there. I have news for Romney: Russia has been capitalist for the past 20 years, it is a Caucasian country like Canada, modern, progressive and wealthy. I love the place, the people are warm and friendly. Just like North America, they’re fed up with their politicians.
J.K. in Minnesota:
Not as much as Mitt would like you to believe.
Randy:
Honestly, I think Russia is a bigger threat to us than Iran. Everyone knows Russia and China and Pakistan want Iran to have nukes. All four countries would then come together to form a nuclear powerhouse, with Russia leading the pack.
Larry in Rhode Island:
As big a threat as Santorum is to Romney for the nomination.
Renee in Illinois:
Russia is clearly not our best friend but they're nowhere near the threat the Soviet Union was. A better question: why is everyone and everything classified as a threat by the GOP? I think it's just one more good example of a party that has no positive, viable solutions to offer so they continue to fall back on that good 'ol standby scare tactics.
J.D.:
Russia is about the last thing on my list to worry about and, don't forget, Sarah Palin is keeping an eye on it from her house.