Vladimir Putin's comments on American exceptionalism, Syria cause a fuss

 
(CNN) -- If Vladimir Putin wanted to get America's attention, he's done a pretty good job.

The Russian president's opinion piece arguing against military intervention in Syria, published on The New York Times' website late Wednesday, set off a flurry of reactions -- some outraged, some impressed, and some just plain bemused.

Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez said the piece made him almost want to throw up, and House Speaker John Boehner said he was "insulted."

Putin said he wrote the article "to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders."

Putin makes his case in op-ed

Vladimir Putin's call for peace

 

But he appeared to have raised some hackles with the last paragraph in which he disputed the idea of American exceptionalism.

It was a reference to President Barack Obama's address on Tuesday night, in which he said that while America can't be a global cop, it ought to act when in certain situations.

"That's what makes us exceptional," Obama said. "With humility, but with resolve, let us never lose sight of that essential truth."

Putin's answer to that?

"It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation," he wrote.

He concluded with the line, "We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord's blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal."

The White House shrugged off the fuss around Putin's jabs at Obama, describing them as "irrelevant."

Obama himself ignored a question about it on Thursday.

His aides sought to push the spotlight back on fast-moving diplomatic efforts to turn Syria's chemical weapons over to international control, a prospect led by Russia.

The important thing is that Putin is "fully invested in Syria's (chemical weapons) disarmament," a White House official said.

'Hey Putin'

There are others who took issue with Putin's view.