Will politics affect Obama's response to Putin's actions?

President Obama is threatening sanctions against Russia's President Vladimir Putin as the situation in Ukraine escalates, but he can't do it alone – he needs Congress to cooperate.

That's why it matters that the Senate's top Democrat is not on board – Harry Reid told POLITICO that the U.S. should not act until coordinating with the European community, saying "We have to have them on board with us."

So, should Putin be afraid of what Obama can do? Or does Russia view the U.S. as a paper tiger handcuffed to internal politics and the international community? Here to discuss are CNN Political Commentator Peter Beinart and Mark Wallace, a former ambassador to the U.N. under President George W. Bush.