Did McCain Diss Spain?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

You gotta feel for Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Here the Spanish prime minister is only four months from an end to his government's strained relations with that of President George W. Bush and blam! - along comes John McCain to suggest the next four years might not be any better. During an interview in Miami earlier this week with Spanish-language station Union Radio, a reporter asked McCain whether, if elected, he would receive Zapatero in the White House. McCain answered, "Honestly, I have to analyze our relationships, situations, and priorities, but I can assure you that I will establish closer relationships with our friends, and I will stand up to those who want to harm the United States."

Ouch. The question about Zapatero, clearly framed by the reporter as a question about Spain, came after inquiries on Venezuela, Bolivia, and Cuba. As a result, much of the Spanish press has decided that the Republican candidate, who hails himself as the experienced foreign policy choice in this election, confused Spain - a NATO member and key ally in the fight against terrorism - with one of those troublesome Latin American states. That was certainly the interviewer's impression, for she followed up with a gentle reminder that Spain was a country in Europe. As Spanish newspaper El PaÍs put it, "In the best-case scenario, [his answer] demonstrates his ignorance with respect to Zapatero."

Of course, there's a worse-case scenario: that McCain would, if elected, maintain his predecessor's chilly relationship with Spain. Spaniards may, on the whole, revile American politics and American comida de basura (junk food), but they still tend to measure their prime minister's international worth by the esteem in which the U.S. president holds him. And so, for the past four years, the Spanish prime minister has tried, ever so earnestly, to prove that he's one of the big boys. At every international summit he has tried to maneuver himself into position for a photograph with Bush. The press has breathlessly reported on every perfunctory exchange the two have had. And the much-longed-for invitation to the White House - let alone to a certain ranch in Texas - has been the object of countless pages of speculation. But for all the aspiration, Zapatero has never managed to achieve anything like that famous 2003 photo of his predecessor, JosÉ MarÍa Aznar in the Azores looking like he just got invited to the cool kids' party.

Of course, the fact that the cool kids' party happened to be taking place in Iraq explains a lot of the distance between the two current leaders: upon taking office in April 2004, Zapatero immediately pulled Spanish troops out of "the alliance of the willing." Which is one of the ironies of this situation - that Spain can so strongly support a foreign policy opposed to Bush doctrine (whatever that is), while so strongly hoping for a show of respect from Washington. On Thursday, Spanish newspaper ABC's regret was palpable when it lamented that "the coldness between the governments of the U.S. and Spain could continue if the Republican candidate John McCain reaches the White House. "

As for Zapatero himself, the prime minister is apparently taking this latest attack to his ego with characteristic equilibrium. McCain may not know who Spain's leader is, but Zapatero promised to work with the new administration "whatever it is."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20080918/wl_t...mccaindissspain

[HAL 9000 96]

And very most likely McCain went through the joint Spanish/US Naval Base in Rota, Spain at some point of his naval career.

[IAMX 3,055]

That's right, piss off yet another ally. I doubt Republicans would be happy until we're at war with everyone. The current amount of conflicts we're in aren't enough -- let's go get some more! Who wants some of this?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

And very most likely McCain went through the joint Spanish/US Naval Base in Rota, Spain at some point of his naval career.

I don't know Spanish so I don't know what this says, but here's the article from El PaÍs: http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacion...elpepiint_9/Tes

[rocks 494]

http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?d...TrUrl=Translate

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

The "maverick" working his skills on foreign affairs

[HAL 9000 96]

That's right, piss off yet another ally. I doubt Republicans would be happy until we're at war with everyone. The current amount of conflicts we're in aren't enough -- let's go get some more! Who wants some of this?

Could it be part of their programming to want to have enemies now and in the future?? I wonder if that has any psychological basis or is pure political programming.

[HAL 9000 96]

And very most likely McCain went through the joint Spanish/US Naval Base in Rota, Spain at some point of his naval career.

I don't know Spanish so I don't know what this says, but here's the article from El PaÍs: http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacion...elpepiint_9/Tes

Senil el pobre viejo.

Even though he stated last year he knew Zapatero and of Spain... so something is clearly misfiring in that grey matter.

Now you gave me the urge for some Tapas. Damn you Arjit!!!!!

[kaydee457 13]

Oh no, I hope not! He'll lose the spaniards vote!

[HAL 9000 96]

Oh no, I hope not! He'll lose the spaniards vote!

Does he even know that?

Didn't stop him from campaigning in other parts foreign.

[kaydee457 13]

Oh no, I hope not! He'll lose the spaniards vote!

Does he even know that?

Didn't stop him from campaigning in other parts foreign.

Uh, I "the ONE" has a lock on offshore campaigning.......

[Peikko 1,575]

Who cares what the Spanish think anyway?

[HAL 9000 96]

Oh no, I hope not! He'll lose the spaniards vote!

Does he even know that?

Didn't stop him from campaigning in other parts foreign.

Uh, I "the ONE" has a lock on offshore campaigning.......

Funny thing is, we're not talking about your ONE. We're talking about senility and McCain and his loss of practical foreign politics.

[Peikko 1,575]

Spain's a dictatorship, bloody Franco!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

John McCain was interviewed on the Florida affiliate of Spanish radio network Union Radio. And in the interview McCain appeared not to know who the Prime Minister of Spain was and assumed he was some anti-American leftist leader from South America.

After the interviewer presses him a couple times on the point and tries to focus him on the fact that Prime Minister Zapatero isn't from Mexico and isn't a drug lord either McCain comes back at her saying, "All I can tell you is that I have a clear record of working with leaders in the Hemisphere that are friends with us and standing up to those who are not. And that's judged on the basis of the importance of our relationship with Latin America and the entire region."

Then there's a moment of awkward pause before she says. "But what about Europe? I'm talking about the President of Spain."

McCain: "What about me, what?

Interviewer: "Are you willing to meet with him if you're elected president?"

McCain: "I am wiling to meet with any leader who is dedicated to the same principles and philosophy that we are for humans rights, democracy and freedom. And I will stand up to those who do not."

At this point, the interviewer gets tongue-tied presumably because she can't get over McCain not knowing what Spain is.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/217802.php