Obama says he would meet with Spanish leader ( "Of course. Spain is a NATO ally")

[sabra]

Source: AP

MADRID, Spain (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama says he would be more than happy to meet with the leader of Spain if he wins the presidency, a session rival John McCain seemed less than willing to guarantee when asked last week.

Questioned whether he would sit down for face-to-face talks with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Obama told Radio Caracol Miami, "Of course. Spain is a NATO ally."

The interview was conducted Sunday in Florida and broadcast in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries on Monday.

Obama had harsh words for his Republican rival, who last week repeatedly dodged questions about whether he would receive Zapatero, a Socialist prime minister who won re-election earlier this year. McCain at first appeared to think the interviewer was referring to a Latin American leader, despite the fact Spain is in Europe.

...

"The fact that Senator McCain indicated that he might not meet with Zapatero I think indicated that he wants to continue the (Vice President Dick) Cheney policies of trying to dictate American foreign policy instead of trying to build cooperation," Obama said in the interview, which was conducted in English.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iOHh1bI3oWecZNdz6L8T-JsvncowD93BV11G0

[Duke Newcombe]

1. No, Barack...it's an indication of McCain's early senility...

...but you're too much of a gentleman to say that, aren't you?

Let's dispose of the McWhatever/Fakin' freakshow already.

Duke

[tanyev]

5. This is the perfect way to handle it.

If McCain wants to respond that he didn't mean to diss Zapatero, then he has to explain why he was so befuddled in his interview.

[knixphan]

8. agreed.

[MooseGoose]

6. Senator Obama is a gentleman, ....

but it's the politician in him that holds back any discussion of Senator McCain's senility. From an election standpoint it's a losing battle. Elections are won with emotion and motivation, and that kind of attack gives the emotional and motivational edge to Senator McCain's supporters. From a governing standpoint, professional politicians remember that they have to govern together after the election. You can't damage the relationship so badly as to compromise that. Kind of like the primaries, where you try not to do damage to the eventual nominee that carries over into the general election. I know, I know! Many politician's forget that part, and I know you can reel off example after example, but why use a lesser model as an example?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. Did someone say McNutz is senile?

I'd like to hear more about that!

[Buck Rabbit]

16. He is not senile!

He has mad cow.

John McCain

[tblue]

19. He appears to be on a high dose of valium. Possibly to keep him from losing his cool.

Just speculation. I'm just sayin'.....he sure seems awfully confused.

[organic produce]

14. Senile and ignorant...

I can't imagine how insulted the Spanish must be... I never thought we could find anyone as dumb or ignorant as Bush but the GOP has done it again!

[biglefthander]

15. I think McCain is in early-stage Alzheimer's...

...and he is hiding it from the public. Now that he has selected an unqualified joke as his running mate, the American public has every right to know exactly what condition his brain is in.

[yellowcanine]

2. Crabby McCain ends up with egg on his face. Hedging about meeting with a NATO ally is

unpresidential to say the least. Good on Obama and his advisors for driving home the point.

[hisownpetard]

10. That's egg on his face? And here I thought he was just jaundiced, along with

his views.

[central scrutinizer]

3. He should have said that Spanish troops are fighting in Afghanistan

with US troops and have had soldiers killed. To dis Zapatero is stupid and insulting.

[INDIA]

4. Masterful. K&R. nt

[backscatter712]

9. McCain still holds hard feelings against the Spanish.

It comes from his service in the Spanish-American War.

REMEMBER THE MAINE!!!

[phycomycetes]

11. ¡Olé Obama!

:headbang:

[mascarax]

12. Zapatero Can Breathe Easy Now!

Looks like we're NOT on the brink of war with Spain...<sigh>...McCain, just admit when you're wrong. You didn't understand the question, and it all went down from there.

[Selatius]

13. What, is it because the Socialist Party is the biggest party in Spain at present???

Gee, I wonder what Republicans think of the Spanish as a result.

I bet you privately the fuckers wished Franco had liquidated all of the Socialists when he was still around.

[Botany]

17. ¿Dónde está España?

Oh that Spain .... the one in Europe.

McCain is in over his head

[Jackpine Radical]

18. Oh-oh! Big Obama gaffe!

Doesn't he know Spain is a South American Commie country?

[happygoluckytoyou]

20. McCain..... MOST RESEMBLES REAGAN.... The Alzheimer Years. I've lost my jellybeans and can't get up

[NewJeffCT]

21. Rather elitist of Obama to know who the leader of Spain is, eh?

don't ya think?

:sarcasm:

[nerddem]

22. moreover that they're a nato ally

what's next, he'll be able to point to it in a map and name its capital? i mean, that's like phd shit, no one knows that.

[Quantess]

23. I did a google search "McCain Espana" thinking I'd get something relevant

http://www.mccain.es/framework/builder.aspx?page=SPLASH_PAGE
Bizarre.