I finally figured out the McSpain confusion--it's simpler than we all thought

[DFW]

McBush wasn't trying to dis Zapatero. He thought that "Zapatero" was just a slang
way of saying Frank Zappa, and that Frank Zappa was some evil Latin American dictator
in cahoots with Chavez and Castro to cut off our oil and make our children sing
"Guantanamera" every morning at school instead of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance!

It's an understandable mistake. Top State Department officials make it all the time....

[jpertello]

1. I think he was thinking of

Emiliano Zapata Salazar (August 8, 1879–April 10, 1919) was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata

[regnaD kciN]

2. Quite likely...

...after all, McCain probably ran into him in a bar once, and found him a real pain-in-the-ass. :evilgrin:

[jpertello]

3. HAHA!

Yeah, I was thinking McCain remembered him from his childhood.

But look at Zapatero. No resemblance to Zapata.

[DFW]

4. You are all assuming McCain had the slightest idea who Zapata was or who Zapatero is

He is more likely to know who Zappa was than to have recognized either of the other two.

"It’s like these guys take pride in being ignorant"--Barack Obama