McCain's Diplomatic Blunder:Refuses to Meet w/Spain's Leader

[ultraist]

Run time: 00:00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycb5rvv9x7A   Posted on YouTube: September 18, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: September 19, 2008 By DU Member: ultraist Views on DU: 1177

 
John McCain has caused great upset in Spain by meet with Spain's Prime Minister, Zapatero should McCain win the Presidency.

Many have speculated that McCain was confused as to who the interviewer was referring to, when she said, "Let's talk about Spain. Would you be willing to invite President Zapatero."

Via John Aravosis:

"When asked about Spain and Zapatero, by a Spanish reporter for a Spanish newspaper, McCain responded about Mexico and Latin America. A reader suggested something that Josh had already considered, that perhaps McCain thought the reporter was talking about the Zapatistas in Mexico, the guerilla group. But that's not possible as the reporter clearly said she was talking about Spain and Spain's leader, Zapatero. She told McCain this twice. Let me tell you exactly what she asked McCain (per the translation):

"Senator, finally, let's talk about Spain. If you're elected president, would you invite President Zapatero to meet with you in the White House?"

McCain then gives this odd answer about America's friends and America's enemies. He also, oddly, talks about Mexico (why Mexico? The question was about Spain) and how he'd invite friendly leaders to the White House. She then asks him again, would that invitation include President Zapatero? He says again that he'd have to review relations first, blah blah. She then says again, "so you'd have to wait to see, so would you meet with him in the White House?" He again repeats his weird statement about friends and enemies. McCain also throws in, oddly, to the Spanish reporter, when she's asking him about meeting the Spanish president, a line about the importance of our relationship with Latin America (this is now the second time he answered a question about meeting the president of Spain with an answer about Latin America). She then says to McCain one last time:

"Okay, but I'm talking about Europe - the president of Spain, would you meet with him?"
This time, there was no room for confusion. McCain then gives this very bizarre answer:

"I will meet with any leader who has the same principles and philosophy as us in terms of human rights, democracy, and freedom and I will stand up to those who do not."

MORE from Aravosis: McCain would rather lose a NATO ally than admit a mistake
http://www.americablog.com/2008/09/mccain-would-rather-lose-nato-ally-than.html#dsq-post-add

[Orrex]

1. Of course he refuses. He doesn't want to go to Latin America.

[ksimons]

2. he obviously didn't know the leader's name - he's been too busy...

.. much too busy trying to remember if Putin is president of Germany, if Czechoslovakia exists and if he should bomb bomb bomb - bomb bomb Iran. (okay, I shouldn't have)

[vaberella]

3. He clearly confused the Zapatistas with Zapatero's & he didn't know who Zapatero was.

This is clear by his on on goings about Mexico/Latin America and later by his round about answers that didn't indicate shit. I hate the fact that people are bs'ing for this guy. I'm not counting Yoly, because as a non-native speaker I wouldn't expect to pick up on nuances so much. I know my mum can't.

[ultraist]

4. I think so too

McCain started talking about Mexico, referred to "Latin America countries" and said "this hemisphere." Three indications he was confused as to who Zapatero was.

But what is even more scary, is how far McCain is willing to go to hide his mistake rather than admit it. He's willing to damage relations with one of our NATO allies.

So Bush like.

Palin-McCain: She doesn't know & He can't remember!

[MindMatter]

7. Exactly and that was after she had mentioned SPAIN 3 times

He never did catch on. He was still talking about Latin America by the end of the interview.

He probably heard her accent and his senile old brain put him back 35 years in the middle of some Mission:Impossible episode where the team had to go to some South American country to overthrow some fictional brutal dictator. Man, that Peter Lupus was the best. Yeah, if any of those dictators try to mess with me, I'll show those whippersnappers. I'll send Peter Lupus to kick some Latin ass. And if you think I won't do it, you got another think comin'. Barbara Bain will get Zapatero's attention while Martin Landau sneaks in and plants the evidence. And "POW", that's the end of Senor Zapatera. Your boy Zapatera better not mess with President John McCain. Ahhh PRESIDENT McCain. Ahhh.

Now where did I put my Geritol?

[scarface2004]

5. why can t mckane be honest for one second...he wants war with spain

instead of beating around the bush he should just come out with it...his first act as president will be to order an invasion of spain..and take out that zabaterra guy!!! or whatever his name is!!

[MindMatter]

6. Senile old man. He said "IN THE HEMISPHERE"

Spain is not in our hemisphere. That senile old asshole had no idea what he was talking about.

[Peggesis1]

10. Absolutely right--and BTW where were his handlers?

He remained clueless to the end. Zapatero is not in Mexico, Spain is not a Latin American country, and Spain is certainly not in our hemisphere. And he'd rather let it look like he's insulting Spain rather than admit that he was confused. Also, doesn't he have loyal aides (like Lieberman) who are supposed to pull him aside when he starts to do this stuff? Where were they?

[MindMatter]

13. He'd rather start a war with Spain than have people know he's mentally unfit

That is exactly right. That was an easy decision for his campaign. If people come to understand this man us well down the path of Alzheimer's, that will end his chances. At least by turning this into a crazy-ass statement about a good ally and NATO partner, it gives him a chance to play tough POW-guy.

But really, this is tragic. What has Spain done to deserve this? McCain's people should admit that he isn't mentally complete anymore, for the good of the country.

[ultraist]

14. Exactly!

His age and mental unfitness looms over his campaign and they know it. They are always making excuses for his confusion and gaffes.

[MindMatter]

17. Worse than Reagan

Reagan was reasonably sharp during his campaign with Carter. McCain's Alzheimer's is 2 or 3 years ahead of where Reagan's was. McCain's first term would be like Reagan's second term.

[gateley]

8. I'm thinking that he didn't know whether or not Spain is on our Friend or Foe

list.

This was horrifying to listen to. Almost painful.

[ghostsofgiants]

9. Zapatero's a socialist, and socialists = evil. Jesus, guys, get with the program, please.

People talk about wanting to leave the U.S. if he gets elected, I almost want to leave the fucking hemisphere if he gets elected.

[Peggesis1]

11. maybe Spain?

McCain would never find you there. <smile>

[ghostsofgiants]

12. Haha, good call.

And welcome to DU! :D

[Sander]

15. This interview frightens me

McCain's answers reminded me of those my father would give when he was beginning to exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease. I am not trying to be snide here. McCain's responses were very typical of those with the beginnings of dementia, as I remember them from my father. The disease eventually killed him.

The reporter herself seemed puzzled why McCain kept talking about Latin America and "this hemisphere." It was as if he couldn't really place Spain on the world map. She finally became frustrated and tried to gently remind him she was asking about Europe and Spain.

What was left out of the John Aravosis release above was this curious exchange, reported from the actual audio transcription -- See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/18/mccain-meant-to-reject-sp_n_127449.html --

"Here is the transcript of the radio interview:

QUESTION: Senator, finally, let's talk about Spain. If you're elected president, would you be willing to invite President Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero to the White House to meet with you?

MCCAIN: I would be willing meet, uh, with those leaders who our friends and want to work with us in a cooperative fashion, and by the way, President Calderon of Mexico is fighting a very very tough fight against the drug cartels. I'm glad we are now working in cooperation with the Mexican government on the Merida plan. I intend to move forward with relations, and invite as many of them as I can, those leaders, to the White House.

QUESTION: Would that invitation be extended to the Zapatero government, to the president itself?

MCCAIN: I don't, you know, honestly I have to look at relations and the situations and the priorities, but I can assure you I will establish closer relations with our friends and I will stand up to those who want to do harm to the United States of America.

QUESTION: So you have to wait and see if he's willing to meet with you, or you'll be able to do it in the White House?

MCCAIN: Well again I don't, 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.

QUESTION: Okay... what about Europe I'm talking about the President of Spain?

MCCAIN: What about me what? (emphasis supplied)

QUESTION: Okay... are you willing to meet with him if you are elected president?

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

That "what about what?" miscue was very typical of some of my Dad's responses when he was in the throes of his disease.

First, I believe McCain was really confused about where Spain was. He heard "Spain" and thought "Spanish." He then made the confused connection that all Spanish-speaking people came from Latin America - and so launched into the confusing diatribe about Mexico and "this hemisphere." When suddenly confronted with the truth that the reporter was talking about a European country - namely Spain, McCain's mind reeled, and he was caught up short with, "What about what?" He might have even been thinking, "Huh?"

This is not the mind of the kind of man I want leading my country. I am very sad. I am, and have been since the Georgia primary, an Obama supporter. But I am still saddened to see the beginnings of dementia in a formerly sharp political mind. This is a horrible disease and is not a laughing matter. However, it is something that should be examined carefully.

[concerned canadian]

16. the dementia is becoming increasingly evident

Don't tell me that this badly written script, which most of the whole world, myself included,
is fixated on, will have McCain quietly whisked off to on of his homes with the best care that
nearly unlimited money can buy. Enter Gov Palin as the R nominee and she does something
"like totally maverick, man" (the Right is SOOO copying the left, or what they perceive to be
the left) and choose First Dude as her running mate.