Old Man Mccain gets confused about Spain

Worse than Bush. There can be no doubt about it now. In McCain's bizarre interview with Spanish Owned Union Radio he refused to say whether he would meet with Spain's Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Listening to the interview repeatedly, it simply seemed that McCain had no idea who Zapatero actually was. McCain seemed to think he was a Latin American autocrat - despite the reporter repeatedly saying "I am talking about Spain." This gaffe would seem to have very significant implications. Not knowing who the leader of Spain was or thinking Spain was in Latin America would not really be shocking coming from his running mate, but McCain has run on his foreign policy expertise and such confusion completely undercuts his credibility. Furthermore this gaffe would bring up real questions about his age. Is McCain really prepared to deal with a crisis at 3AM, when he can't even remember who the leader of Spain is during a late evening interview?

But was it a gaffe? While it definitely seemed so, now Randy Sheunemann, McCain's foreign policy adviser is shockingly saying that this is not a gaffe but an intentional expression of policy toward Spain. Instead of just admitting that it was small gaffe late in the day, the McCain campaign has decided that they care so little about governing that they are willing to potentially nuke the U.S.-Spain relationship just to get elected. Sheunemann emailed the Washington Post, saying:

The questioner asked several times about Senator McCain's willingness to meet Zapatero (and id'd him in the question so there is no doubt Senator McCain knew exactly to whom the question referred). Senator McCain refused to commit to a White House meeting with President Zapatero in this interview," he said in an e-mail.

This is beyond extreme. This is beyond reckless. This is insane.

McCain won't meet with a NATO ally, that has nearly 1,000 troops in Afghanistan, that has lost more than 20 soldiers there, has been brutally attacked by Al Qaeda, is incredibly influential in Latin America, has the seventh largest economy in the world, is a DEMOCRACY, and is a large and influential country in the EU. Won't meet with them?

The only plausible explanation for McCain not wanting to meet with Zapatero, is that, like Bush, he is still angry about Spain pulling its troops out of Iraq in 2004. If McCain carries that much of a grudge then how in the world will he rebuild our relationship with Europe, as he has said he would do. In a big foreign policy speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council in March, McCain expressed a desire to strengthen the transatlantic relationship.

We cannot build an enduring peace based on freedom by ourselves, and we do not want to. We have to strengthen our global alliances as the core of a new global compact...The bonds we share with Europe in terms of history, values, and interests are unique. Americans should welcome the rise of a strong, confident European Union as we continue to support a strong NATO.

McCain even told El Pais, Spain's major newspaper, in April that he would bring Prime Minister Zapatero to the White House. (translation via America Blog)

Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, is ready to change the policy of estrangement with the Spanish government that was put in place for four years now by George Bush. He declared that he was ready to fully normalize bilateral relations and that Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was invited to the White House.

And does McCain not know that his campaign has already met with a representative of Zapatero's office? From the BBC in April:

Recently, Bernardino Leon, who is currently heading the General Secretariat of the Prime Minister's Office to attempt to foster Zapatero's interest in international issues, travelled to Washington to meet the foreign policy advisers to Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and to Republican candidate John McCain. [BBC Monitoring 4/22/08]

But Sheunemann's statement now makes it clear that there will be no rebuilding of the transatlantic relationship. Instead, McCain will continue the ruinous approach of the Bush administration and continue to alienate our allies and further isolate America. This should not come as a surprise. McCain has after all shown in the past a reckless eagerness to attack America's allies.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-bergmann/not-a-gaffe-mccain-campai_b_127486...

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[Vaalferatus]

The only country have similarity with Spain is Italy.

[av0159]

I don't care what Amerignorants think about us, USA has always been a leader trying to ridicule all the countries. I'm from the basque country, Spain, I love America (FROM CANADA TO ARGENTINA, NOT ONLY USA) and this video isn't a insult to me. This video just show me the grade of ignorance of the Americans.

[MrBull419]

@av0159 That's a hell of a generalization, that's like saying all people in Spain love bull fighting or eat paella, it's not true Que no, Mcain does not represent all Americans but a small group of racists like the people in Arizona, who now made the state a Nazi state by stopping and questioning anyone who is not blond and blue eyed. I my friend do take your remark as an insult which shows your ignorance about Americans who are many and varied.

[Vaalferatus]

@ExpressiveBeats

This is obvious.

[Vaalferatus]

@AdeoF

Well... maybe, lol.

[ExpressiveBeats]

@Vaalferatus portugal 

[AdeoF]

@Vaalferatus Also France if you think about it

[coolSPORTSgirl4]

Both of u r rite but in my opinion I think spain is latin American bc of Wikipedia info.

Kk now. Shutup ppl SSSOO IMATURE WITH THE FIGHTING

[coolSPORTSgirl4]

And @ Vaalferatus ur kindda right Mira no le agas Caso a este loco ya que busce information de eso

[coolSPORTSgirl4]

@MExICANxAMeRICANx714 shutup tu eres el pendejo look it up on Wikipedia I think latin America and Spain are the same but not Italy and I dnt kno about portugal I think It is because why do u think Spain talk the same language and look the same ay dios mio este puto no sabe que esta Ablando ya Cayate la boca and MOVE ON it's over just look it up on wikikpedia a shutup for once

[Vaalferatus]

@Antunez99

True. Portugal too.

[Antunez99]

@Vaalferatus

Portugal....