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[08 Election] McCain's Knowledge of Foreign Policy

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by danny317, Sep 18, 2008.

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  1. danny317

    danny317 Member

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    Interesting article in Time magazine...

    Did McCain have another brain fart (shia/sunni) or did he honestly believe Spain was a country in South America?

    Take it for what its worth...

    http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1842156,00.html

    Did McCain Diss Spain?
    By Lisa Abend Thursday, Sep. 18, 2008

    You gotta feel for José Luis Rodríguez 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."
     
    #1 danny317, Sep 18, 2008
  2. FranchiseBlade

    FranchiseBlade Member
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    The guy doesn't know foreign policy. He may have knowledge in certain limited areas, but he doesn't have the foreign policy know-how to lead our nation.
     
    #2 FranchiseBlade, Sep 18, 2008
  3. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    he has knowledge of georgia because of lobbyists
     
    #3 pgabriel, Sep 18, 2008
  4. SamFisher

    SamFisher Member

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    That's f-king awesome. We should also try to declare war on the Netherlands while we are at it. He might be more ignorant than GWB.
     
    #4 SamFisher, Sep 18, 2008
  5. danny317

    danny317 Member

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    dont we already have the ongoing war on drugs? :p
     
    #5 danny317, Sep 18, 2008
  6. yaoluv

    yaoluv Member

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    http://www.americablog.com/2008/09/john-mccain-just-forget-where-spain-was.html

     
    #6 yaoluv, Sep 18, 2008
  7. mc mark

    mc mark Member

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    via TPM --

    Embarrassing

    Well, we've heard the interview now. And John McCain either doesn't know who the Prime Minister of Spain is, thinks Spain is a country in Latin America, or possibly both.

    In case, you haven't seen our updates from last night, yesterday 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.

    --Josh Marshall
     
    #7 mc mark, Sep 18, 2008
  8. danny317

    danny317 Member

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    can someone post the video or audio of the interview.

    id like to see or hear it for myself.

    thanks.
     
    #8 danny317, Sep 18, 2008
  9. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    if this is accurate, obama has to hammer this home
     
    #9 pgabriel, Sep 18, 2008
  10. Invisible Fan

    Invisible Fan Member

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    I'm willing to give him some benefit of the doubt as McCain has established his foreign policy credentials far more than most senators. He doesn't know how to convey it to a portion of the press that doesn't want to overlook his quirks.

    Perhaps he's advancing into senility.
     
    #10 Invisible Fan, Sep 18, 2008
  11. gifford1967

    gifford1967 Member
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    <iframe allowtransparency="true" height='65' src="http://www.cadenaser.com/player_mini.html?xref=20080918csrcsrint_1.Aes" frameborder=0 name="20080918csrcsrint_1" scrolling='no'></iframe>
     
    #11 gifford1967, Sep 18, 2008
  12. danny317

    danny317 Member

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    i would also like to give him the benefit of the doubt but after reading mc mark's post...
     
    #12 danny317, Sep 18, 2008
  13. kpsta

    kpsta Member

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    You have to admit though, McCain knows his zapatos... Zapateros? Not so much.
     
    #13 kpsta, Sep 18, 2008
  14. mc mark

    mc mark Member

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    Josh has been all over this story. You can follow up here.

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/
     
    #14 mc mark, Sep 18, 2008
  15. danny317

    danny317 Member

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    WOW! :eek:

    that was pretty bad...
     
    #15 danny317, Sep 18, 2008
  16. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    I don't think this is a big deal.....at all...here is the radio show - english version only....they were talking about Latin America, she jumped to Spain, and he mentioned Mexico, which could have confused the issue....to me..a non issue.


    <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WItI9It_Swc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WItI9It_Swc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

    What is more bothersome is McCain would continue the "No talks without conditions" policies that have failed Dubya....why the hell can't our government sit down and talk to others...regardless of their type of government?

    Talking leads to understanding and better relations....not talking leads to...uh.....bad relations, and sometimes war.

    DD
     
    #16 DaDakota, Sep 18, 2008
  17. gifford1967

    gifford1967 Member
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    McCain sounds drugged in that clip.
     
    #17 gifford1967, Sep 18, 2008
  18. kpsta

    kpsta Member

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    I'm sure the befriender of Mexican industrialists will have a good explanation.
     
    #18 kpsta, Sep 18, 2008
  19. gifford1967

    gifford1967 Member
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    So a McCain spokesman has now said that McCain knew who the reporter was talking about and intentionally refused to commit to meet with a major NATO ally, that currently has troops fighting in Afghanistan.

    McCain is seriously starting to make Bush look good.
     
    #19 gifford1967, Sep 18, 2008
  20. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    more of the same indeed, i never had a problem questioning W's credentials, I hate to question McCain's because I do believe he generally cares, but it makes you wonder. I'd rather have a guy who may change his position than a guy who is just not informed.
     
    #20 pgabriel, Sep 18, 2008
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