McCain on Spain

[nmoira]

Just curious what everyone thinks of McCain's Spain gaffe. Here's the original interview (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/217792.php). I'm inclined to agree with Josh Marshall (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/217881.php) at TPM that it was simply a misunderstanding, but it's interesting that the McCain camp is insisting that he did know what he was talking about, even though he repeatedly identified Spain as a Latin American country. The reporter who conducted (http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/mccains_spaingaffe_interviewer.php) the interview thinks he was merely ducking the question. McCain foreign policy advisor said this in an e-mail to the Washington Post (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/18/mccain_slights_spanish_prime_m.html):

"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."

And this is apparently the story they're sticking to, despite McCain's saying in April that he wanted to meet with Prime Minister Zapatero.

[HeatherH]

OK, this is not on-topic, but:

*sing with me*

"In Spain, McCain stays
Mainly on the plane!"


Sorry. You may now return to your political discussion. :D

[nmoira]

OK, this is not on-topic, but:

*sing with me*

"In Spain, McCain stays
Mainly on the plane!"


Sorry. You may now return to your political discussion. :DI had originally played around a bit with the subject line, but decided to keep it simple. :D

[Spy Car]

I'm wondering if Mr McCain was confusing Mr Zapatero (the president of Spain) with the "Zapitistas" (an armed revolutionary movement in the Mexican state of Chiapas)?

I also wonder if he shouldn't keep Joe Liberman always a few paces at his rear and always at the ready to wisper in his ear:

Not al Qaeda...Shiites.

Not Mexico..Spain

You drive...a Cadillac
:auto:

[Jenny in Atl]

:blink: Our possible fearless leader. Does he know where Spain is? Or maybe he thinks Mexico is still owned by Spain... That would be an understandable mix-up. :lol:

[nmoira]

:blink: Our possible fearless leader. Does he know where Spain is? Or maybe he thinks Mexico is still owned by Spain... That would be an understandable mix-up. :lol:
I don't understand why they won't just say there was a mix-up, or that he misheard, or was having a bad day, or whatever. It happens.

[Spy Car]

Maybe he just thought Zapatero was a cheap Mexican shoe, and he prefers Farragamo*

*At $520 a pair

Good thing he's not an elitist :D
:auto:

[Doran]

OK, this is not on-topic, but:

*sing with me*

"In Spain, McCain stays
Mainly on the plane!"


Sorry. You may now return to your political discussion. :D


Oh, where is that plane?
In Spain, in Spain!
And, where is McCain?
On the plane, on the plane!!"


:lol:

[nmoira]

Maybe he just thought Zapatero was a cheap Mexican shoe, and he prefers Farragamo*

*At $520 a pair

Good thing he's not an elitist :D
:auto:
I've had such an education in fashion in the last couple weeks.

[nmoira]

:lol:You know, you're not helping your reputation any with that avvie. :tongue_smilie:

:lol:

[beansprouts]

OK, this is not on-topic, but:

*sing with me*

"In Spain, McCain stays
Mainly on the plane!"



I haven't even read the thread, I just keep seeing the subject line and this is all I can think of :lol:

*Cindy sings with Heather and Doran*

[Spy Car]

I don't think I'll ever see this old Cat Stevens song quite the same way :D

Tea for the Tillerman

Bring tea for the Tillerman
Steak for the son
Wine for the women who made the rain come
Seagulls sing your hearts away
cause while the sinners sin, the children play

Oh lord how they play and play
For that happy day, for that happy day

[nmoira]

I don't think I'll ever see this old Cat Stevens song quite the same way :D

Tea for the Tillerman

Bring tea for the Tillerman
Steak for the son
Wine for the women who made the rain come
Seagulls sing your hearts away
cause while the sinners sin, the children play

Oh lord how they play and play
For that happy day, for that happy day
Beats I'm a little teapot...

[HeatherH]

Beats I'm a little teapot...

Oh, dear! Now THAT is funny!!!!! :lol:

[Doran]

You know, you're not helping your reputation any with that avvie. :tongue_smilie:

:lol:


If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! :smilielol5:

[Mamagistra]

I also wonder if he shouldn't keep Joe Liberman always a few paces at his rear and always at the ready to wisper in his ear:

Not al Qaeda...Shiites...

:lol::lol: Oh, you so reminded me of this SNL song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqlEk_RZZ7M). (The quality is poor but it makes me cackle every time.) :tongue_smilie:

[nmoira]

McCain foreign policy advisor said this in an e-mail to the Washington Post (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/18/mccain_slights_spanish_prime_m.html):

"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."

And this is apparently the story they're sticking to, despite McCain's saying in April that he wanted to meet with Prime Minister Zapatero.

This is still the story they're sticking to. I'm not laughing at McCain because he was confused or misunderstood something (I listened to the interview and understand why he might have been confused). What concerns me is his campaign's efforts to make it look like he said what he meant and he meant what he said. For me that doesn't seem presidential. It seems silly.

[Melinda in VT]

Dh and I wondered if McCain was having trouble hearing/understanding the interviewer (it sounded like an international phone interview, and the interviewer had an accent).

Maybe the campaign was worried admitting that might make him sound old?

[Spy Car]

Dh and I wondered if McCain was having trouble hearing/understanding the interviewer (it sounded like an international phone interview, and the interviewer had an accent).

Maybe the campaign was worried admitting that might make him sound old?

Plays into a pattern, I'm afraid.

Yesterday he called for Chris Cox to be fired, "I believe the chairman of the FEC should resign and leave office immediately".

Only problem is, Chris Cox is the chairman of the SEC.

Its been a long campaign, goodness knows anyone running for president has got to be pretty tired (and liable to small gaffes at this point).

But when John McCain one one day says "the fundamentals of the economy are strong", and the next day says "the economy is at risk" and goes from being "anti-regulatory" to "pro-regulatory" in the same overnight (and blames "fat cats" for our woes) I wonder, who is the real McCain?

Bill

[nmoira]

Dh and I wondered if McCain was having trouble hearing/understanding the interviewer (it sounded like an international phone interview, and the interviewer had an accent).

Maybe the campaign was worried admitting that might make him sound old?
I would find this somewhat less concerning if Spain wasn't a NATO ally with whom relations are already been strained over their pulling their troops our of Iraq. This story is getting huge play in Spain.

[Spy Car]

I would find this somewhat less concerning if Spain wasn't a NATO ally with whom relations are already been strained over their pulling their troops our of Iraq. This story is getting huge play in Spain.

Perhaps it will eventually sink in that we would be stronger as a nation, and our interests in the world would be better served, if we stopped alienating our "allies".

:auto: