# McCain Offends Spain, or Foreign Policy Genius My Ass **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 18, 2008, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132 "2008-09-18T12:22:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/1 "2008-09-18T12:22:45Z")
John McCain recently gave an interview with someone from the Spanish press, and did not know that their Prime Minister was named Zapatero, and appeared to confuse him with a Latin American leftist. Even after being corrected that the interviewer was talking about Europe, he apparently did not get it. [http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/217710.php](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/217710.php) > [@](#): > > … I originally gave McCain the benefit of the doubt, thinking that he was just snubbing Zapatero (something that would be welcomed by the Spanish right). […] > > After listening to the interview, however, I agree with the characterization that McCain was unaware of our relations with Spain, or even the country’s geographical and political position. When asked about meeting with Zapatero and the country’s relationship with the U.S., McCain ignored the question and went into some boilerplate about America’s friends and enemies and analyzing relations (think Palin and the Bush Doctrine). Then, he tried to transition his answer into more friendly territory, discussing President Calderon’s government in Mexico. He never really addressed Spain, but pushed right into commenting about Mexico. The interviewer actually tried to redirect him several times (again, think Charlie Gibson and Palin), until she actually stated that she wasn’t talking about Latin America anymore, but rather Europe. For whatever reason, McCain responded to this question by repeating what he said before about analyzing America’s relationships with our friends and enemies. Can we finally put to rest the idea that this guy knows anything about foreign policy or international relations? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/2 "2008-09-18T12:30:40Z")
McCain’s thought bubble: _Why the hell is this person asking me about [Zapata](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata)?_ ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/3 "2008-09-18T12:31:43Z")
I’m going to reserve judgement till I see more of the transcript, but if he confused Zapatero with the [Zapatistas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapatista_Army_of_National_Liberation), or with the long-dead [revolutionary](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata) from whom they took their name, that’s just, um, both hilarious and scary. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/4 "2008-09-18T12:37:38Z")
[Here’s a bit more:](http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_09/014770.php) > [@](#): > > Late Wednesday night, news made its way from the other side of the Atlantic that John McCain, in an interview with a Spanish outlet, had made a series of bizarre responses to a question regarding that country’s prime minister. > > “Would you be willing to meet with the head of our government, Mr. Zapatero?” the questioner asked, in an exchange now being reported by several Spanish outlets. > > McCain proceeded to launch into what appeared to be a boilerplate declaration about Mexico and Latin America – but not Spain – pressing the need to stand up to world leaders who want to harm America. > > “I will meet with those leaders who are our friends and who want to work with us cooperatively,” according to one translation. The reporter repeated the question two more times, apparently trying to clarify, but McCain referred again to Latin America. > > Finally, the questioner said, “Okay, but I’m talking about Europe – the president of Spain, would you meet with him?” The Senator offered only a slight variance to his initial comment. “I will reunite with any leader that has the same principles and philosophy that we do: human rights, democracy, and liberty. And I will confront those that don’t [have them].” One has to presume that he knew he was sitting down for an interview with someone from the Spanish press, right? ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/5 "2008-09-18T12:41:05Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > [Here’s a bit more:](http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_09/014770.php) > > One has to presume that he knew he was sitting down for an interview with someone from the Spanish press, right? It sounds less like he was confused about who he was talking to, and more like he didn’t want to be pulled off his boilerplate comments. He probably hasn’t been briefed about Spain, so he was just trying to stick to what he has been briefed on. Edited to add: not that that’s any better ---
**Author:** ![Borborygmi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borborygmi/32/217_2.png) [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/6 "2008-09-18T13:02:20Z")
(By George, I think I’ve got it!) ♪ ♫ McCain’s campaign draws mainly Spain’s disdain Spain’s disdain comes mainly from McCain_And where’s all this disdain?_ In Spain! In Spain! _And what can they do in Spain?_ Complain! Complain!McCain’s campaign draws mainly Spain’s disdain… McCain’s campaign draws mainly Spain’s disdain ♫ ♪ ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/7 "2008-09-18T13:03:37Z")
His mind was other places that day. I know he’s been preoccupied lately, trying to come up with new ways to keep the Blackberry competitive against the iPhone and the Android powered smartphones. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/8 "2008-09-18T13:04:41Z")
I’m kind of confused – was McCain being interviewed on Miami radio station AM 1260? I think that’s what the story on Talking Points Memo means. I can almost see where he would assume that an interviewer on a Miami radio station would be asking about Latin American affairs. That doesn’t do much to excuse his (apparent – still waiting for more information) gaffe, but at first I thought he was talking to a guy in Spain. ETA: And, TPM says that McCain didn’t do much better even after the interviewer said, “But we’re talking about Europe.” ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/9 "2008-09-18T13:14:30Z")
Mock on, mock on. Kinda reminds me of the liberal mockery of Reagan. He turned out to be one of the most popular Presidents in US history, much to the liberals’ chagrin and frustration. You honestly think John Q Public out there give a cuss about this? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/10 "2008-09-18T13:15:30Z")
I think I can understand the confusion, but it certainly doesn’t speak well to: a) his handlers vetting his interview requests. b) his ability to think well on his feet. c) possibly his knowledge of world leaders and our diplomatic relationships. Note that on point C, I don’t expect him to know off the top of his head how we interact with every country in the world, but I would expect him to do his homework going into an interview. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/11 "2008-09-18T13:16:40Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > You honestly think John Q Public out there give a cuss about this? No, I expect his constituency is mostly too dumb to care. This shouldn’t, for the most part, affect his election chances at all. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/12 "2008-09-18T13:18:14Z")
Jusus Christ on a pogo stick! That has to be one of the most bizrre interviews I’ve ever heard. The guy was completly clueless as to who Zapatero was – even after being told “we’re talking about Spain, in Europe.” 😕 You can hear the whole mess here: [English Version](http://www.cadenaser.com/) (scroll down half a page to his pic) What a tool! ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_Clock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Shot\_Clock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_Clock)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/13 "2008-09-18T13:19:01Z")
Overheard at the neighborhood BoJangles Restaurant this morning: “McCain thought they were talking about the Latins… **The guy he was talking to was speaking Mexican** ” Hand to God! ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/14 "2008-09-18T13:20:27Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Mock on, mock on. Kinda reminds me of the liberal mockery of Reagan. He turned out to be one of the most popular Presidents in US history, much to the liberals’ chagrin and frustration. You honestly think John Q Public out there give a cuss about this? Great, on-topic point. However, I think that people may have been more willing to give Reagan a pass on not knowing stuff than they will McCain because of Reagan’s youth relative to McCain. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/15 "2008-09-18T13:20:52Z")
In the Washington Monthly report linked by Bayard above, the Miami broadcast was a re-broadcast of an interview that was done _in Spain._ “McCain didn’t appear to know that Spain was in Europe, or that the leader of Spain was named Zapatero, even after he was told that Zapatero was the leader of Spain.” ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/16 "2008-09-18T13:23:11Z")
Those pesky senior moments seem to be more and more frequent as this campaign heats up. Those moments may/will be his downfall. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/17 "2008-09-18T13:25:29Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Mock on, mock on. Kinda reminds me of the liberal mockery of Reagan. He turned out to be one of the most popular Presidents in US history, much to the liberals’ chagrin and frustration. You honestly think John Q Public out there give a cuss about this? No mocking, but I can honestly tell you most of the people I knew back when Reagan was in office did not like him. His popularity depends on a point of view, I think. When they had his funeral my boss called me and told me that it we all had the day off because of it. I told him 'Well, thats the first thing Reagan ever did for me." Then I was pissed because it was all on TV and I had to go rent some movies. Besides, Reagan has \*\*\*nothing to do with whatever stupid crap comes out of McCain’s mouth right now in the present at all. \*\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/18 "2008-09-18T13:26:29Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Mock on, mock on. Kinda reminds me of the liberal mockery of Reagan. He turned out to be one of the most popular Presidents in US history, much to the liberals’ chagrin and frustration. You honestly think John Q Public out there give a cuss about this? For fuck’s sake, it’s not simply “mocking” it is a serious question about McCain’s ability to be President. Are you TRYING to make conservatives look like the ignorant asses they are seen to be on this board? ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/19 "2008-09-18T13:27:37Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > However, I think that people may have been more willing to give Reagan a pass on not knowing stuff than they will McCain because of Reagan’s youth relative to McCain. Plus, Reagan got to co-star with a chimpanzee in one of his movies. Everybody loves chimpanzees. On the other hand, POW POW POW. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/20 "2008-09-18T13:28:57Z")
I can actually understand why McCain gave the answer he did. Imagine if you were unprepared for an interview (it happens), and the reporter asks you if you would meet with Mr. X. Even Mr. X of Country Y. Now, granted, you should have been prepared for the interview and sure as heck should have known there would be questions about Country Y popping up from time to time based on the very nature of the interview. But that’s neither here nor there. You’re being asked if you would meet with a person who you don’t recognize and the only thing going through your mind is “is this a trick question? Is this guy a good guy or a bad guy? What if I say I want to meet with a bad guy? Will I be lambasted as sympathizing with my enemies?” And there’s the key. If you’ve already blasted your opponent for even daring to suggest that communicating with the enemy is acceptable, you damned well better not be caught saying the same thing. And so you say “um…all good guys I’ll meet with and all bad guys I’ll confront!” and you pray to God that that’s the end of the line of questioning. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132.md?page=2)