# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/61 "2008-09-18T19:00:18Z")
God listening to that interview, he even SOUNDS old. He sounds almost like my grandfather. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/62 "2008-09-18T19:09:18Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Well, McCain looks to be going the route of, “I knew who they meant, and I don’t want to commit to having a meeting with him.” I mean, come on, you can’t be too cautious with those NATO members. The Washington Post [reports](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/18/mccain_slights_spanish_prime_m.html): > > Nice. Doubly nice, Zapatero is a Prime Minister, not a President. > [@](#): > > McCain’s senior policy adviser insisted today that McCain meant what he suggested about not necessarily meeting Zapatero. > > “Senator McCain refused to commit to a White House meeting with President Zapatero in this interview,” Randy Sheunemann told the Washington Post. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/63 "2008-09-18T19:12:36Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Doubly nice, Zapatero is a Prime Minister, not a President. Heh…and that’s coming from McCain’s SENIOR FOREIGN POLICY ADVISOR! Not only is he a foreign policy dunce, but the “experts” he surrounds himself with are, too. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/64 "2008-09-18T19:32:17Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] You just lost Obama 100 votes with that remark. I hope you’re satisfied. :mad: [/QUOTE] Oooohhkaaayy. People who have shit for brains never believe they do. In fact they’re usually quite dogmatic about defending the ludicrously indefensible. “Liberals hate America. They _want_ terrorists to win.” “Evolution doesn’t exist because the Bible says so!” “John McCain wouldn’t lie because he was a POW!” “You can’t be a real Christian if you don’t vote Republican.” And my favorite neocon absurdity: “I believe in minimal governmental intrusion into the lives of citizens. Except my side has a clear, God-mandated duty to dictate morality for the masses. Which doesn’t really count as _intruding_ intruding since it’s a holy mission and all.” Those are just righty-shit-for-brains. Don’t get me started on the leftist loonies. Anybody whose vote can’t stand up to message board chatter, yes, has shit for brains too. I doubt anyone’s mind has been changed by all the endless political threads. People will vote the way they want and rationalize why. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/65 "2008-09-18T19:42:56Z")
That was meant to be tongue in cheek. I guess it fell flat. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/66 "2008-09-18T19:44:48Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > He also turned out to be in the early stages of Alzheimers in his second term of presidency, and there was that little thing called Iran-Contra-perhaps you remember it? > > Popularity does not necessarily mean one is a GOOD president. Just a popular one. We must get the foot of regulation off the neck of business.. That was Reagan. He started this whole mess that is exploding. he was a shitty president and endlessly wrong. I hope his legacy takes a hit for his destruction of regulation. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/67 "2008-09-18T19:52:19Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Doubly nice, Zapatero is a Prime Minister, not a President. The Spanish actually refer to him as President, as his formal position is president of the council of ministers. Indeed, the interviewer refers to him as President. So I’d say President would be a perfectly reasonable thing to call him, once one has figured out who he is. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/68 "2008-09-18T19:53:10Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] That was meant to be tongue in cheek. I guess it fell flat. [/QUOTE] Oh. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/69 "2008-09-18T20:08:25Z")
> [@Dead\_Badger](#): > > The Spanish actually refer to him as President, as his formal position is president of the council of ministers. Indeed, the interviewer refers to him as President. So I’d say President would be a perfectly reasonable thing to call him, once one has figured out who he is. 🙂 It’s _El Presidente del Gobierno_ in Spanish and _El Presidente_ for short. The literal translation is “President of he Government”, but Prime Minister is prefered to avoid confusion (as Spain is a monarchy). ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/70 "2008-09-18T20:09:25Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Puto is grammatically correct but in common usage it’s rarely used Well, I couldn’t say how common it is in spoken usage but I can tell you for sure that it’s commonly seen written on walls. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/71 "2008-09-18T20:38:55Z")
[Pretty good Huffington Post commentary on the gaffe/no-gaffe.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-bergmann/not-a-gaffe-mccain-campai_b_127486.html) So is it somehow better that McCain is willing to throw away a NATO ally rather than admit he fucked up? The guy is scary–I mean like “duck & cover” level scary. I don’t want anybody in the White House who thinks it’s a good idea to just make diplomatic decisions based on whim or random impulse. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/72 "2008-09-18T20:57:22Z")
A NATO member! A fucking NATO member and he either blew the leader off with shit they usually keep for the likes of Iran or Syria or he didn’t know who he was. A fucking NATO member. That’s shameful folks no matter what way the truth lies. Spanish soldiers went to Iraq and Afghanistan and had a very large terrorist attack for their reward and this is how a possible leader of their supposed friend and ally treats their leader 😕 ---
**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, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/73 "2008-09-18T21:01:07Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > A NATO member! A fucking NATO member and he either blew the leader off with shit they usually keep for the likes of Iran or Syria or he didn’t know who he was. > > A fucking NATO member. That’s shameful folks no matter what way the truth lies. > > Spanish soldiers went to Iraq and Afghanistan and had a very large terrorist attack for their reward and this is how a possible leader of their supposed friend and ally treats their leader 😕 I hear ya. I work for NATO currently. I’ll have to apologize to my spanish coworkers tomorrow. What a dickweed. ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/74 "2008-09-18T21:14:27Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Probably right about it not getting much traction. At least [Time](http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1842156,00.html) is talking about it. The writer suggests that it’s possible that McCain did know who Zapatero was, and really meant that he wouldn’t commit to talking to him. Either way, not a banner day in foreign policy. Hoepefully this will get plenty of play in the spanish language newspapers and news broadcasts. I’m sure this won’t win McCain anymore votes in the hispanic community. It hits pretty close to the “they all look alike” thing.\* ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/75 "2008-09-18T21:40:17Z")
I really need to let go of my hatred for Nixon, who I’ve blamed for many years for the breakdown of civility in politics. Nixon was fucking Gandhi compared to Reagan and Shrub. And Bush senior --it’s too bad he didn’t hear a voice out of a burning tree asking him to sacrifice his sons. ---
**Author:** ![bannerrefugee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@bannerrefugee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bannerrefugee)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/76 "2008-09-18T21:41:30Z")
> [@Shot\_Clock](#): > > 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! Serves you right for going to BoJangles 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/77 "2008-09-18T21:44:33Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Nixon was fucking Gandhi Ew. ---
**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, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/78 "2008-09-18T22:13:18Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > That was meant to be tongue in cheek. I guess it fell flat. I thought it was pretty good actually as I understood the witty play on percentages it referenced. Of course if you have to explain it…😉 * * * > [@Dead\_Badger](#): > > The Spanish actually refer to him as President, as his formal position is president of the council of ministers. Indeed, the interviewer refers to him as President. So I’d say President would be a perfectly reasonable thing to call him, once one has figured out who he is. 🙂 Yep. He is both. But more commonly referred to as ‘President’ than P.M. As to ‘figuring out who he is’ delusions of Spanish grandeur aside, you’d think educated people – never mind a US Presidential candidate – would know something about Spain, not only a NATO ally, but with troop deployments in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Lebanon (UNIFIL). We are also talking about a country which is inside the [world’s ten largest economies](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)) and second largest landmass in Europe only after France. Lastly, as an ally and a possible link to L.A., Spain is only second to the US in total investments in the region. Won’t even mention the US naval and air force bases located in geostrategic Spain. * * * > [@Jolly\_Roger](#): > > I hear ya. I work for NATO currently. I’ll have to apologize to my spanish coworkers tomorrow. What a dickweed. Good on you, but I doubt your colleagues will take much affront for the time being. He is not, at least not yet, the voice of America. From what I’ve read in my prior link to El Pais (one of Spain’s newspaper’s of record and the one with the largest circulation) his comments where mostly treated with derision and scorn – with a large helping of incriminating ignorance on his part. However, if such a sad event happens to occur, I think you’ll find greater division between many Western European NATO members and the US of A. Irreconcilable even. Best of luck to all of you in the crucial election. No doubt there’s a hell of a lot riding on it. Like the future of map of the world in terms of alliances. Literally. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/79 "2008-09-18T22:34:04Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > We must get the foot of regulation off the neck of business.. That was Reagan. He started this whole mess that is exploding. he was a shitty president and endlessly wrong. I hope his legacy takes a hit for his destruction of regulation. Nowadays, I’m taking a more kindly view of the man himself-if only because I don’t think he was the one in charge-Ronnie was a figurehead. I don’t think he was the one running the show. His administration, on the other hand… (But yeah, shitty president, totally) ETA: one wonders what might happen if McCain had happened to meet with Juan Carlos… ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132/80 "2008-09-18T22:53:08Z")
The claim now is that he knew exactly who the man is, he just doesn’t [want to meet with him](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/18/mccain-meant-to-reject-sp_n_127449.html). That’ll teach Spain, by Og. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-offends-spain-or-foreign-policy-genius-my-ass/464132.md?page=5)