John McCain has said that he is going to rebuild America's relationship with Europe. Earlier in the year he was glad handing the Europeans and talking up his commitment on climate change - he even spoke in rosy terms of a new era of multilateralism.
Take it with a large pinch of salt. His recent comments in reference to Spain's José Luis RodrÃguez Zapatero show where he is really coming from. He appears more than willing to import Bush's old grudges against Spain for withdrawing their troops from Iraq. In saying that he wouldn't commit to a meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister, he made that evident. Great way to signal a new era of multilateralism.
Some have put forward the theory that McCain was simply disoriented and didn't understand the question. But even with his gaffe prone tendencies this doesn't add up because he was repeatedly asked about Spain and had the chance to repeat what he said in April to a Spanish paper, namely that he was interested in normalizing relations with Spain.
There is the possibility that McCain was simply being pig headed and uncooperative. Maybe the pressure of the campaign is starting wear a bit thin, but there is little doubt that he knew exactly who and what the question referred to.
The questions to McCain concerning Zapatero were asked a number of different times:
The terms "Spain" and "President Jose Louis Zapatero" don't leave a lot open to the imagination. If McCain wasn't clear about the question then he must have been smoking something prior to the interview or having an out-of-body experience.
The interviewer continued to push:
And yet again ...
And again ...
The insinuation appears to be that Spain is suspect and not in the US good books. No matter what beef McCain has with Zapatero, the fact is Spain is a long-standing NATO ally and has troops in Afghanistan. Any US presidential candidate who is sincere about a new era of cooperation, should have the sense not to throw up road blocks in advance.
For all his posturing as the Maverick, McCain is a neo-con in sheep's clothing. A McCain administration will have Americans looking back with nostalgia at the Bush years. Putting him in the White House with Barracuda at his side could begin very quickly to look like a horror movie sequel.
McCain has a cold war mindset that turns a lot of Europeans off. His negative view of Russia didn't simply emerge with the recent Georgia hostilities. He has a well known dislike for the Russians and was all for kicking them out of the G8. Europe doesn't need or want McCain's old school antipathies.
A few pundits have facetiously suggested that perhaps he was confused and thought that Zapatero was some S. American bad guy, or that Spain was actually in S. America. Considering that the gaffe-prone McCain referred to a 'Pakistan-Iraq border' on Good Morning America and has spoken of Vladimir Putin as 'the President of Germany' nothing should be ruled out. But either way, sound reasons for making sure he never sets foot in the White House.
If in fact he was zoned out and somehow hazy about the questions, a statement from his campaign that clarifies the weirdness might be in order.
Take it with a large pinch of salt. His recent comments in reference to Spain's José Luis RodrÃguez Zapatero show where he is really coming from. He appears more than willing to import Bush's old grudges against Spain for withdrawing their troops from Iraq. In saying that he wouldn't commit to a meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister, he made that evident. Great way to signal a new era of multilateralism.
Some have put forward the theory that McCain was simply disoriented and didn't understand the question. But even with his gaffe prone tendencies this doesn't add up because he was repeatedly asked about Spain and had the chance to repeat what he said in April to a Spanish paper, namely that he was interested in normalizing relations with Spain.
There is the possibility that McCain was simply being pig headed and uncooperative. Maybe the pressure of the campaign is starting wear a bit thin, but there is little doubt that he knew exactly who and what the question referred to.
The questions to McCain concerning Zapatero were asked a number of different times:
INTERVIEWER: Senator finally, let's talk about Spain. If elected president would you be willing to invite President Jose Rodriguez Louis Zapatero to the White House, to meet with you?
McCAIN: I would be willing to meet with those leaders who are friends and want to work with us in a cooperative fashion.
The terms "Spain" and "President Jose Louis Zapatero" don't leave a lot open to the imagination. If McCain wasn't clear about the question then he must have been smoking something prior to the interview or having an out-of-body experience.
The interviewer continued to push:
INTERVIEWER: Would that invitation be extended to the Zapatero government? To the president himself?
McCAIN: Uh, I don't, I, ya know, I, honestly, I have to look at the situations and the relations and the priorities. But I can assure you, I will establish closer relations with our friends and I will stand up to those who want to do harm to the United States of America.
And yet again ...
INTERVIEWER: So you have to wait and see. If he's willing to meet with you, would you be able to do it? In the White House?
McCAIN: Well, again, I don't -- All I can tell you is 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.
And again ...
INTERVIEWER: OK, what about Europe? I'm talking about the president of Spain.
McCAIN: What about me what?
INTERVIEWER: OK. Are you willing to meet with him if you are elected president?
McCAIN: I am willing to meet with any leader who is dedicated to the same principles and philosophy that we are for human rights, democracy and freedom, and I will stand up to those who are not.
The insinuation appears to be that Spain is suspect and not in the US good books. No matter what beef McCain has with Zapatero, the fact is Spain is a long-standing NATO ally and has troops in Afghanistan. Any US presidential candidate who is sincere about a new era of cooperation, should have the sense not to throw up road blocks in advance.
For all his posturing as the Maverick, McCain is a neo-con in sheep's clothing. A McCain administration will have Americans looking back with nostalgia at the Bush years. Putting him in the White House with Barracuda at his side could begin very quickly to look like a horror movie sequel.
McCain has a cold war mindset that turns a lot of Europeans off. His negative view of Russia didn't simply emerge with the recent Georgia hostilities. He has a well known dislike for the Russians and was all for kicking them out of the G8. Europe doesn't need or want McCain's old school antipathies.
A few pundits have facetiously suggested that perhaps he was confused and thought that Zapatero was some S. American bad guy, or that Spain was actually in S. America. Considering that the gaffe-prone McCain referred to a 'Pakistan-Iraq border' on Good Morning America and has spoken of Vladimir Putin as 'the President of Germany' nothing should be ruled out. But either way, sound reasons for making sure he never sets foot in the White House.
If in fact he was zoned out and somehow hazy about the questions, a statement from his campaign that clarifies the weirdness might be in order.
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