John McCain's Señor Moment

By now you've likely heard about Sen. John McCain's bizarre interview with a Spanish language radio station in Miami yesterday, where he repeatedly gave vague answers about Latin America when asked about President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of Spain.

Josh Marshall, who broke the story on Talking Points Memo, reports on the reaction in the Spanish press:

In Spain, there seem to be two lines of thinking. The great majority appear to think the McCain was simply confused and didn't know who Zapatero was -- something you might bone up on if you were about to do an interview with the Spanish press. The assumption seems to be that since he'd already been asked about Castro and Chavez that McCain assumed Zapatero must be some other Latin American bad guy. A small minority though think that McCain is simply committed to an anti-Spanish foreign policy since he's still angry about Spain pulling it's troops out of Iraq.

Listening to the audio, I can't help but side with the Spanish majority in attributing McCain's apparent snub to momentary confusion, but I don't think it had anything to do with a lack of adequate preparation. In fact, an interview McCain gave in April to a Spanish newspaper pretty much blows holes in both of the theories offered above:

Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, is ready to change the policy of estrangement with the Spanish government that was put in place for four years now by George Bush. He declared that he was ready to fully normalize bilateral relations and that Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was invited to the White House. In an interview on board his plane, which had just left Memphis, where he had participated in a ceremony honoring the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, and en route to his home en Phoenix, McCain said that "it's time to leave our differences with Spain behind us" and he added: ""I would like President Zapatero to visit the United States. I am very interested, not only in normalizing relations with Spain, but in developing good and productive relations that address the many issues and challenges that we need to be addressing together," he said.

McCain surely knows who Zapatero is, and that Spain is part of Europe... that is, when he's lucid. But listening to that interview again and again, it sure does sound like the 72-year-old McCain was suffering from a transitory senior moment.

Repeatedly, the interviewer asks him whether he would be willing to invite President Zapatero of Spain to the White House, an invitation McCain had publicly extended months before, and repeatedly McCain wanders off into discussions about Latin America.

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.

And by the way President Calderone of Mexico is fighting a very, very tough fight against the drug cartels. I'm glad we are now working with the Mexican government on the Merida Plan, and I intend to move forward with relations and invite as many of them as I can, of those leaders to the White House.

Okay... but she was asking about Spain, not Mexico. Maybe he's just being evasive?

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.

Uh-huh. Spain is, of course, a NATO ally. You know, one of "our friends." So let's try rephrasing that question.

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.

Yeah, but you know... Spain is not in "the hemisphere" (unless, even more bizarrely, he's referring to the northern hemisphere). At this point the interviewer clearly senses his confusion.

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.

Don't just read the transcript, listen to the audio, and listen to his halting words, the obvious fatigue in his voice and the confusion in his answers. He wasn't simply being evasive or vague, he was disoriented, and while this may have only been a transient episode it should be alarming nonetheless.

There are those who caution that making age an issue in this race could hurt Obama with senior voters, but honestly... it would be irresponsible not to. McCain may very well have no underlying condition apart from the normal effects of aging--he may even be sharp for his age--but experience tells us that the mind ages just like the body, and anyone who has closely compared the John McCain of 2008 to the John McCain of 2000 has surely noticed an obvious decline in mental acuity, as well as a possible alteration in temperament.

Whether John McCain's passing señor moment has a permanent impact on this campaign, remains to be seen. But it should.

David Goldstein writes on WA politics at HorsesAss.org

Comments

[SaraTaylor4]

Upsetting responses, especially the non-sequitor about drug-fighting Mexican President.

This is going to be our representative to the rest of the world?? How could anyone not be upset??
The "you" vs. "Europe" thing may have been a hearing issue.

And finally, he may be losing it in some areas, but he sure knew who to hire to help him cage voters and attempt to steal the election...Read "How To Rig An Election" for a real eye-opener!

[Sundalecat]

Have you ever noticed how McCain/Palin and the rest of the Republicans change the subject when asked a hard question? Come on Barack lets take it to them in the Debates.

[Sundalecat]

Ah yes whatta did I tell you (Dementia) (Nuclear Weapons) (Elevator Buttons)!

[saywha]

I just wish McCain would have one of his "temper tantrums" and it's caught on tape! That should do it, and we can finally put an end to this McCain/Palin nightmare!

[Sabella1]

McCain just lost the Latino vote..
Thank you and get a map...
Obama/Biden '08

[CaptainVideo]

It looks like McCain needs a hearing aid but is not willing to wear one because it will drive home the fact that he is old.

[CaptainVideo]

"There are those who caution that making age an issue in this race could hurt Obama with senior voters,"

Nonesense, most senior voters would be the first to recognized that McCain has slowed down and is too old to handle this difficult job. I'm a senior voter and even if I did not disagree with McCain on policy, would consider him too old for the job.

One reason Obama is not doing better is that his campaign has been too cautious.

[snarkopolitan]

At first my mother (age 86) was upset by what she considered ageist putdowns, but she's reconsidering.

If JM had stayed a Navy Pilot, he'd have been grounded years ago. Aside from the crashing 5 airplanes thing, I mean.

[gcw]

I'm a psychologist and have checked with colleagues who specialize in PTSD...

It isn't Senator McCain's age that is showing, it is his untreated Post Tramatic Stress Disorder that is always evident. Symptoms include his well-documented rages, inability to control negative emotions, inability to reasonalby approach problems calmly, inability to have lasting intimate relationships and more.

We have many Vietnam Vets who suffer from PTSD and more Vets with PSTD coming home from fighting in Iraq. Whether you agree or disagree with the Republican policies, this is not the time for a man with untreated PTSD to "lead" our country, is it?

Rather, we need someone who keeps his/her head when under stress, not someone who becomes emotional, confusted and confrontational as his first reaction.

[David Goldstein - Huffpost Blogger]

My sister, who is a psychiatrist, says the exact same thing, and is not too thrilled about the prospect of a man suffering from PTSD with his finger on the button.

[booker52]

Was Sen McCain having a Miss So Carolina moment??? Need a map??

[Terriac]

When I listen to this interview, it does sound like McCain is confused. And it also sounds very much like he has a talking point, and he's not going to deviate from it under any circumstances, even if it makes him look a fool. It's the same thing Palin does. They have their talking points, they're rehearsed and prepared for those points, and those points only, and they sound like robots. Somebody might as well be pulling a string on a Chatty McCain doll or Chatty Sarah doll. Just my take, but that's how it strikes me every time.

[snellock]

Anybody who has been yammering for the return to the Reagan era... here ya go. Now then what were we talking about?

[BrooklynLadder]

As my wife says: "The rain on Spain falls mainly on McCain!"

[SamThornton]

"What about me what?"

For me, this is the money quote. Sounds like the title of a rap video. Must be some musically talented soul out there who can put the words to music.

[brendab]

It sounds to me like he has hearing loss. He clearly didn't know what they were asking. A lot of men at his age need hearing aids. Maybe he does too.

[LisainNYC]

Yes, he clearly misunderstood "europe" to be "you" because of the interviewer's accent.

But that doesn't get him off the hook. He still doesn't know who Zaptero is and she clearly said she was talking about Spain!

[tlm3000]

Classic responses
#1 "What about me what?" shows such a command of the English language.

#2 "In what respect, Charlie?" every brain dead student's response when asked a question he/she doesn't know how to answer.

[BARRY08]

Republicans have managed once again to get away with treating the American public with disrespect

First Karl Rove, now this........ what is next ???
they make a mockery of the legal system in the States

I am of the opinion that Sarah Palin is savoring the Presidential post
she must know McCain is not of this world ..........
and that either for healthy reasons or mental reasons
his days are numbered................ she is working her way to the Presidency

hence the slip of the tongue ....

PALIN/ McCain Administration ????

MAKE no mistake here ! STEP ASIDE MR. MCCAIN , FOR THE LOVE OF COUNTRY !
____________________________________

her old Pastor is afraid of her :
he said " She scares me," said Bess. "She's Jerry Falwell with a pretty face.
"At this point, people in this country don't grasp what this person is all about. The key to understanding Sarah Palin is understanding her radical theology."

[debbrob]

.....................her old Pastor is afraid of her :
he said " She scares me," said Bess. "She's Jerry Falwell with a pretty face.
"At this point, people in this country don't grasp what this person is all about. The key to understanding Sarah Palin is understanding her radical theology.".................................

Nowhere is it directly stated that the anti-christ would be male. It could come in the form of a pittbull wearing lipstick.

[cobraxus]

babylon the great mother of harlots and abominations of the earth(book of revelations).the term anti-christ comes from The Book Of John and refers not to any specific or prophesized individual but merely to anyone(of their time)who didn't believe Jesus was Christ.

[nomorebombs]

seems like the election should be cancelled,obama declared president and the


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