Not a Gaffe? McCain Campaign Willing to Destroy Relationship with Spain, Europe to Conceal Confusion

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Worse than Bush. There can be no doubt about it now.

In McCain's bizarre interview with Spanish Owned Union Radio he refused to say whether he would meet with Spain's Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Listening to the interview repeatedly, it simply seemed that McCain had no idea who Zapatero actually was. McCain seemed to think he was a Latin American autocrat - despite the reporter repeatedly saying "I am talking about Spain." This gaffe would seem to have very significant implications. Not knowing who the leader of Spain was or thinking Spain was in Latin America would not really be shocking coming from his running mate, but McCain has run on his foreign policy expertise and such confusion completely undercuts his credibility. Furthermore this gaffe would bring up real questions about his age. Is McCain really prepared to deal with a crisis at 3AM, when he can't even remember who the leader of Spain is during a late evening interview?

But was it a gaffe? While it definitely seemed so, now Randy Sheunemann, McCain's foreign policy adviser is shockingly saying that this is not a gaffe but an intentional expression of policy toward Spain. Instead of just admitting that it was small gaffe late in the day, the McCain campaign has decided that they care so little about governing that they are willing to potentially nuke the U.S.-Spain relationship just to get elected. Sheunemann emailed the Washington Post, saying:

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," he said in an e-mail.

This is beyond extreme. This is beyond reckless. This is insane.

McCain won't meet with a NATO ally, that has nearly 1,000 troops in Afghanistan, that has lost more than 20 soldiers there, has been brutally attacked by Al Qaeda, is incredibly influential in Latin America, has the seventh largest economy in the world, is a DEMOCRACY, and is a large and influential country in the EU. Won't meet with them?

The only plausible explanation for McCain not wanting to meet with Zapatero, is that, like Bush, he is still angry about Spain pulling its troops out of Iraq in 2004. If McCain carries that much of a grudge then how in the world will he rebuild our relationship with Europe, as he has said he would do. In a big foreign policy speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council in March, McCain expressed a desire to strengthen the transatlantic relationship.

We cannot build an enduring peace based on freedom by ourselves, and we do not want to.  We have to strengthen our global alliances as the core of a new global compact...The bonds we share with Europe in terms of history, values, and interests are unique.  Americans should welcome the rise of a strong, confident European Union as we continue to support a strong NATO.

McCain even told El Pais, Spain's major newspaper, in April that he would bring Prime Minister Zapatero to the White House. (translation via America Blog)

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.

And does McCain not know that his campaign has already met with a representative of Zapatero's office? From the BBC in April:

Recently, Bernardino Leon, who is currently heading the General Secretariat of the Prime Minister's Office to attempt to foster Zapatero's interest in international issues, travelled to Washington to meet the foreign policy advisers to Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and to Republican candidate John McCain. [BBC Monitoring 4/22/08]

But Sheunemann's statement now makes it clear that there will be no rebuilding of the transatlantic relationship. Instead, McCain will continue the ruinous approach of the Bush administration and continue to alienate our allies and further isolate America. This should not come as a surprise. McCain has after all shown in the past a reckless eagerness to attack America's allies.

See below for some of his more prominent attacks:

 

McCain attacked our allies as "vacuous and posturing" for opposing war in Iraq. "Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said that "Iraq is the test" of both the U.N. and NATO. He charged that the alliance is failing the test because of the "flawed calculations" and "vacuous posturing" of Germany and France. McCain and Rumsfeld both said that recent French and German foot-dragging over even discussing the possible deployment of NATO assets, such as Patriot anti-missile batteries, to Turkey also threatened to damage the alliance." [Washington Post, 2/9/03]

John McCain engaged in the anti-French bashing of the far right because they opposed the invasion of the war. "The Lord said the poor will always be with us, and the French will be with us, too," said McCain, a member of the Armed Services Committee. "This is part of a continuing French practice of throwing sand in the gears of the Atlantic alliance. But now they're playing a dangerous game, and coming close to rendering themselves irrelevant." A few days later he even said that, "Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) likened France to an aging '40s starlet "still trying to dine out on her looks but doesn't have the face for it." [NY Times, 2/14/03. NY Daily News, 2/17/03]

McCain attacked Germany for opposing the war - saying they lacked "political courage." McCain said that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder "looks little like the ally that anchored our presence in Europe throughout the Cold War...A German Rip Van Winkle from the 1960s would not understand the lack of political courage and cooperation with its allies on the question of Iraq exhibited in Berlin today." [Washington Times, 2/14/03]

On the war path, McCain said didn't care if invading Iraq damaged UN, thought Iraq would prove UN to be irrelevant. "If war is necessary, the United States will not 'be going it alone,' he said, but will wage war in Iraq with a coalition of allies - with or without the blessing of the United Nations. 'The problem here is not whether we do damage to the United Nations if we have to take military action,' he said. 'The question is, will the United Nations follow the League of Nations and risk irrelevancy.'" [Washington Times, 2/14/03]

McCain dismissed interests of French and Russians over invasion, said they were just based on commercial concerns. McCain said that "The French and Russians are putting their "commercial interests above international law, world peace and the political ideals of Western civilization." [Washington Times, 2/14/03]

At German security conference in the run up to the war McCain echoed Rumsfeld's notorious attacks on our European allies. "Rumsfeld has made headlines across Europe in recent weeks for a series of barbs at those who oppose U.S. policy." McCain clearly echoed Rumsfeld's statements, "McCain accused the Germans and French of "calculated self-interest" and "vacuous posturing" that left NATO with a "terrible injury." German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Germany would support its ally Turkey, but the question was one of timing. Both German and French officials have said that such a vote is tantamount to admitting war's inevitability. The conference's most emotional moment came from Fischer...he told how three times he had led the charge for German troops to be deployed: in Kosovo, Macedonia and Afghanistan...His voice rising, and beginning to speak in English, he addressed Rumsfeld directly: 'My generation learned you must make a case and, excuse me, I am not convinced.' Rumsfeld sat against the wall, sipping water and watching without expression. Much was said at the meeting about the strident tone of U.S.-European discussions." [Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/9/03]

McCain rejected calls to get more international troops on the ground in Iraq. McCain said, "I think that the only military presence required right now would be American and British." [MSNBC Hardball, 4/23/03]

Comments

[iranter]

oh no hope it does not happen. what would those germans rally around if obama is not he president?

[Piatt]

Don't fret. We can always send Palin/McCain over. She can amuse them with stories of how she can see Russia from her house he can insult them with his foreign policy gaffe of the day.

[djarvis]

Sounds like you would prefer it if our president is disliked by other nations around the world. Isolationism will not work in today's global economy and we can't really fight terrorism around the world without cooperation from our allies.

[CaptainObvious]

Looks like McBush has the "stupid" vote locked up.

We really need to start issuing a civics test in order to qualify for voting privileges.

[scandinavian]

how about a civics test in order to qualify for running for president?

[BigRonW]

After WW2, the USA and UK wrote a new constitution for Germany - they call it their "Basic Law". It allowed the Bundes Republik to defend itself on its own soil, but expressly forbade German troop being sent overseas for ANY reason (like invading Poland!) Then, in the nineties, the USA complained about how Germany wasn't supporting the USA...because Germany wasn't sending troops overseas. It took a major constitutional amendment for Germany to ship troops to help clear up the mess the USA has created in Afghanistan, and (unlike the Americans) Germans seem to take their constitution seriously: it expresses German's ideas about right and wrong; it's not "just a piece of paper". But even although the USA has plenty of bases in Germany, they're culturally isolated; the troops serving in Germany don't speak the language, don't watch the TV... and (naturally) they have absolutely no idea about German law. (Or , it seems to an outsider's view, about anything at all.)

[HallStyle]

The problem I have with John Boy McBUSH is that he doesn't seem intelligent enough to deal with these world leaders. He finished last in his class. This isn't what we need. We need leaders that have the intelect to make well informed decisions. Not just going off of gut instinct. This "Go it alone" we don't need Europe strategy isn't going to cut it. We need REAL LEADERSHIP that can inspire Europe to help us. NOT leaders who wants to fight every damn country in the world.

[Aaror]

Correction, he didn't finish last in his class, he finished 495 of 500. Wonder how many of the 4 below him amounted to anything?

[iranter]

and class rank became important when?

[beauregard62]

They are probably the ones behind the curtain running the SHOW!!

[Dewey34]

I'm troubled that no-one has picked up on this exchange
" Then there's a moment of awkward pause before she says. "But what about Europe? I'm talking about the President of Spain."

McCain: "What about me, what?

This is disturbing on many levels:
1. Nothing in the interviewer's question could have reasonably elicited McCain's response.
2. Her accent was not that difficult to understand.
3. The disconnect reminds me of my Mother's early Alzheimer's behavior - in which she would utter responses that were in no way connected to the question or conversation.
4. "What about me, what?" - the very language indicates a level of self - absorption that would be inappropriate in polite conversation, disconcerting in a professional exchange, terrifying when coming from the potential "leader of the free world".

Instead of dithering over what he intended re: Spain and Zapatero, perhaps we should intensify demands for his physical and mental health records. Alzheimer's and age related weakness have been referred to, but never seriously addressed. And perhaps we should raise serious questions about the wisdom of having a man so self focused and insensitive to the rudiments of courteous behavior in a position of ultimate authority

[Annabanana]

It is PAST TIME that we demand access to his medical records for more than a few minutes with select reporters in a remote room with no cameras or notebooks.. His medical condition (physical/mental/emotional) is a legitimate concern.

[stamper]

Well researched and factual article about the dangerous lack of foreign policy and diplomatic skills that Mccain has already displayed. I do take exception to your statement "not knowing who the leader of Spain was or thinking Spain was in Latin America would not really be shocking coming from his running mate". It is shocking to me that we have a candidate who picks a running mate that is so ill prepared that we no longer even expect her to have rudimentary knowledge of foreign countries or geography. Yes shocking indeed!

[JohnnyKong]

I think this isn't a gaffe at all, it seems more like McCain was either not paying attention to the host or couldn't comprehend her heavy accent or a combination of both and instead of saying 'pardon me' like most mentally sound people, he just went off on an unrelated tangent of nonsense like a man demonstrating early signs of senility.

[nanoscare]

I can't believe this isn't the number one topic on every news site in the country. Craziness.

[Berliner2]

Scheunemann's spin on this is a desperate attempt to cover up the fact that John McCain's mental capabilities are rapidly decreasing. It looks as if Scheunemann were trying to pander to Latino voters by exploiting some sort of anti-Spanish sentiment, which you can indeed find in some Latin American countries. Even so: What little political gain you might get out of this in the best of cases is still absolutely ridiculous when compared to the damage that such a policy position is doing to the standing of the US in the world. These people are completely out of it.

[bbc3341]

McCain - I won't meet with anybody! Screw you, and that means the press too.

Obama - Bring 'em on, I'll meet them all!

There are two things that I like about Obama - the first is that I sense that he is a good man, just a solid human being, and I am sorry, but that really counts with me. I think it matters. I wouldn't mind having him be a role model for my kids.

The 2nd thing I like about Obama is that in a lot of interviews he comes across as humble and can concede points in ways that McCain never would. I hated Bush's stubbornness and if anything McCain seems worse!

I have to be honest, I recent;y left the Republican party and I didn't watch a lot of the dem debates. I grew up in MA and am a Mitt Romney supporter because I know his family and have a ton of respect for the man, but in watching him get vilified in the press I learned that most of what is written about these candidates is garbage. It's opened my eyes and in taking a fresh look at things I became an Independent.

I will have trouble voting for Obama because of some things that I just can't see eye to eye with him on, but I've decided I will not vote McCain/Palin.

[dokbob]

I'm going to send this list to everyone who snickered when they learned that Senator Obama is the overwhelming choice with people in countries around the world.

[iranter]

yep, president of the whole wide frigging world. and the moon too!

[Piatt]

Maybe the last eight years have helped us forget that America used to be admired and respected. One of the more idiotic things that Bush did was alienating the rest of the world with his arrogant "war of choice" in Iraq.

The Le Monde headline on 9/12 said "we are all americans." Not too long after that, we were insulting our oldest ally and boycotting French imports because they didn't buy our b.s. about Iraq. Now McCain's making idiotic comments about another one of our oldest allies.

I, for one, would like to have a President who is admired and respected by the rest of the world. It's one of the ways we can start undoing the damage that these ideological twits have done.

[MikaS]

Just more evidence of the extreme lack of judgement of John McCain. Even with a draft, America couldn't fight all of the wars this man wants to get us into.

[aworriedobserver]

What is happening to American's?
is this the man that you are proud of now?
Do you have limits?

[SamEllison]

When you come to a John McCain White House you must speak American!
None of this Spain stuff......

[tinakori]

I heard the tape of the interview on Olbermann tonight. By his response, McCain mistook the word 'Europe' for 'you'. The next words out of his mouth were "What about me what?" I thought the interviewer had said 'you' also and had to rewind the Tivo. The interviewer had mangled the word 'Europe'. But then she said Spain and McCain couldn't pivot off Latin America. McCain should recognize Spain because that is where he lost one of his five navy aircraft when he flew under some power wires and crashed.

McCain will need help during the debates like a radio ear piece to keep up with the conversation. Can you imagine his response to a 3:00 AM phone call on his mandatory day off on the weekend.

[Housewife]

Once again, the media imbalance is ridiculous. If Obama had made this dumb a mistake, it would lead the network news highlighting his inexperience in foreign affairs.

[nk007]

Housewife:
You are absolutely right. Not only would the network news lead with the story, if Obama had made the mistake, but his mistake would be covered over and over again, non stop for 24 hours, by the Cable News channels. Talking heads would be all over it. Fox news would quickly declare that this was proof Obama is not fit to be president. I am sure the media, with the help of McCain campaign talking points, would also find a away of showing that Obama is out of touch with Hispanic voters. That he can't be trusted by Hispanic voters if he cannot tell the difference between Spain and Latin America.