Does McCain Even Know How To Answer Questions Of Diplomacy?

In a recent interview with a Spanish news outlet, John McCain made some rather odd remarks in response to a question about diplomacy that should have been easy to someone in his position.

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.

When the reporter realized that McCain was either intentionally not answering the question or simply didn't feel comfortable with how the question was phased, the reporter asked it again:

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]."

Was McCain so confused about what leader goes with what country that he had an automatic reaction to Zapatero's name and linked him with Latin America? Does McCain know who Zapatero is?

One would at least assume, and rightly so, that McCain or his team of handlers would have done some research considering they were speaking with a member of the foreign press.

More here at The Huffington Post.

Time has a write-up as well:

You gotta feel for José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Here the Spanish prime minister is only four months from an end to his government's strained relations with that of President George W. Bush and blam! — along comes John McCain to suggest the next four years might not be any better. During an interview in Miami earlier this week with Spanish-language station Union Radio, a reporter asked McCain whether, if elected, he would receive Zapatero in the White House. McCain answered, "Honestly, I have to analyze our relationships, situations, and priorities, but I can assure you that I will establish closer relationships with our friends, and I will stand up to those who want to harm the United States."


Ouch. The question about Zapatero, clearly framed by the reporter as a question about Spain, came after inquiries on Venezuela, Bolivia, and Cuba. As a result, much of the Spanish press has decided that the Republican candidate, who hails himself as the experienced foreign policy choice in this election, confused Spain — a NATO member and key ally in the fight against terrorism — with one of those troublesome Latin American states. That was certainly the interviewer's impression, for she followed up with a gentle reminder that Spain was a country in Europe. As Spanish newspaper El País put it, "In the best-case scenario, [his answer] demonstrates his ignorance with respect to Zapatero."

One can see where conservative bloggers will go with this one.

Since there were questions regarding Venezuela and Cuba prior to the one about Cuba, the interviewer must have been wanting to intentionally confuse McCain.

Still, the question was clear and McCain's response was just as stumbling - if not more so - as Palin's response to Gibson's "Bush Doctrine" question.