Legal Commentary

What McCain Did Wrong In The Zapatero Affair

By Big Tent Democrat

Leaving the snark aside on the Zapatero Affair, it seems clear to me that John McCain either did not recognize the name Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the leader of the government of Spain, or did not understand the question presented to him (somewhat understandable given the accent of the questioner) about Zapatero. My first inclination was to give McCain the benefit of the doubt - I know he knows who Zapatero is, and I know he knows Spain is a NATO ally. To me it seems clear he was thinking of the Zapatista rebels in Chiapas (he tangents into discussing the Mexican President Calderon in response to the question.) [More . . .]

A minor and unimportant gaffe at this point. Where the problem starts for me is the response of McCain advisor, and former lobbyist for the Republic of Georgia, Randy Scheunemann, presumably at the behest of McCain, who insisted McCain knew exactly who he was discussing - i.e. the leader of the government of Spain, knew that Spain was a NATO ally and that McCain INTENTIONALLY was saying he was unwilling to commit to meeting with the leader of a NATO ally who is fighting alongside us in Afghanistan. This is simply an outrageous, reckless and senseless position. IF McCain holds this view, then he is unfit for the Presidency. But we know that in April 2008, McCain did NOT hold this view - he stated that he WOULD meet with Zapatero. Thus, it is clear that rather than admit confusion in the interview, McCain is willing to alter his foreign policy views from a sound and sane one to a reckless and senseless one. It is an outrageous turn of events, whatever the political consequences.

Josh Marshall does a nice rundown here:

Here's the point - this actually matters. It is more than just a political gotcha. McCain has damaged US relations with an important NATO ally. And he is doing it, apparently, for political purposes - to avoid an age issue situation. It is a base and reprehensible act. The opposite of putting "Country First."

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on September 18, 2008 (boomark / email).