Talking Points Memo has been focusing on a bizarre McCain interview gaffe for the past couple of days. In an interview with Radio Caracol Miami, after a series of questions about Latin American leaders, the interviewer tried to switch gears and talk about Spain's PM, but McCain seemed to think they were still talking about Latin America. Unlike the so-called Bush Doctrine Gotcha Moment, McCain's interviewer is pretty forthcoming with the facts...
Interviewer: "But what about Europe? I'm talking about the President of Spain."McCain: "What about me, what?
Interviewer: "Are you willing to meet with him if you're elected president?"
McCain: "I am wiling to meet with any leader who is dedicated to the same principles and philosophy that we are for humans rights, democracy and freedom. And I will stand up to those who do not."
Current interpretations in the Spanish-language press is some combination of:
1.) McCain is not aware that Spain is, in fact, in Europe
2.) McCain doesn't know who Prime Minister Zapatero is
3.) McCain knows exactly who Prime Minister Zapatero is, and that he has weapons of mass destruction and must be stopped at all costs, in Latin America if possible.
We will bomb them and take their Paella for ourselves!
It may not be quite the gaffe it seems like. I don't listed to Caracol, but it could easily fit into a weird category of "gaffes" that exists down here...
If the host had an accent and/or speaks English as a second language, it's reasonable from the transcript to think McCain heard: "But what about you rope, something something something...."
He replied: "What about me *what*?"
So he may not have understood that it was a topic shift to Europe.
I'm just saying, that stuff happens a lot down here. It caused a HUGE scandal at the Herald about five years ago when a reporter misunderstood someone with a heavy accent.
You can hear the interview here:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/217792.php
I actually did think it sounded like she said "what about you, um"...but she said "Spain" and "Zapatero" twice each, very clearly. (Once she even said "José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero".)
ain't that spanish for shoe? its cute when you get all worked up over politics. as if most people in this country weren't complete fucking morons who vote from "the gut."