The, uh, Northern Hemisphere?

So, the reporter starts off talking to McCain about hard-line leaders in Latin America. McCain gives some standard hard-line answers. So far, so ... okay. But then she says, "Senator, finally, let's talk about Spain. If you are elected president, would you be willing to invite President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to the White House?"

And McCain clearly has no idea who she's talking about. (This despite the clues of "Spain" and "President", by the way, so it's not just that he doesn't recognize the name Zapatero.) In fact, he seems to believe that Zapatero is another in the Chavez-Castro-Morales group, and that Spain is in Latin America:

"All I can tell you is that 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."

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?"*

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."

*(note: Here he seems to have thought she said, "But what about you?" instead of "What about Europe?")

Now, likely enough McCain knows where Spain is. He may even know Zapatero's name - probably does, since neocons have him on their hate list for pulling Spanish troops out of Iraq. But you couldn't guess that from listening to this interview. And I'd hate to see him equally befuddled by an accent when it really mattered.

Listen for yourself (go to 2:55 for the relevant bit).



Thanks, TPM (where, by the way, you can now find a thoughtful piece and some further reflection on what was going on - and the fact that the McCain campaign would rather throw Spanish-American relations under the bus than admit McCain misheard or was confused. (Best line: "On the other hand, I guess Randy's nonchalance about binding NATO treaty obligations puts his insistence on getting Georgia into NATO into a rather different light.")