19 March 2008
His Strength?
Posted by Joy Bischoff under: Presidential Election 2008; World Affairs .
Foreign policy is touted as Senator McCain’s strong point. This concerns me because he continues to make mistakes like saying that Putin is the Chancellor of Germany, and here is another in the following article. Having a bulldog attitude toward our enemies is different than being good at foreign policy.
McCain Gaffe
Sen. John McCain is taking this week to travel the Middle East (as well as stop of in London for a fundraiser). Today in Jordan, he falsely claimed that the predominantly Sunni terrorist organization Al-Qaida was receiving training from predominantly Shia Iran:
Speaking to reporters in Amman, the Jordanian capital, McCain said he and two Senate colleagues traveling with him continue to be concerned about Iranian operatives “taking al-Qaeda into Iran, training them and sending them back.” Pressed to elaborate, McCain said it was “common knowledge and has been reported in the media that al-Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran, that’s well known. And it’s unfortunate.” A few moments later, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, standing just behind McCain, stepped forward and whispered in the presidential candidate’s ear. McCain then said: “I’m sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not al-Qaeda.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/18/mccain-gaffe-common-kno_n_92099.html
6 Comments so far...
Cavetrollhead Says:
19 March 2008 at 1:49 am.
Well he is old. I think that is the main thing here. a slip of the tongue doesn’t worry me too much otherwise. Age does.
Mac Says:
19 March 2008 at 9:16 am.
Yea he’s old but I think it is a problem for two reasons. First, he is so aggressive and pushy without any diplomacy at all and he is going to push enemies into rash actions and he is going to offend allies. Second, foreigners wont have any respect for him because he comes across like an idiot. He really isn’t that smart in the first place, almost last in his class, but it doesn’t give people confidence to work with him when he doesn’t get things right like the thing about Putin. That was a huge mistake.
The Realist Says:
19 March 2008 at 11:14 am.
There is just too much to learn, too many facts. People in politics make mistakes all the time and that’s why they have advisors t whisper in their ears. I don’t think this is any big deal at all.
Matt Says:
19 March 2008 at 11:36 am.
It isn’t just about making a mistake. I watched the video on this. McCain was so arrogant in his attitude. Iran has to think he is such an idiot. He would bring no respect to the office. I think it is a very big deal because of what a know it all bully he is. He is like a bull in a china shop and he would offend to such a degree that America would look like a country of buffoons.
SGS Says:
20 March 2008 at 9:40 am.
Umm… Could it be that McCain’s first action as a president is to “Reagen” Iran down? He’s trying to talk tough, so tough, that Irani will shake in their boots and back off, like they did with the hostages the day before Reagen was swore in? I do not think we can do this anymore, as they have become hardened criminals, being confident with their actions, whereas, during Carter’s era, they were mostly college students.
Cameron Says:
20 March 2008 at 11:22 am.
SGS, I think McCain wants war with Iraq. If he is trying to Reagan Iran Down (a term I like) then he doesn’t realize that instead of firm and resolute, he actually comes across as snide and arrogant. What a difference between him and Reagan. Reagan acted like a very mature statesman and McCain acts like a sullen teenager.
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