McCain Spain Blunder Redolent of Schwarzenegger Spiegel Gaffe

Democrats believe that the differences between Obama and McCain stem from the former's zest and the latter's old fogies' gaffes. While I may not personally subscribe to these alleged McCain facts, the McCain Spain visit did offer more fuel for Democratic fires.

Spain - located in Europe, not South America - hosted John McCain and Time reports on the discourse between him and Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

Putting it into perspective, Time refers the reader to an earlier media interview in which the McCain-Zapatero relationship came away as decidedly chilly, with even a reception at a McCain-inhabited White House being called into question.

According to Time, McCain was repeatedly vague when questioned on whether, as president, he would welcome Zapatero to the White House. The question followed queries on American relations with so-called rogue South American nations, leading some to believe that McCain was lumping Spain in with Venezuela, Cuba and Bolivia.

To put the quote into context, the issue most likely came up because Barack Obama is on record as being willing to happily meet with Venezuelan President and all-around America-hater Hugo Chavez without conditions. Although there is little that might cause similar concern about Zapatero, McCain apparently is on alert against all things Spanish.

Of course, lest you believe that international gaffes are the dominion of presidential candidates, eradicating the supposed differences between Obama and McCain, let me point you to an unprecedented interview between Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the premier German news magazine Der Spiegel.

Unabashedly partisan and yet sufficiently cynical to appeal to German conservatives and liberals alike, Der Spiegel discussed with the Governator what his ambitions and opinions are in light of the current election.

It would have behooved the Terminator to terminate the interview, or muzzle his runaway mouth, but the man who is facing a historic California budget crisis and an all time low in approval ratings happily critiqued the fact that the Republican National Convention lacked bipartisanship, and disclosed that he has next to no contact with the California Republicans.

Adding insult to injury, Arnold Schwarzenegger proceeded to reveal to the German public that Sarah Palin is the embodiment of the dreams many American women hold for their personal lives, leading us hapless females to idolize the Vice Presidential running mate. How so, you may ask? Well, she is pretty, spirited, and provides entertainment. Kinda like a harem girl, when you think of it.

The McCain Spain incident and the Schwarzenegger Spiegel blunder showcase what goes wrong when politicians give interviews: they are Jacks of all trades, masters of none, and rather than focusing on the issues, they like to pontificate on human interest stories in an attempt to come across as the guy next door, and not an elitist rich guy. Oh bother.

Sources:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1842156,00.html
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,576835,00.html