John McCain and Barack Obama: Debating for the planet.

 

 

El Mundo, Spain

Spaniards React to Obama's Defense of President Zapatero

 

"I was surprised by Mr. Obama's question in relation to Zapatero visiting the White House. Mr. Obama already scandalized the President of our Government when during his European tour, he didn't even visit him in our country."

 

-- Congressional leader of the right-wing Popular Party, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria

 

Europe Press

 

Translated By Paula van de Werken

 

September 27, 2008

 

Spain - El Mundo - Original Article (Spanish)

 

Round One: Who won the first U.S. Presidential debate of 2008? Well that depends on who you ask ...

 

BBC NEWS VIDEO: Obama and McCain in first direct clash of campaign: Both scored hits. Contains comment on controversy over Zapatero, Sept. 27, 00:02:27 RealVideo

Madrid/Valencia: The Socialist Party of Spain [the ruling, left-wing party] and the Popular Party [the leading opposition right-wing party] are taking their own readings of the first electoral debate between Barack Obama and John McCain, although this takes them away from their usual terrain. The Congressional leader of the Popular Party, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, expressed his surprise at the interest that Democratic candidate Barack Obama showed during the debate for the President of the Spanish Government, Jose Luis Zapatero.

 

[Editor's Note: In last night's debate, Obama accused McCain of implying in an interview that Spanish President Zapatero isn't an ally of the United States. It actually appeared as though Senator McCain wasn't sure who the interviewer was talking about. WATCH VIDEOS BELOW.]

 

OBAMA CHALLENGES MCCAIN ON COMMENTS ABOUT ZAPATERO

 

"I was surprised by Mr. Obama's question in relation to Zapatero visiting the White House. Mr. Obama already scandalized the President of our Government when during his European tour, he didn't even visit him in our country" said Saenz de Santamaria.

 

SEE ALSO: Spain's Conservatives Back McCain's 'Snub' of President Zapatero

 

Democratic Candidate Barack Obama accused his rival McCain of not wanting to meet the President of the Spanish Government, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. "He even said the other day that he wouldn’t meet, potentially, the President of Spain, because he wasn't sure whether they were aligned with us … this is Spain. Spain is a NATO ally," Obama fired at McCain.

 

JOHN MCCAIN APPEARS TO SNUB SPANISH PRESIDENT ZAPATERO

 

On the other hand, the "Popular Party" didn’t want to announce its preference for the outcome of the North American elections, as it maintains an "excellent relationship" with both parties. "We won't commit the errors committed by others [referring to the ruling Socialists]. We have to have good relations with the major democracies and countries around us, whoever governs them," declared Saenz de Santamaria. 

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

The Socialist Party hasn't concealed its preference. Elena Valenciano, International Relations Secretary for the Socialist Federal Executive Committee, expressed the Government's "absolute" respect for both candidates, but considers that Obama's bid is "better for the world, for Europe, and for Spain." In any case, she emphasized that it is the North American people to decide.

 

Valenciano declared that although after the first of three debates, one could argue that McCain "benefitted" because the topic was foreign policy and national security, Obama "responded constructively" to the issues raised.

 

Valenciano said that her Party will follow the next debates "with great interest," because the first has already shown two different ways of looking at politics: that of McCain, who represents the continuation of the Administration of George W. Bush; and that of Obama, which represents the desire for change which in his opinion, "will benefit North Americans and the rest of the world."

 

 

SEE ALSO:

 

El Plural, Spain

Spain's Conservatives Back McCain's 'Snub' of President Zapatero

http://worldmeets.us/elplural000001.shtml

 

CLICK HERE FOR SPANISH VERSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US September 27, 3:30pm]