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
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.
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