FLASHBACK: As McCain Calls For Collegiality With Allies, He Forgets His Condescending French-Bashing
FLASHBACK: As McCain Calls For Collegiality With Allies, He Forgets His Condescending French-Bashing
In a speech before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council today, Sen. John McCain will argue “for the United States to work more collegially with democratic nations and live up to its duties as a world leader.” McCain’s address is being touted by the media as “a fresh acknowledgment” of the strain the Bush years have put on America’s relationship with its allies.
In his speech today, McCain will say:
Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed. We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies. When we believe international action is necessary, whether military, economic, or diplomatic, we will try to persuade our friends that we are right. But we, in return, must be willing to be persuaded by them.
But missing from both McCain’s remarks and the pre-coverage of his speech is “a fresh acknowledgment” of the fact that McCain has often acted less than collegial towards international allies with whom he disagrees.
For instance, during the rush to war with Iraq, McCain took great joy in childishly bashing France for it’s opposition to the war:
MCCAIN: [The French] remind me of an aging movie actress in the 1940s who’s still trying to dine out on her looks, but doesn’t have the face for it. The cynical role–the cynical role that France is playing proves that if — if you are not — you cannot be a great nation unless you have great purpose. And they’ve lost their purpose. And it’s very unfortunate, and perhaps Churchill and Roosevelt made a very serious mistake when they decided to give France a veto in the Security Council, following–when the United Nations was organized. [CBS, 2/16/03]
MCCAIN: They’ve made clear their intentions to use whatever means to block our military action in Iraq no matter what we do. So they have to be, I think, treated for what it is, a — an election ploy on the part of the German leader. And in the case of French, simply kind of classic French misbehavior. [CNN, 2/10/03]
MCCAIN: Look, I don’t mean to try to be snide, but the Lord said the poor will always be with us. The French will always be with us, too. [Hardball, 2/10/03]
“McCain has been equally vehement regarding the French: ‘The Lord said the poor will always be with us, and the French will be with us, too. This is part of a continuing French practice of throwing sand in the gears of the Atlantic alliance.’” [Arizona Republic, 2/19/03]
Will the media give the contradiction between McCain’s speech and his record of French-bashing their customary “free ride?”
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No bad press for Johnny Free-Ride!!
What, is he some protected minority??
Afraid of getting in trouble with the Old White Guy Anti-Defamation League???
Nut up, Tweety!!
March 26th, 2008 at 11:35 amAs McCain Calls For Collegiality With Allies, He Forgets His Condescending French-Bashing
- - He must have got a look at the nude photos of Sarkozy’s bride.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:40 amWill the media give the contradiction between McCain’s speech and his record of French-bashing their customary “free ride?”
Yes,
Next topic.
RIP
March 26th, 2008 at 11:42 amSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 In (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
So?
March 26th, 2008 at 11:47 amBut of course. IOKIYAR.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:49 ammcBUSH reminds me of officer bar-brady from south park… move along people, nothing here to see…
March 26th, 2008 at 11:49 amHe “forgets” a lot. He’s totally forgotten to study up on the economy as witnessed by his speech yesterday.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:50 amThe poor will ALWAYS be with us. The French, too.
Luckily, this senile bastard will NOT, but WILL be BURNING FOR ETERNITY for his support of Bush’s TORTURE and GENOCIDE.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:53 amTom and ToF, the media knows the facts are really bad on the Republican side, and therefore they choose to feel really sorry for them. McCain’s plan to cut the corporate tax rate, I suspect, is an incentive for them to minimize failures of Republicans as an isolated “George W. Bush thing.”
March 26th, 2008 at 11:54 am300
Number of days left of this criminal administration!!
March 26th, 2008 at 11:55 amFreedom Fries anyone?
But will McPander admit that as it turns out, the French Government was much smarter than to give in to Bush’s push to an illegal, immoral, unnecessary war.
McPander: No
Cheney: So
Thought so.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:55 ambush II and mccain going back on thier word about France and Germany remind me of bush I when he said he wouldn’t raise taxes and then had to eat his words. You can’t be more dishonest than this bunch.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:55 amMcJowls cementing Franco-American relations I see. “Freedom Fries” anyone?
March 26th, 2008 at 11:55 amExtreme Makeover: McCain Edition
Watch for this exciting new reality television show coming soon to all networks near you!
What an absolute crock.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:56 am“When we believe international action is necessary, whether military, economic, or diplomatic, we will try to persuade our friends that we are right.”
This is where so many people, and especially our elected officials, get it plain wrong.
It’s not about who is right, it’s about what is right.
As a country (and certainly we witness this in most all of our elected leaders) we think that because it is our opinion or our position, then it is the right position and all others must fall in line with us.
Rather. we must find what is the right thing to do, and then align ourselves with it because it is right. Only then will we be right also.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:06 pmI can’t wait for the debates between Obama and McCain. The Obama
March 26th, 2008 at 12:09 pmcamp is going to do a great job making short work of him.
We need a bumper sticker:
Don’t worry if you don’t like McCain’s views, they’ll probably change.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:12 pmMON DIEU
March 26th, 2008 at 12:16 pmWhy can’t he just make up his mind?
McWars Says:
March 26th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Tom and ToF, the media knows the facts are really bad on the Republican side, and therefore they choose to feel really sorry for them. McCain’s plan to cut the corporate tax rate, I suspect, is an incentive for them to minimize failures of Republicans as an isolated “George W. Bush thing.”
True,
plus two Dem’s cant run for POTUS in our system, there has to be an opposing party. and he is all they have.
RIP
March 26th, 2008 at 12:18 pmSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 In (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
Well at lease the Jewish people now know McCain has never read the bible with his Jewish Holiday Purim joke. Americans might not mind a President who gives US Contract jobs to Foreign countries as the US continues to fall in a recession. McCain used taxpayers money to travel overseas to make sure the Foreign Leaders know he’s the next President plus some fund raising too. As Americans now have three choices for the next President. One woman, one black man and McCain. I’m sure the Media and the White House will pull out all the tricks, fear and racism to make sure McCain gets in office. In 1972 Americans wouldn’t stand for a criminal President and Nixon had to resign. 2000 the American people see no problem with a criminal corrupt President and look forward to another one to stay the current course of destruction of the United States. Americans only want those rebate checks and the White House continues to give Iraq 12 billion dollars a month.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:20 pmfaux-cul!
March 26th, 2008 at 12:20 pmDIEU ET MON DROIT
_AIO_
March 26th, 2008 at 12:22 pmHilarious!
The man cannot speak or walk right.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:22 pmre: #23
Hilarious!
The man cannot speak or walk right.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:23 pmwow caredman - are you wearing your pointy white hood this morning??
March 26th, 2008 at 12:28 pmMore McCain France-bashing:
“Compare our great power allies in the Cold War with those with whom we act today in dealing with Iraq.
France has unashamedly pursued a concerted policy to dismantle the UN sanctions regime, placing its commercial interests above international law, world peace and the political ideals of Western civilization. Remember them? Liberte, egalite, fraternite.” (2/13/03)
“The majority of Europe’s democracies have spoken, and their message could not be clearer: France and Germany do not speak for Europe…most European governments behave like allies that are willing to meet their responsibilities to uphold international peace and security in defense of our common values. We thank this European majority for standing with us.” (2/11/03)
“Perhaps Churchill and Roosevelt made a very serious mistake when they decided to give France a veto in the Security Council when the United Nations was organized.” (2/18/03)
For more details, see:
March 26th, 2008 at 12:30 pm“Fawning Media Ignore McCain’s Past France-Bashing.”
Iron McCain.
That’s one of the funniest descriptions of this senile, suck-up lame excuse for a presidential candidate.
But wait!
It’s early in the barbeque season, and I’m sure McSame will invite the Complicit Media over again for more cookouts.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:31 pmcaredmanI Says:
March 26th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Obama will look like a monkey next to Iron McCain! You need to run Clinton if you want a chance at the white house!
Monkey!? OKKK
You do know that monkey’s have straight hair and no top lip.
RIP
March 26th, 2008 at 12:32 pmSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 In (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
Flag #23 for calling Obama a monkey.
It’s bad enough listening to that shit everyday from the MSM, but let’s not allow it here.
Flag ‘em, Dan-O!
March 26th, 2008 at 12:33 pmI flagged this post for bigotry. I predict that mccain will not debate…..it would be the end for him. He will find a way out of it I’m sure……he’s basically a coward anyway.
I base that on how well he has stood up to the abuse bush has heaped on him in the past….anyone who would hear the kinds of things said by the bushies about mccain in the past and then hug and kiss them is a coward…..sorry, just my opinion.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:33 pmflagged, Mcgarrett!
March 26th, 2008 at 12:33 pmThanks, Kay, Fred & anyone else who flagged that imbecile.
Now, if we could just flag MSM news when they’re being racist…
March 26th, 2008 at 12:35 pmI have to put up with racist crap from my neighbors, co-workers : may I flag them, too?
love,
March 26th, 2008 at 12:37 pmKay Hussein
Yikes.
I think that’s one thing (among the countless other things) for which I will never, ever forgive George Bush: encouraging the ugliest reichwingers to openly express their hatred for everyone who isn’t one of them.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:39 pmlooks like they deleted his post at least…maybe it was enough to get him booted.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:39 pmWhat else would you expect a crotchety old man to say…?
March 26th, 2008 at 12:40 pmI can’t wait for the debates :
Obama vs. McSenile.
Young vs. Old.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:42 pmArticulate vs. Rambling/Non-Answers
Candidate of Change/ Status-Quo
meant : candidate of change vs. status-quo
March 26th, 2008 at 12:43 pmKay Says:
I can’t wait for the debates :
The only way mccain will debate is if he gets some kind of control over what is asked.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:48 pmWell put John.. Brilliant
March 26th, 2008 at 12:50 pmThat’s funny…..I bet that happens to you a lot, being accused of being more intelligent than you really are.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:07 pmWe should make policy decision after looking at all sides instead of rushing in.
We should also have a leader that acknowledges when they were wrong, why they were wrong and what they are doing to right the wrong.
Bush isn’t a big enough man to do that.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:11 pmMaybe the Rothschilds whispered in his ear that he might want to get in on the action re: arms dealing.
Sarkozy to UK:
“Why don’t we pool our arms industries so that we spend less money and be more effective?” Sarkozy said.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/ news/ latest/ 2008/ 03/ 26/ sarkozy-calls-for-franco-british-brotherhood-89520-20362774/
Sarkozy is in the UK today to get chummy with them.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:13 pmWhen we believe international action is necessary, whether military, economic, or diplomatic, we will try to persuade our friends that we are right. But we, in return, must be willing to be persuaded by them.
Sure, we will try to persuade them that we are right, by threatening them. That’s what Bush did and I suspect that is what McCain would do. And if anyone thinks that this senile war-monger is going to listen to anyone with a dissenting view, they need their head examined. I believe that McBush is even more rigid in his world view than Bush.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:21 pmI wonder how many people have already fired up YouTube et al to make commercials comparing the evolutions of McCain.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:22 pmOh Tracy - your insights are SO deep!
Those ideas would never occur to us moonbat-types.
DO you suggest we just stop thinking about it, and hand everything over to a Glorious Leader we do not question or criticize??
What does Deomcracy mean to you, Tracy? Anything?
March 26th, 2008 at 1:22 pmWhat I want to know is what’s with McBush running around the world acting like he is already President?
The Democratic party needs to put Hillary Rove Clinton to bed and get on with exposing the lies and flip flops told by John McCain. The longer they wait the more entrenched McBush’s moderate / maverick / statesman image will become.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:24 pmI bet McBain never even stopped eating French fries during our “Freedom Fries” period, TRAITOR!
March 26th, 2008 at 1:41 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
March 26th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
What I want to know is what’s with McBush running around the world acting like he is already President?
I’d like to know what’s up with that too!
I’m surprised McCain isn’t with Negroponte in Pakistan today at the rate he’s going.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:57 pmcaredmanI Says:
March 26th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I should’ve used elephant! How is calling someone a monkey a bigot remark
Surely your kidding right? Do you think we’re all Monkey’s?
And I didn’t meant to call you Shirley.
RIP
March 26th, 2008 at 2:00 pmSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 In (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
“FLASHBACK: As McCain Calls For Collegiality With Allies, He Forgets His Condescending French-Bashing”
Hypocrite
March 26th, 2008 at 2:00 pmEvil Spaniard - what do you think of all this?
‘France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy plans to create an elite defence group of the EU’s six biggest member states once the Lisbon treaty comes into force next year.
The alliance of France, the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy and Poland would pledge a minimum level of defence spending and promise to improve their military capabilities as well as work together on military co-operation projects including common defence equipment procurement and forming a 60,000- strong intervention force. They could also co-operate on military infrastructure projects including intelligence-gathering satellites and missile defence.’
http://www.europeanvoice.com/archive/article.asp?id=29809
March 26th, 2008 at 2:04 pmmary Says:
March 26th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Evil Spaniard - what do you think of all this?
‘France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy plans to create an elite defence group of the EU’s six biggest member states once the Lisbon treaty comes into force next year.
http://www.europeanvoice.com/archive/article.asp?id=29809
Well, altough I’m ambivalent about the military (I’m a strongly pacifist as in ‘no weapons at all’ type), I think such an initiative is a good although hard thing (due to the great thinking differences existing yet between European countries) to attain, and that could benefit the EU in the sense of more independency of (mis)adventures of our main ally, the USA, as long as we don’t become a proxy-warrior for said country. It would also benefit us in the form of technological advancements, not only for military output, and an exit for our military factories and shipyards, that have been hardly beaten by the far cheaper ones in Asia.
As said, if it has a uniting and peaceful result (also as a counterbalance of the war prone USA, China, Russia), I’m for it, although I see it a difficult target to attain, specially due to the fact that UK and Poland are USA’s lackeys. And, in one hand, the UK has never felt itself as ‘European’ (although the money coming from France and Germany through the UE saved its economy pushing them to the modern day one), and Poland lean too much to the far rightism, and far from the more pacifist and left leaning view of many of the other western Europe continental countries.
March 26th, 2008 at 2:28 pmI been fortunate to have a few work trips to Paris in the past six months. The French are as imperfect as anyone else, but very wonderful people with a great history. The U.S. could learn alot by listening to them (and others) more. French bashing hasn’t been good for the U.S. Instead of insults, we should work harder at rebuilding and maintaining a better relationship.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:03 pmThanks for your thoughful reply Evil Spaniard - I’m glad I asked!
I was a bit surprised that Sarkozy mentioned “missile defence” because I thought that was mainly an American thing. This morning I heard that the U.S. may offer Russia the ability to monitor Poland’s proposed installation. But, I also heard that Poland will only agree to temporary inspections and only on a reciprocal basis. So that agreement may not fly.
And, to be honest, I was surprised to see Poland included in that group of six nations.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:11 pmEvil Spaniard.
I support a militarily stronger Europe to counterbalance the U.S. China and Russia; and also to share the burdens of defence.
I think Europe has neglected it’s defence (relying on the U.S.), instead using the money for socialist programs. But, that neglect has empowered the U.S., militarily, to an unreasonable level. I would personally welcome European military parity with the U.S. so we could share more equally in decision making, responsibility and effort; in our common defence. The checks and balance would be positive for Europe, the U.S. and the rest of the world.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:15 pmI agree backup. And I suspect that most people here would agree with you but they’ve moved on to other threads!
:)
I work with a fellow who calls himself an old hippie and seems to think himself quite liberal but who amuses himself by saying stupid things like, “Please excuse my French” and I find it discouraging.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:16 pmNot sure if I agree with you on all that strong military stuff though backup. Sounds like we’re embarking on yet another arms race and, while great for the arms dealers, I sure wish we could invest that money in better ways.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:19 pmCaptain - Do you think it was a bad idea for W to spurn NATO’s offer of support in the wake of 9/11 and the invasion of Afghanistan?
March 26th, 2008 at 3:24 pm52 - the fact is that it matters (a lot) how we deal with our allies, would-be allies, and with our enemies.
no one here has suggested anything remotely like the strawman you’ve propped up does.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:29 pmHe forgets all too soon that it was Lafayette and Rochambeau who came to help the Americans in the revolution. The French troops helped turned the tide in favor of the Americans and win the decisive battle of Yorktown.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:07 pmmary Says:
March 26th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Not sure if I agree with you on all that strong military stuff though backup. Sounds like we’re embarking on yet another arms race and, while great for the arms dealers, I sure wish we could invest that money in better ways.
I share your concern. This is obviously a long way from “beating swords into plowshares,” and I don’t see how increasing military strength whether in the U.S., China, or the E.U. can possibly lead to peace. It’s simply more of the never-ending “balance of power” stuff that’s been going on forever, and especially since WWII. Preparing for war does not lead to a peaceful world. Never has, never will.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:16 pmI think Europe has neglected it’s defence (relying on the U.S.), instead using the money for socialist programs
So backup, you believe that spending money on guns rather than butter (like healthcare and education) is a road to a better future?
March 26th, 2008 at 4:20 pmimpeachcheneythenbush Says:
March 26th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I remember the “cold” war and was very happy to see it fade away. Now we’ve got NATO planes intercepting Russian bombers, the French president talking about EU military forces, the weaponization of space…
Although cynical, I still retain some of my old idealism and wish we could figure out a way to live together without trying to steal the other guy’s stuff!
March 26th, 2008 at 4:26 pmimpeachcheneythenbush Says:
March 26th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I think Europe has neglected it’s defence (relying on the U.S.), instead using the money for socialist programs
So backup, you believe that spending money on guns rather than butter (like healthcare and education) is a road to a better future?
I was a little put-off by that sentence from backup. Heaven forbid we should invest in our people.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:28 pmWords matter, but so does action. And I think it is far more important that McCain will work with the world to combat global warming, act seriously on torture, and shut down Gitmo - things that have seriously damaged this administration’s global reputation. At the end of the day, that will be what counts the most.
Of course, if you think this is a problem for McCain, trust me - the American people like French bashing, too.
March 26th, 2008 at 6:38 pmbackup Says:
March 26th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Evil Spaniard.
I support a militarily stronger Europe to counterbalance the U.S. China and Russia; and also to share the burdens of defence.
NO, I don’t mean what you mean. As I said I don’t want the EU to be the attack dog of the USA, as you seem to understand. I want INDEPENDENCE from the capricious and very rightist policies of the USA, so damaging specially the last years. And we’re sharing “the burdens of defence (sic)” since the OTAN was created, by paying the USA leaded adventures with good money. It’s the basic thing that didn’t understand Bush when he launched the war without the full support of his European allies. The tacit pact was, the USA uses its enormous military, and we pay the bill after the mess. Bush, not knowing anything about this, destroyed the pact, and its in a grand share responsible for why your country is now in a recession. You declared the war, and now you find that no one except the USA is there to pay the bill, and has to pay yet the bribes to the bribed countries in the “Coalition of the Willing”. Clear enough?
I think Europe has neglected it’s defence (relying on the U.S.), instead using the money for socialist programs. But, that neglect has empowered the U.S., militarily, to an unreasonable level. I would personally welcome European military parity with the U.S. so we could share more equally in decision making, responsibility and effort; in our common defence. The checks and balance would be positive for Europe, the U.S. and the rest of the world.
More like the USA has neglected its citizens’ wellness in favor of an overbloated military, that has given its ethnocentrist neocons the feeling of invencibility that has put your country in the actual bad situation. Now the USA has demonstrated its volatility as political and military ally, so we must step ahead, to seek our independency form another suicide pact when a new Republican President (not the next one, to be voted in November ‘08, for sure) steps in the Oval Office.
Oh, and the USA “exclusive” system of checks and balances hasn’t worked very well under the Bush’s signing statements, isn’t? Don’t want to impose your system in other already democratic countries, thanks. We have our own laws and means to insure the correct functionement of our democracies, thanks. Don’t be so patronizing.
I’m rough and unpolite? Maybe, but I know your history and what you mean with these two paragraphs, and I’m answering in advance.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:52 pmMcCain is the best Democrat of the three left running. Barrack is a racist, Hillary is a lie machine and always has been. What can you say about McCain? He’s older. Against Republican’s. Believes in Global Warming and voted against tax cuts. All true.
McCain is the best Democrat left.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:09 pm