McCain’s New Iran Gaffe: If The ‘Average American’ Thinks Ahmadinejad Is In Control Of Iran, Then So Do I
McCain’s New Iran Gaffe: If The ‘Average American’ Thinks Ahmadinejad Is In Control Of Iran, Then So Do I
Yesterday, the Wonk Room’s Matt Duss noted that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) often incorrectly portrays Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as if Ahmadinejad has a significant role in formulating Iranian foreign policy. He doesn’t. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Iran’s National Security Council set Iran’s foreign policy.
Yesterday, Time’s Joe Klein pressed McCain on the issue, but McCain refused to concede he was wrong, saying he disagreed that Khamenei runs Iranian policy behind the scenes. McCain added that because the “average American” thinks Ahmadinejad is Iran’s leader, that’s good enough for him:
MCCAIN: I mean, the fact is [Ahmadinejad's] the acknowledged leader of that country and you may disagree, but that’s a uh, that’s your right to do so, but I think if you asked any average American who the leader of Iran is, I think they’d know.
Watch it:
But as the National Security Network’s Ilan Goldenberg notes, “if the ‘average American’ thinks that Ahmadinejad is the ultimate leader of Iran” it would be McCain’s job as president “to dissuade them of this notion – not reinforce it.”
Duss adds, “Focusing on the rants of Iran’s mercurial president enables McCain and other war hawks to create the impression that Iran is an implacable enemy, with whom negotiation would be pointless.”
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Good point, McCain! The exact thing the United States needs now is a leader who is as ignorant about foreign policy and geography as the average American.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:08 pmAdmitting the truth would be admitting that they’re not a dictatorship either.
When will the truth prevail?
May 20th, 2008 at 12:09 pmhttp://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/05/02/geog.test/index.html
Is this ignorance good enough for you too, McCain?
May 20th, 2008 at 12:10 pmMcCain reveals hinself to be ignorant and pig-headed. Talk about déjà vu!!
May 20th, 2008 at 12:11 pmHey Senator McCain — I just found your running mate!
May 20th, 2008 at 12:14 pmMcIIIrd:
You’ve got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know… morons.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:14 pmOh Great…
Now American foreign policy skills have to decline to the level of the “average” American.
This is a continuation of the battle between Elitism and American Averagism. The notion that beer drinking is prerequisite for public service is getting even more embedded into our culture. We are descending into a society that elevates mediocrity to a place of respect.
When a presidential candidate asserts that the impressions of the “average” will henceforth dictate what we officially recognize as truth, we are in a whole heap of trouble.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:17 pmInsane McCain will not allow stupidity to go unrewarded The possibility of this man becoming POTUS is a frighting thing
May 20th, 2008 at 12:17 pmThe “average” American also thinks that your a “Maverick”.
Idiot
RIP
May 20th, 2008 at 12:17 pmSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
Here’s another uneducated official running for President. For those who read about the Iran culture we know the Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the ruler of Iran. No wonder the Republican Party is so messed up first they don’t know who rules a country. But what ever stupid things Bush or McCain say Americans will believe it as they have in the past. One can only wonder why the US reported the election of for a President in Iran while saying it wont change the policy? But all this gives the Middle East a laugh knowing just how dumb our US Government is as it’s passed on to the American people. Iran is ruled by the Supreme Leader and always has been and will be in the future.
Might want to pass on that information to McCain, use large print and let’s hope he learns something.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:22 pmJohn McCain conveniently forgets Ronald Reagan’s dealings with Tehran during the Iran-Contra scandal. Given his defense of the Reagan administration at the time, McCain’s selective amnesia comes as no surprise.
For the details, see:
May 20th, 2008 at 12:22 pm“McCain Defended Reagan, North During Iran-Contra Scandal.”
Mark @ News Corpse Says:
This is a continuation of the battle between Elitism and American Averagism. The notion that beer drinking is prerequisite for public service is getting even more embedded into our culture. We are descending into a society that elevates mediocrity to a place of respect.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
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To paraphrase Jon Stewart from a few weeks ago – these candidates are applying for a job that, if they’re really good at it, might one day get their heads carved into the side of a mountain. If they don’t actually think that they’re better than us, what the hell are they doing running for President of us?
May 20th, 2008 at 12:25 pmThe “Average American” can’t even find Iran on a map with the names listed, much less know who’s in power.
Can the GOP possibly find a stupider candidate than Bush?
Looks like it!!
May 20th, 2008 at 12:27 pmYou guys had better quit pointing out how ignorant McSame is about the world in which we live, which, by the way, makes him an elitist.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:28 pmYou’re only going to piss the old coot off.
Special kudos to the Blazing Saddles reference!
Isn’t it about time that American foreign policy is based upon what is known rather than on what the President (and his puppeteers) believe?
It seems to me that running on faith hasn’t worked out too well for us over the last few years….
May 20th, 2008 at 12:28 pm“I personally believe the U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, uh…people out there in our nation don’t have maps, and, uh, I believe that our education like such as South Africa and, uh, the Iraq everywhere like, such as and…I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., err, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future for our… “
May 20th, 2008 at 12:28 pmFor the last 8 years an average American has run the country. How well has that turned out? Time for a great one.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:28 pmPerhaps Mr. McCain should consider Miss Teen North Carolina as his running mate.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:30 pm“if the ‘average American’ thinks that Ahmadinejad is the ultimate leader of Iran” it would be McCain’s job as president “to dissuade them of this notion – not reinforce it.”
As they say, that’s a 9/10 mindset.
The new paradigm is we choose our enemies (the axis of evil, you recall) and wait till it’s the right time to market a war.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:30 pmLeftside Annie Says:
Perhaps Mr. McCain should consider Miss Teen North Carolina as his running mate.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Already covered this about 15 posts ago :)
May 20th, 2008 at 12:31 pmEh, Toasterhead, GMTA, yanno? ;o)
~A
May 20th, 2008 at 12:33 pmANd yet it could be argued that the “average american” thinks we should get the hell out of Iraq and that Bush is an atrocious president, yet McCain reserves the right to disagree with those facts as is his prerogative as a crazy old man.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:41 pmMCCAIN: I mean, the fact is [Ahmadinejad’s] the acknowledged leader of that country and you may disagree, but that’s a uh, that’s your right to do so, but I think if you asked any average American who the leader of Iran is, I think they’d know.
The “average American” is not privy to classified documents and covert intelligence reports you colossal moron ………
How in the hell can this dumb old turd even be considered for the highest elected office in the land , constantly spouting off stupid shit like this ?
May 20th, 2008 at 12:41 pmOk, so John Bolton used to go to the U.N. and speak on behalf of the U.S. I guess in the eyes of the rest of the world, he’s the leader of the U.S. and they should formulate their foreign policy with him as the focus. That makes sense.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:41 pmWhere’s Buckie with a Grampy McSame / Abe Simpson story? I feel like spraying my monitor with coffee laughing so hard this morning!
May 20th, 2008 at 12:42 pmfor f***s sake!
lets not oversimplify here with the collective need to bash maccain!
ahmadinejad IS the leader of Iran. he was elected and is the president.
now, think of the mullahs as something akin to the emperor’s influence in pre 1940’s japan, with the emperor having the final say in things but very rarely doing so.
go back now to your ill informed ignorant comments.
sigh.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:45 pm“I think if you asked any average American who the leader of Iran is, I think they’d know”
McBush
If that’s his criteria, then he should also respect the average american who thinks that bush is doing a terrible job,that our country is going in the wrong direction, that we should not be in Iraq. That we should have affordable healthcare, that ufos exist…did I miss anything?
And while we’re at it, could someone please ask mcbush if nixon talking with the north vietnamese to negoitate mcbush’s release from that pow camp consituted apeasment?
May 20th, 2008 at 12:45 pmrobbez_92107 Says:
Where’s Buckie with a Grampy McSame / Abe Simpson story? I feel like spraying my monitor with coffee laughing so hard this morning!
I agree. This story is just screaming for a Buckie Boy post :)~
May 20th, 2008 at 12:48 pmso is McCain going to pull the troops out right away? 70% of those average Americans want the troops out.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:48 pm————————————————————–”americangoy Says:
for f***s sake!
lets not oversimplify here with the collective need to bash maccain!”
Yeah, let’s not pretend that the words that come out of that old coot’s mouth have any meaning at all. Yeah, you’re right there you ignorant right wing stooge. All we need to know is that mcbush is a maverick because the corporate media says he is becuase he can grill ribs.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:49 pmGrampy McSame says – My friends back in the day Americans believed all kinds of things, like watermelon seeds growing in your stomach, we all believed that, so that made it true, and toads would give you warts, it was true is Americans believed it was true, and the moon is made of cheese, green cheese, because Americans think that is true, and Bush is a great president because 28% of America believes that too…I think I have a warm potato in my pants.
Well, I guess if Americans are dumb enough to believe this then we are gettting what we deserve, now take a nap grampy.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:49 pmNot quite time yet. We should give faith-based foreign policy another few years before we switch back to fact-based foreign policy. It’s only fair.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:50 pmamericangoy Says:
ahmadinejad IS the leader of Iran. he was elected and is the president.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
_____
But he doesn’t have command of the Iranian military. So when Ahmedinejad makes threatening statements about the U.S. and Israel, they’re no more than that – threatening statements. It is not possible for him to back them up with actions.
McCain is choosing to blissfully ignore this for the purpose of politically-convenient fearmongering.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:52 pmMay I offer my feeble Buckie impersonation:
Back in my day, the average American had one job and two-and-a-half kids. My parents made me play with the half-kid next door even though I didn’t want to. He always won at hide-and-seek. I liked toast with jam except when I had to change the TV channel. We didn’t have remote control back then and I got jam in the knobs. I still don’t have control and get my knobs into jams all the time. I hope that’s jam I just sat in. Gotta go, now, the Express Bus is waiting for me.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:52 pmSpreading ignorance, one line at a time.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pmUntrue. The emporer of Japan was a ceremonial role in pre 1940’s Japan. The Mullah’s of Iran control everything from the changing of laws to foreign policy. They have an advisory council that makes such decisions. Think of them like congress. While Mahmoud is important in the country. His decisions need to be ratified by a committee, which in recent years has become far more pro-west. His hands are tied.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pmI see my impersonation was unnecessary. Welcome, Buckie Boy. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, remember. :)
May 20th, 2008 at 12:55 pmAmericans, we need to sacrifice to win this GWOT. Sacrifice!
Look at our President…he’s given up golf, for God’s sake.
McCain gave up his integrity.
Cheney gave up his stock in Halliburton. (Just kidding.)
Lott gave up his Senate seat.
Abramoff & Cunningham gave up their free time.
Alberto Gonzales gave up his job.
Scooter Libby gave up his reputation.
You see now? We’ve all got to sacrifice to win this war we’re going to start.
Sacrifice Now!
May 20th, 2008 at 12:55 pmNo, no, no, the moon isn’t made out of green cheese, it’s made out of vanilla ice cream. Any average American knows that, just like he knows that dinosaurs were Adam and Eve’s pets in the Garden of Eden.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:00 pmBuckie – YOU’VE GOT FANS. I kept the coffee in my mouth this time, but a cardboard stove, mowing the lawn with a straight razor or some of the sandwich choices Grampy makes – I’m lost and crying with such laughter.
Better not let him catch you – you’ll REALLY piss the old coot off.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:00 pmamericangoy Says:
——————————————————————————–
for f***s sake!
lets not oversimplify here with the collective need to bash maccain!
ahmadinejad IS the leader of Iran. he was elected and is the president.
now, think of the mullahs as something akin to the emperor’s influence in pre 1940’s japan, with the emperor having the final say in things but very rarely doing so.
go back now to your ill informed ignorant comments.
sigh.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
You prefer that something so simplistic should be given a complicated formula ?
As for “ignorance” , it is your dopey self that needs a mirror to recognize the height of that.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Iran’s National Security Council are the ONLY ONES who can order the Iranian army into action ; not Ahmadinejad.
You can now return to your regularly scheduled reading of My Pet Goat ……………..
May 20th, 2008 at 1:02 pmAnyone not being able to see that this is a GRAVE problem is delusional. How long before the rest of the world comes to the conclusion that Americans are “dim witted” by continuing to choose “dim-witted” Presidents to lead us. It won’t be long before they band together to topple AMERICA from it’s leadership position as not being intelligent enough to carry the banner.
We cannot afford to elect another President who does not have the correct facts regarding the rest of the world and idiotic enough to think that it doesn’t matter…
We MUST understand how other cultures think otherwise we will continue to make serious mistakes like going to war in Iraq and thinking it would be over in 6 months… dumb, dumb, dumb
May 20th, 2008 at 1:04 pmamericangoy:
“lets not oversimplify here with the collective need to bash maccain!
ahmadinejad IS the leader of Iran. he was elected and is the president.”
Ah but then you yourself did EXACTLY that (and provided a confused comnparison between Hirohito and the Supreme Council to boot–should at least have been the Gran Ayatollah, not the council).
The point is that Ahmedinijad does not have the same level of executive power–especially over foering policy–that the US President has. Ahmdenijad does not represent Iran to the extent that the US presedent represents the USA in the exercising of policy and power. But in order for Iran to appear as a serious threat to the US and its “interests”, implying a parity of power even though it doesn’t exist. serves that political purpose.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:04 pmMost Americans think any country’s president is the most powerful leader in that country. That’s wrong in many cases according to their constitution or custom. Even in the U.S….the president is the figurehead and the VP is the head of government recently.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:07 pmnerakami Says:
We cannot afford to elect another President who does not have the correct facts regarding the rest of the world and idiotic enough to think that it doesn’t matter…
May 20th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
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Exactly. I like to think that, this time around, the American voter will choose substance over style and not be hoodwinked by–OH MY GOD! DID YOU HEAR! THEY’RE MARRYING GAYS IN CALIFORNIA!!!! I’M'A VOTE FOR MCCAIN TO PROTECT MY MARRIAGE!!!!!!!
May 20th, 2008 at 1:08 pmthis thread may be splitting hairs. To deny that Ahmadinejad has significant influence in Iran is disingenuous.
In addition, is Iran complicit in the idea that Ahmadinejad leads Iran if they send him to the U.N. to lambast Bush? And if they use Ahmadinejad as a point man for nuclear discussions?
I agree we should focus on Khamenei as the leader of Iran (and deemphasize Ahmadinejad), but it’s probably understandable that most in the world see Ahmadinejad as the individual with the most influence on Iranian policy. Maybe that’s accurate.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:14 pmbackup Says:
——————————————————————————–
this thread may be splitting hairs. To deny that Ahmadinejad has significant influence in Iran is disingenuous.
In addition, is Iran complicit in the idea that Ahmadinejad leads Iran if they send him to the U.N. to lambast Bush? And if they use Ahmadinejad as a point man for nuclear discussions?
I agree we should focus on Khamenei as the leader of Iran (and deemphasize Ahmadinejad), but it’s probably understandable that most in the world see Ahmadinejad as the individual with the most influence on Iranian policy. Maybe that’s accurate.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
There is no “hair splitting” here.
There’s a tremendous difference between your claim of “significant influence” (which is unsubstantiated anyway , just your opinion) , and being in control , as McStupidoldfart has stated…………..
May 20th, 2008 at 1:19 pmIt will be easy to educate the normal US citizen. Think of the Iranian president as we think of George Bush, a puppet and public figure head controlled by Cheney and his neocon friends as well as by the corporate and wealthy elites.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:20 pmthis comment may be erecting straw men. Can you point to anything in the article that denied that “Ahmadinejad has significant influence in Iran”?
Seems to me the point of the article was that Ahmadinejad does not have significant influence over Iranian foreign policy, yet McCain insists that, if the average American thinks he does, then that’s good enough for him.
You think that is a hair to be split? Donde los yikes.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:21 pm.
a) McClueless
b) McI-don’t-know
c) McIncompetent
d) McOut-of-touch
e) McNo-Foreign-Policy
f) McAll-of-the-above
.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:32 pmralph. I’m with you if you are saying that Ahmadinejad is not the official leader of Iran.
But, watch the McCain video. He’s does not say, ‘if the average American thinks he is, that’s good enough for him’. He doesn’t.
He is making the point that he sees that Ahmadinejad is the leader of Iran. And he’s saying that view is so widely precieved that even an average American also believes it.
View the video and let me know if McCain says (as you attribute to him:
May 20th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Eh…the “average” American doesn’t know Ahmadinejad from Amaretto. However, of those Americans who at least recognize that Ahmadenijad is a person in Iraq, most do indeed believe he is the power in that country. Why? Because Ahmadinejad has said some things that could be easily spun by the forces who want to find any excuse to bomb Iran. Naturally, to build their case, they have to promote Ahmadinejad as an evil powerful dictator like Saddam.
So what we have here are a lot of Americans who have been suckered in by catapulted propaganda. And McCain thinks that being suckered in by catapulted propaganda is good enough for him.
OK, but that’s not good enough for me. I’d prefer a smarter president.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:40 pmThat’s it. Enough. Some people just don’t get it. You know – the meaning of “no”. That it’s over. We never had much of a relationship – so stop clinging. But McLame doesn’t get it. We had but a brief fling back in the old days. Before the Straight Talk Express turned into the Flip-Flop Depress. It’s over Mac. Get it? Here, read my “Dear John” – maybe that will help. http://angryafrican.net/2008/05/20/dear-john/
May 20th, 2008 at 1:42 pm“McCain’s New Iran Gaffe: If The ‘Average American’ Thinks Ahmadinejad Is In Control Of Iran, Then So Do I”
Thought 1: Yes, because the ‘Average American’ is soooo well informed of foreing affairs…
Thought 2: The fact that Ahmedinejad as the same title that Bush, doesn’t mean that they have the same powers, nor even close. The powers of every one of them depends of the laws of each country. Probably Ahmedinejad funcions are closer to Rice than the ones of Bush or even Cheney.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:46 pmTitles of individuals in other governments or entities does not connote the same level of power/influence/accountability as those same titles may in our country. For instance, it may be argued that Gordan Brown, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, has more influence over governmental affairs of the UK than does the Queen (bless her heart). The US has neither a PM nor a Queen, so where does that leave us if you are trying to compare? Titles are not as important as actual powers.
There is a President of Ford Motor Company, but he does not exert power over all the cars in this country.
The problem here is that McCain thinks everyone is as stupid and uninformed as he is, and that his level of understanding is sufficient for all of us. It has long been a Republican tactic that if you say the same thing over and over, it eventually becomes the truth. At least it monopolizes the air space and attempts to suppress the truth. This tactic establishes the party’s desire for a specific state of affairs into the public mind to further the party’s own cause (i.e. perpetual war, one-party rule, fear mongering for power, etc.).
Lies and confusion are powerful tools with those who desire to be dictatorial, and with those who choose to remain uninformed.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:07 pm#52 Backup
Here’s the transcript:
So when McInsane says that he thinks Ahmadinejad is the leader that quotes policy at the UN and by virtue, that makes him the policy leader, is McInsane correct? Because McInsane clearly stated that the US diplomatic experts are wrong about who’s the leader of Iran.
But then again, McInsane did differ to the American people as the “go-to” diplomacy experts on the subject… NO? Or mayby he should go see his criminal friend over at the State Department on the subject, CON-de-LIAR Rice.
.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:24 pmPsssst! Hey righties! Got a little information for you. C’mere!
You may want to distance yourselves from the current preznut. An idiot in charge is still an idiot. The last 7 years have been hell compared to the intellect of Bill Clinton’s reign. Do you really want to align yourselves with the 28%’ers??? Because if you do, Obama will win in a landslide.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:31 pmif the average american thinks the germans bombed pearl harbor well, then thats good enough for me and i’m not going to tell them otherwise.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:50 pmbackup Says:
this thread may be splitting hairs. To deny that Ahmadinejad has significant influence in Iran is disingenuous.
Oh, if the trolls had only been so discerning in the run up to the invasion, perhaps they wouldn’t be totally discredited now. This one thinks it hasn’t forfeited the right to opine, after going along with the neos. Hilarious.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:59 pmI think this just about sums it up on John McCain:
http://www.dickipedia.org/dick.php?title=John_McCain
Bush brags about being a C Student, but McCain was 894 our of a graduating class of 899. Great… an F Student is now running for President.
May 20th, 2008 at 3:32 pmI’m with MissMolly.
I want a damned SMART president, NOT a stupid “average American.”
~A
May 20th, 2008 at 3:37 pmLet’s look at what the “average American” has given us and the world these past 8 years. To Hell with the “average American”. he/she is a flaming dumbass. I tink that this time I would like a President with a brain. Probably too much to ask in this useless Nation.
May 20th, 2008 at 3:53 pmStupid is as stupid does for McCain. That is all I have to say about that.
May 20th, 2008 at 4:53 pm“I think if you asked any average American who the leader of Iran is, I think they’d know.”
Just as they were convinced that Iraq had WMD’s and could launch them in those mere 45 minutes. Hmm, I wonder why.
This is because there has been a conscious decision to try to brand Ahmadinejad as some sort of new Saddam. They are trying to sell us another war and truth once again doesn’t serve their goals.
Meet ‘The Decider’ of Tehran. It’s Not the Hothead You Expect.
May 20th, 2008 at 4:56 pmhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/07/AR2007120701614.html
In a way McCain was honest in his answer,as a candidate trying to win..
May 20th, 2008 at 5:45 pmAs, a cndidate,he is looking for voters only, and not facts when he said that if you ask any American he’ll know who is the leader of Iran.
Of course,the name of Khamaini is not the one that’s put on every night on television stations as the dictator..
It is Ahmadi Najad,instead..and that’s the name he is using,the name Americans hear all the time about,and McCain cannot deviate for that for the purpose of campaigning.
Ahmadi Najad,whether he holds full power or not is not the issue to McCain..it is the trade mark and brand of Najad that McCain is interested in selling the war in Iran under.
Because McCain needs a villain to sell the war…
Ahmadinejad DID NOT threaten to “wipe Israel off the map.” and Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has said, “We have no problem with the world. We are not a threat whatsoever to the world, and the world knows it. We will never start a war. We have no intention of going to war with any state.” Please see this video and pass it on.
May 20th, 2008 at 9:08 pmAs per McC–the average American thinks there is a lot more to do with what happened on 911 than has been revealed as yet, so does McC?
May 21st, 2008 at 3:40 pm