Posted on 01/08/2009 7:53:03 AM PST by Tailgunner Joe
MADRID - Spain’s former prime minister Jose Maria Aznar drew criticism Wednesday by reportedly referring to what he called the "historic exoticism" of Barack Obama’s election as US president.
Aznar was asked by a journalist from the Spanish edition of Vanity Fair magazine about the election in November of the first black president of the United States.
"A historic exoticism and predictable economic disaster," replied the conservative former leader.
"Obama is a person of black race who managed to become president of the United States, which is an extraordinary change for them", he said, without indicating whether he was referring to the people of the United States as a whole or just black Americans.
But Aznar, a close ally of outgoing US President George W. Bush during the invasion of Iraq, said it also "proves that the American dream still exists."
The deputy head of Spain’s ruling Socialist Party, Jose Blanco, demanded Aznar withdraw the comments "which can only come from a deeply reactionary person, with clear racist roots.
"It is also odd that the defender, with Bush, of the economic model which has brought us to this international crisis, dares to predict a disaster" through Obama’s policies, he said.
Aznar has a history of controversial statements and gaffes. Last October, he dismissed climate change as a "new religion" that is drawing hundreds of billions of euros at a time of economic crisis.
He has also asked why Muslims have never apologized for having conquered Spain and occupied it for eight centuries.
And he has attacked the Socialist government’s campaign to control speeding and drink-driving.
In 2006, he batted away a female journalist’s question about armed Basque separatist group ETA by slipping a pen into her decollete.
I have been an Aznar admirer for a long time.
The deputy head of Spain’s ruling Socialist Party, Jose Blanco, demanded Aznar withdraw the comments "which can only come from a deeply reactionary person, with clear racist roots."
At some point there is going to be a hideous backlash against PC and I look forward to watching its demise. I know I don’t care anymore about being called or considered a racist.
So Aznar must apologize for criticizing Obama’s economic plan, while the one insisting he apologize blames Bush for a global economic crisis. I see.
Maybe he should talk tough about the terrorists rather than giving into their demands.
In these troubling times, it’s comforting to know that the President to be sworn is is a man of MUCH experience, it is this alone that gives me confidence. (sarc)
This guy sounds right on the money! If the media attacks him, that’s an excellent sign of his intelligence.
These are gaffes? Aznar speaks the Truth, and it shakes the politically-correct deniers. SO??? Kill the prophets, always a popular response.
Massive unemployment and few jobs available except digging ditches for The One will backfire big time on the DC Liberals. IMO, racism will be set back 100 years when Americans get really angry.
Aznar didn’t give in to the terrorists. It was Spain’s electorate that voted 3 days later the socialists in who surrendered. Aznar’s failure was trying to swift the attention to ETA for the Madrid bombings.
Get used to this. Next thing you know the media will be looking to open re-education camps for those who criticize their God. All hail Zero!
Spanish politics appear from this distance to be about as split as that in the US. The train station terrorist incident was used to bludgeon the Anzar conservatives in a similar way that Hurricane Katrina was used against the Bush Administration.
LOL
Headline doesn’t match the content.
At the very least, it should say Socialists decry critic of Obama.
Exactly right. Aznar didn’t cave to the terrorists, his political opponents did.
“At some point there is going to be a hideous backlash against PC and I look forward to watching its demise. I know I don’t care anymore about being called or considered a racist.”
I’m with you. But PC will only die when times get so tough people are scrambling to eat. When that happens, the survival instinct will neccessarily negate the silliness of PC.
We who understand have to be part and parcel of the hideous backlash against PC. We must speak out at every opportunity, regardless of what we are called. The Truth will set you free. People love it when they hear it, too. And I believe always there is someone who hears it for the first time and whose life is changed.
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