Zapatero tells Kerry to drop dead, as Paul Krugman's favorite anti-Semite endorses the senator.
3:18 p.m. EST
Best of the Web Today BY JAMES TARANTO
If there is any reason at all for patriotic Americans to consider voting for a man on the basis of his foreign endorsements, it is that he may be better able to persuade those leaders to act in accord with American interest. Zapatero's contemptuous attitude toward Kerry gives the lie to that argument. The new Spanish leader is unwilling to consider keeping his country's commitment to Iraq even though it would probably help Kerry politically.
The Associated Press reports Kerry picked up another foreign endorsement yesterday: from former Paul Krugman advisee Mahathir Mohamad, erstwhile prime minister of Malaysia:
"I think Kerry would be much more willing to listen to the voices of people and of the rest of the world," Mahathir, who retired in October after 22 years in power, told The Associated Press in an interview.
"But in the U.S., the Jewish lobby is very strong, and any American who wants to become president cannot change the policy toward Palestine radically," he said.
Mahathir's comments about the "Jewish lobby" are hardly surprising; as the Anti-Defamation League notes, he has a long history of anti-Semitsm. As we noted in October, former Enron adviser Paul Krugman thinks Mahathir's anti-Semitism is President Bush's fault.
Maybe Krugman should sign on as an adviser to the Kerry campaign. He could urge the candidate to explain to the American people how President Bush caused Mahathir to make anti-Semitic remarks in the very next breath after endorsing Kerry. Instead, the Kerry camp is very much on the defensive; Kerry adviser Rand Beers issued the following statement yesterday:
John Kerry rejects any association with former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, an avowed anti-Semite whose views are totally deplorable. The world needs leaders who seek to bring people together, not drive them apart with hateful and divisive rhetoric.
This election will be decided by the American people, and the American people alone. It is simply not appropriate for any foreign leader to endorse a candidate in America's presidential election. John Kerry does not seek, and will not accept, any such endorsements.
Yet not two weeks ago Kerry was boasting about all the endorsements he had supposedly received from foreign leaders. If this guy weren't so damn electable, we'd say he has no chance of winning. |
