It's fairly common knowledge that the position of President in Iran holds very little actual power. Back when moderate reformer Mohammad Khatami held the presidency, we were regularly reminded that he was pretty much of a figurehead with no real power. Now that the confrontational and controversial Ahmadinejad holds the office, we don't hear so much about how the president is not really the top dog. Obviously he makes a convenient boogie man for the right. Why spoil the scariness value. So it's no mystery why the neocon McCain would play this political game. But surely he's not so clueless as to be unaware that the real power in Iran is held by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the cabal of clerics known as the Council of Guardians. After all, McCain is the security expert! Hillary Clinton has assured us that he has passed the Commander in Chief "threshhold"! Could McCain really be that clueless about the leadership of the country he claims is the biggest threat we face? Watch the video below the fold and decide for yourself:
Wow! Frighteningly clueless and a cocky condescending ass at the same time! Straight talk is so awesome!
Transcript:
KLEIN: I've done some research, and um -
MCCAIN: I have too.
KLEIN: Also checked, also checked with the Obama campaign and he never, he's never sai -- mentioned Ahmadinejad directly by name. He did say he would negotiate with the leaders, but as you know - Ayatollah,
MCCAIN: (Laughing) Ahmadinejad is, was the leader.
KLEIN: But if -
MCCAIN: Maybe I'm mistaken.
KLEIN: Maybe you are, because -
MCCAIN: Maybe. I don't think so though.
KLEIN: The Supreme, you know, according to most diplomatic experts, the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is the guy who's in charge of Iranian foreign policy and also in charge of the nuclear program, but you never mention him. Do you, you know, um, why do you always keep talking about Ahmadinejad since he doesn't have power in that, in that realm?
MCCAIN: Oh I thin-Again, I respectfully disagree. When he's the person that comes to the United Nations and declares his country's policy is the extermination of the state of Israel, quote, in his words, wipe them off of the map, then I know that he is speaking for the Iranian government and articulating their policy and he was elected and is running for reelection as the leader of that country. Yes sir, go ahead.
NEW REPORTER: One more quest-
MCCAIN: I mean, the fact is he'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. Go ahead. Or anyone who's well-versed in the issue.
UPDATE: At Deoliver47's request, I am giving some credit to Joe Klein for actually calling McCain out on this. Of course if we had a legit news media in this country, every jackass that gets on TV and talks about Ahmadinejad like he rules Iran should be immediately called out on the spot. Not to take anything away from Klein, but this exceptional behavior on his part should be standard journalism.
UPDATE 2: Wow - rec list! As augustin points out, this story was diaried before. But since the diaries scroll off the front page so fast, and I think this is a story that deserves attention, I'm glad this diary is getting some visibility. This mind-blowing level of foreign policy ignorance from a presidential candidate should be a major news story.
UPDATE 3: There are currently six results for Google News for "mccain" "klein" "iran." Only two are from non-partisan sources: Yahoo News and the LA Times. Please click on the links and recommend or Digg the articles to give them broader exposure.
Hopefully Keith will pick up on this tomorrow night on Countdown. I have a hunch the Daily Show and/or Colbert will jump on it also. Unfortunately the cable news networks were preoccupied tonight with the primaries in Kentucky and Oregon. Some strategically directed emails might help this story get some more oxygen.