Even as Libertarian Presidential nominee Gary Johnson is still answering for his infamous “Aleppo” gaffe, he put a particularly rosy spin on another of his foreign policy faux pas in a Tuesday interview.
Johnson told MSNBC that most politicians get so wrapped up in facts, figures and the geographic locations of countries that they recklessly intervene overseas, putting “our military in harm’s way.”
MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell asked Johnson to explain just what happened during his interview with Chris Matthews, in which he was unable to name a single world leader he admires (he ultimately spit out the name of former Mexican President Vincente Fox with an assist from his running mate, Bill Weld). Johnson said the real reason he couldn’t come up with any names is because he doesn’t admire any of world leaders.
“Five days after the interview Andrea, I still can’t think of a world leader that I respect,” Johnson said. “I mean, having never been involved in politics before, I will tell you I held a lot of people in this country on pedestals thinking that they were role models. I got to meet them up front and personal and found out that they were empty suits.”
“When it comes to talking about a foreign leader that you respect, that you admire, I have a hard time with that one,” he added. “That’s politics. That’s just who I am.”
When Mitchell pressed him further on the issue, reminding him that foreign policy was part of president’s portfolio, Johnson suggested that his lack of knowledge on the topic was actually an asset.
“You know what? The fact that somebody can dot the Is and cross the Ts on a foreign leader or a geographic location, that then allows them to put our military in harm’s way,” Johnson argued.
“We wonder why our men in service and women suffer from PTSD in the first place,” he continued. “We elect people who can dot the Is and cross the Ts on these names and geographic locations as opposed to the underlying philosophy which is, let’s stop getting involved in these regime changes.”
Watch below:
And I thought that Palin and Trump had some serious word salads.
How can anyone take Mr. Johnson seriously as a presidential nominee?
but seriously, ask him why does he want to be president again?
I don’t know what to do with proudly stupid people.
We can’t send troops to Liberia!!! Are you daft, I can’t even find it on a map!!
Sadly, if it is true that he doesn’t respect any national leader, then that’s what he should have said, rather than derping through. I get that he might not respect any leader, but it is almost like he didn’t understand the question. Hell, as governor of New Mexico, he should have been able to at least answer with the name of the person in charge of his neighbor to the South.
The guy can’t think quick enough on his feet, which is the mark of a good leader. When faced with an ‘I don’t know’, then say I don’t know. When faced with a Hobson’s choice, it’s ok to say ‘none of the above’, and be specific as to why it’s none of the above.
He demonstrated himself as a bad option. His numbers should begin to decline. Jill Stein is already pretty insignificant at 2%.