This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/28/gary-johnson-cant-name-foreign-leader-aleppo-moment

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
US presidential candidate Gary Johnson fails to name a foreign leader he admires US presidential candidate Gary Johnson fails to name a foreign leader he admires US presidential candidate Gary Johnson fails to name a foreign leader he admires
(35 minutes later)
Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson, asked during a televised town hall meeting to name a foreign leader he admires, struggled to come up with a single one, saying that he was having an “Aleppo moment”.Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson, asked during a televised town hall meeting to name a foreign leader he admires, struggled to come up with a single one, saying that he was having an “Aleppo moment”.
On Wednesday, Johnson and his running mate Bill Weld were being interviewed by MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, who posed the question: “Who’s your favorite foreign leader?”On Wednesday, Johnson and his running mate Bill Weld were being interviewed by MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, who posed the question: “Who’s your favorite foreign leader?”
“Anybody,” he added.“Anybody,” he added.
Johnson exhaled hard.Johnson exhaled hard.
“Mine was Shimon Peres,” Weld, a former governor of Massachusetts, interjected.“Mine was Shimon Peres,” Weld, a former governor of Massachusetts, interjected.
But Matthews pressed Johnson. “You gotta do this. Anywhere. Any continent. Canada, Mexico, Europe over there, Asia, South America, Africa – name a foreign leader that you respect.”But Matthews pressed Johnson. “You gotta do this. Anywhere. Any continent. Canada, Mexico, Europe over there, Asia, South America, Africa – name a foreign leader that you respect.”
“I guess I’m having an Aleppo moment,” Johnson said, then quickly said “the former president of Mexico”.“I guess I’m having an Aleppo moment,” Johnson said, then quickly said “the former president of Mexico”.
In the end he was rescued by Weld, who leaned over to identify the name Johnson was scrabbling for – Vicente Fox – and put Johnson out of his misery.In the end he was rescued by Weld, who leaned over to identify the name Johnson was scrabbling for – Vicente Fox – and put Johnson out of his misery.
Weld was nominated by Bill Clinton in 1997 to serve as US ambassador to Mexico, but his appointment was blocked by Congress.Weld was nominated by Bill Clinton in 1997 to serve as US ambassador to Mexico, but his appointment was blocked by Congress.
Fox, the former president of Mexico, has been extremely vocal in his opposition to Donald Trump’s plan to build a wall on the border between the two countries. “I am not going to pay for that fucking wall,” he said in February.Fox, the former president of Mexico, has been extremely vocal in his opposition to Donald Trump’s plan to build a wall on the border between the two countries. “I am not going to pay for that fucking wall,” he said in February.
Everyone has a mental lapse once in a while – just ask Rick Perry – though Johnson’s foreign policy positions have often run contrary to received wisdom in the area.Everyone has a mental lapse once in a while – just ask Rick Perry – though Johnson’s foreign policy positions have often run contrary to received wisdom in the area.
In June, Johnson told the Guardian that he felt the US “shouldn’t meddle itself or get involved in” the Israel-Palestine peace process.In June, Johnson told the Guardian that he felt the US “shouldn’t meddle itself or get involved in” the Israel-Palestine peace process.