In the face of recent polling, Johnson campaign spokesperson Joe Hunter told CNN the campaign would try to get into OH and North Carolina, but said there would be no change in strategy for the campaign in the face of the “Aleppo” comment.
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“OK, got it, got it”, Johnson interrupted. Johnson was also asked about whether that stance presented a conflict of interest, as he once ran and still owns stock in, a company that markets marijuana products.
“Personally, I think Bundy should be allowed to go to court dressed like a cowboy, so long as his defense team is made up of a construction worker, an Indian, a cop, a soldier and a biker”, Colbert said, describing the Village People.
Later, Johnson was asked by Bloomberg’s Mark Halperin how he felt about the interview.
The Libertarian ticket got a boost from Mitt Romney on Wednesday when he tweeted that Johnson, a former New Mexico governor, should make the debate stage with Clinton and Trump on September 26.
Weld said Johnson had been traveling a lot lately and perhaps hadn’t been reading newspapers as much as he should have.
After a panelist explained Aleppo and its importance, Johnson described his opposition to interventionism.
When pressed whether Johnson felt it should be considered a “big flap”, the former New Mexico governor replied: “Well sure, it should”. Yes, I understand the dynamics of the Syrian conflict – I talk about them every day.
“I’m incredibly frustrated with myself”, he said.
Johnson said later that he thought the word was an acronym, releasing a statement saying he “blanked”, but understands the city’s significance. “I blanked. It happens, and it will happen again during the course of this campaign”. Gary Johnson’s response was so spot-on, yet no one is talking about the stark contrast between Johnson’s non-violent approach to the Middle East and the heavy-handed, war-mongers that the Republicans and Democrats have nominated for their presidential candidates.
“Should I have identified Aleppo? Yes”.
“OK, got it”, Johnson said, going on to say that the only viable option “is to join hands with Russian Federation to diplomatically” resolve the conflict. It worked. That is what a President must do.
Mr. Johnson’s blunder has sparked widespread mockery, with #WhatisAleppo becoming a trending hashtag on Twitter, and Hillary Clinton chuckling at a press conference when asked about Johnson’s flub.
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Weld said probably 85 percent of people in the US could not put Aleppo on a map.
