MIA SULLIVAN
Perspectives Assistant
Two weeks ago Republican pundit Anne Coulter, author of the New York Times’ best seller, “If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d Be Republicans,” went on “Hannity & Colmes” and declared she would vote and campaign for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., if she were up against Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. To Coulter, if Republicans have any brains, they will not vote for McCain. Coulter is known for being controversial, but she has gone too far.
Coulter apparently believes Clinton’s and McCain’s positions are quite similar, and that Clinton is even more conservative than McCain. She believes Clinton “would be stronger on the war on terrorism.” Coulter insinuated that McCain is more liberal than Clinton on Iraq policy simply because “he has led the fight against the torture at Guantanamo.” Coulter’s analysis of these opposing candidates’ position on the war in Iraq does not reflect the candidates’ stated positions.
Clinton has taken a clear stance on the war in Iraq. According to her official campaign Web site, Clinton wants to end the war today, and pledges to start bringing troops home right away if she is elected. She has proposed a three-step plan to end the war, with her premise being to “replace military force with diplomacy and global leadership.”
First of all, if Clinton were elected, she would direct her joint chiefs of staff, secretary of defense, and National Security Council to develop a specific, realistic plan that would start sending troops home within the first 60 days of her term. Secondly, as our troops leave the area, Clinton would direct American aid toward stabilizing Iraq and would make sure the aid goes to organizations most likely to benefit the Iraqi people rather than “propping up the Iraqi government.” She also endorses the appointment of a U.N. representative “to help broker peace among the parties in Iraq.” Thirdly, Clinton would organize a group whose purpose is to stabilize Iraq.
McCain possesses what conservatives would consider a strong policy in Iraq. According to his official campaign Web site, if he were elected he would commit the nation to winning in Iraq. McCain believes “success is essential to creating peace in the region, and failure would expose the United States to national security threats for generations.”
Coulter clearly has strong feelings against McCain if she is pushing for Clinton. In her book, she devotes three chapters to demonstrating why the Clintons are evil. She quotes an interview with John Hawkins in which she states that Bill and Hillary Clinton are two of the “most contemptible people … on the American left.” She also coins communism as “a new fragrance by Hillary Clinton.”
I presume that Coulter is not really going to campaign for Clinton. She supported Romney and she went on “Hannity & Colmes” a week before Super Tuesday to make her position known in hopes that her fans would support her candidate. I also believe Coulter spoke out as a publicity stunt. She is known for holding radical positions and this one nears the top of the list.
02-14-2008