2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 3/16/07 Section: News
Groups look beyond controversy
Jared Miller and Tali Yahalom
When Jodie Foster was selected as last year's Commencement speaker, University officials had little to worry about her views on the Middle East, the United States and politics in general.
But with a long career of divisive politics, James Baker is a different story.
Penn Israel Coalition officials have called the decision to bring in Baker "appalling" for his clashes with national pro-Israel groups and alleged anti-Semitic remarks.
But beyond the Israel and Jewish sectors, the former U.S. Cabinet member and co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group has been linked to several other controversial political views and events in his career of public service.
Baker is perhaps most notorious among liberals for his role in the 2000 presidential election.
President George W. Bush, the Republican candidate at the time, hired Baker to head his legal team, and he ultimately convinced the U.S.
Supreme Court to prevent another recount in Florida.
The 5-4 decision essentially granted Bush the presidency.
This series of events has raised significant controversy among Democrats, many of whom blame Baker for ensuring what they consider an undemocratic election.
The Penn Democrats, however, are not taking an official position on Baker's new appointment as keynote speaker.
"We differ with James Baker on a multitude of issues," said Wharton sophomore and Penn Democrats President Clayton Robinson.
"I believe he was wrong in … his stance in the 2000 presidential election, [but] I don't think that we as a group are going to take a stance," he said.
But Baker has recently turned heads on the opposite side of the political spectrum, too.
The Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group Report, which Baker co-authored and was released in December, has been heavily criticized by conservatives for its recommendations about the war in Iraq.
Many right-wing groups claimed that the report undermined Bush's plans to continue the war.
But with a long career of divisive politics, James Baker is a different story.
Penn Israel Coalition officials have called the decision to bring in Baker "appalling" for his clashes with national pro-Israel groups and alleged anti-Semitic remarks.
But beyond the Israel and Jewish sectors, the former U.S. Cabinet member and co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group has been linked to several other controversial political views and events in his career of public service.
Baker is perhaps most notorious among liberals for his role in the 2000 presidential election.
President George W. Bush, the Republican candidate at the time, hired Baker to head his legal team, and he ultimately convinced the U.S.
Supreme Court to prevent another recount in Florida.
The 5-4 decision essentially granted Bush the presidency.
This series of events has raised significant controversy among Democrats, many of whom blame Baker for ensuring what they consider an undemocratic election.
The Penn Democrats, however, are not taking an official position on Baker's new appointment as keynote speaker.
"We differ with James Baker on a multitude of issues," said Wharton sophomore and Penn Democrats President Clayton Robinson.
"I believe he was wrong in … his stance in the 2000 presidential election, [but] I don't think that we as a group are going to take a stance," he said.
But Baker has recently turned heads on the opposite side of the political spectrum, too.
The Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group Report, which Baker co-authored and was released in December, has been heavily criticized by conservatives for its recommendations about the war in Iraq.
Many right-wing groups claimed that the report undermined Bush's plans to continue the war.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
The Worst of Both Worlds
posted 3/16/07 @ 12:19 PM EST
The only thing that makes any of today's uber conservatives even remotely palatable is that they tend to take a rational stance on Israel. Even morons like Bush and Cheney understand that Israel has a right to defend itself against its "palestinian" and Hezbollah neighbors that seek to destroy israel and the Jewish faith. (Continued…)
Post a Comment