Former Democratic New York Mayor Ed Koch advocated the re-election of current President George W. Bush in a speech at Steinhardt Hall yesterday.
Eric Rechtschaffen, president of the Penn College Republicans and a College junior, introduced Koch's speech by posing the question: Why would the College Republicans bring in a Democratic speaker? Rechtschaffen claimed that Koch "represents a unique perspective."
"I am a Democrat ... and don't agree with George W. Bush on a single domestic issue ... but I'm voting for Bush because all issues are trumped by the single issue of international terrorism," Koch said.
Labeling the current war a "war of civilizations," Koch supported Bush's aggressive policy and steadfast demeanor in dealing with the ramifications of a post-Sept. 11 world.
Americans "are in the middle of a war ... [and] John Kerry is not, on this issue, to be trusted," Koch said, highlighting the point that if Kerry were to be elected, there would be a proliferation of international terrorist activity.
College junior Nicholas Miccarelli echoed Koch's opinion about Kerry's perceived weakness.
Koch "speaks for a movement within the Democratic Party that feels strongly that the party does not have the stomach to fight the war on terror," Miccarelli said.
Koch supported an offensive stance toward terrorism, repeating Bush's famous post-Sept. 11 words: "We shall go after the terrorists and the countries that harbor them."
Koch, using heated rhetoric, added, Islamic extremists "want to kill themselves. We have something to live for. They prefer to go to heaven. ... Let's send them there."
Speaking to a largely Jewish audience is not an isolated occurrence for Koch, who's been touring the country with the intention of addressing Jewish groups. Hillel, however, does not align itself with a political party.
Koch said that "Jews owe it to Bush to be supportive after all he's done" and that Jews who do not vote for Bush are "not grateful to the president who has been best at supporting the security of Israel."
Koch advocated voting according to "special interest" and urged Jews to "remember ... and not be ashamed" of their roots.
College freshman Lisa Rubin disagreed with Koch's comments directed toward the Jewish community.
"I support Israel, but that's not the driving force behind my vote," said Rubin, a Democrat. "While it's important to remember your origins, you also have to think about your future, and to me, that means domestic issues."
Others were quick to respond to Koch's attack on Kerry's perceived feebleness.
Self-proclaimed "hardcore" Democrat and College junior Hillel Smith said, "I agree with some of [Koch's] ideas ... but I don't agree with his priorities and perceptions of Kerry's fortitude."
Wharton MBA student Shane Stein, a registered Republican and, said he thought Koch "was great" and that "Bush would be better than Kerry on the war on terror."
Approximately 150 people listened to Koch stump for Bush.
Koch served as New York mayor for three consecutive terms from 1978 to 1989.
