Columnist takes aim at pollsters

Negative campaigning is rampant in U.S. politics, and Joe Klein blames pollsters and consultants.

"The consultant class believes the essence of politics is taking a two-by-four and whacking your opponent with it," he said.

Klein, a columnist for Time magazine and the formerly anonymous author of the novel Primary Colors, came to Penn yesterday to talk to professor John DiIulio's American politics class about his new book, Politics Lost, which laments the rise of the consultant-pollster complex.

Klein, a 1968 alumnus, said that politicians today "have too much information," referring to the fact that today's politicians are constantly inundated with poll numbers and consultant advice.

This information has "limited politicians' willingness to take risks," he said.

During the speech, Klein was passionate in his criticism of the American presence in the Middle East.

"This moment is the greatest moment of international crisis since the Cuban missile crisis and it is going to last most of your adult lives," Klein said. "You will have to deal with the incredible, unconscionable mess George Bush has made of the Middle East."

His comments about Iraq were particularly harsh.

"Whether you are a liberal or a conservative, the fact that fighting the [Iraq War] took a back seat to politics [in this administration] should make your stomach turn," he said.

He concluded his speech with something of a plea to the audience.

The Baby Boomer generation "has sucked at leadership," he said. "You are in the front seat on our screw-ups. Take advantage of that, and try to do things differently."

The students gave Klein hearty applause when he was finished.

"He was awesome," College freshman Orly May said.

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