Ann Coulter Speaks to GW Amid Controversy

Famed conservative political and social commentator Ann Coulter, best known for her outspoken conservatism and frequent political incorrectness, visited George Washington University Wednesday where she spoke in Funger Hall at the invitation of the GW Young America’s Foundation and GW College Republicans. The crowd, which failed to fill the lecture hall, consisted primarily of members of the College Republicans and Young America’s Foundation.

Coulter began by addressing the issue of raising taxes on the wealthy.  Stating that the effects of tax increases are counter-productive and actually lead to decreases in government net revenue, she further declared that Democrats in the U.S. Congress and President Obama support raising taxes on the wealthy not for the benefit of the poor, but to for the sole benefit of the U.S. government.

After her early statements regarding fiscal policy, however, Coulter’s remarks quickly became controversial. Combining a series jokes with more serious remarks, Coulter drew laughter from the audience as she addressed topics ranging from health care reform to foreign policy.

On the issue of U.S. health care policy, Coulter noted that President Obama “is a moderate-in Kenya,” further claiming that the U.S. government “can’t keep Mexicans out of Laredo, but it can keep a State farm agent out of Ohio."

Meghan McCain Redefines Republicanism with No Labels, No Boxes and No Stereotypes

Meghan McCain walked onto the Jack Morton Auditorium stage wearing a black studded blazer, stilettos that displayed a tattoo on her foot and neon painted nails. McCain began Thursday's speech by addressing that she is a controversial figure in modern-day politics. “I say provocative things because I believe them,” said McCain. “I want to start a dialogue, not a controversy.”

Michael Komo, president of GW's LGBT group Allied in Pride (and one of the evening's sponsors) introduced McCain, calling her "a powerful role model" for young people.

GW Young American’s Foundation was outside protesting the highly-anticipated speech. The organization’s blog described it as “a demonstration against efforts to redefine marriage as well as Meghan McCain’s flawed view of conservatism.” McCain commented on the GWYAF protest during her talk, “... you guys had cake and lemonade at your protest. That’s not bad ass,” joked McCain.

McCain calls herself a "progressive Republican." McCain, who was previously registered as an independent to rebel against her father, explained her view on the political party that she fell in love with during her father’s two-year campaign tour. She believes that the Republican Party needs to eradicate the stereotypes. “Unless we unite as one. We are going to continue losing elections,” said McCain.

The 25-year old columnist and blogger wanted to be the next Betsey Johnson when she graduated from high school, but after attending Columbia University and joining her father on the political circuit she has become very passionate and protective of the Republican Party and now dedicates her time to advocating gay marriage and redefining the Republican Party’s values. “I am not saying let’s abandon all the core values that Republicanism was founded on… but we need to evolve with the times and embrace others with open arms,” said McCain.

McCain also emphasized the importance of civility in politics, insisting that she and women in the political spotlight shouldn’t be criticized for their body, hair or make-up. Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham made negative comments about McCain’s weight during a political discussion. “Too fat to be a Republican, that makes me feel really good,” said McCain. ”I am too fat to be an elephant.”

After the program, Komo called McCain's rapport and quick wit "amazing." "Her energy was second to none," he said.

In her remarks, McCain also managed to touch on the recently passed health care reform law and other critical issues, stating that she is "scared shitless" of the new plan, that the media needs to start asking the tough questions, and that gay marriage isn’t a political issue but a civil rights issue.

“Move over GOP," she said. "Because I’m not going anywhere."

Meghan McCain’s latest book, "Dirty Sexy Politics: A True Story," will be released in August. You can follow her on Twitter and read her columns on The Daily Beast.

Karl Rove Visits GW

Last Friday Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush spoke before students in the Elliot School's Harry Harding auditorium. Affectionately regarded by event organizers as the "architect" of the war on global terrorism, literature distributed at the event praised Rove's role in "liberating more than 50 million people from two regimes…taking the unprecedented steps to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction…[and] championing the No Child Left Behind Act."

Rove, now a Fox News contributor, focused his prepared speech on the 2008 Presidential Election, questioning Barack Obama's attacks on his former boss President Bush. Rove alleges that members of Congress were also convinced that weapons of mass destruction were in Iraq. Rove later acknowledged that the intelligence leading to war was incorrect, but did not offer an apology, instead insisting that regardless of the past the administration must focus on the status quo.

Rove, also notable for his role in George W. Bush's Texas gubernatorial campaigns, was twice interrupted by protesters. The first, a single individual shouted an explicative before being led away by University and Metropolitan police. The second, a group of four students were removed upon unfurling a banner reading "war criminal" and reading article six of the Nuremberg trial proceedings. A separate protest outside the Elliot school attracted about a dozen participants.

Following the speech a number of GW students posted questions to Mr. Rove, answering them in detail and once offering an anecdote of his time in the White House. Rove did not remain accessible to the public after the event.

The event was sponsored by GW's chapter of Young America's Foundation, a student organization focused on the advancement of conservative values. Past guests to campus have included Ann Coulter, John Ascroft, David Horowitz, and Newt Gingrich.

-Jesse Regis

It's Here...

Despite all of the protests against it, Islamo-fascism week is here. The weeklong awareness week sponsored by the Young America's Foundation will feature panels, rallies and speakers.

The events began Monday with a panel on the Vern about Radical Islam with New York Times bestseller Micheal Ledeen and Daphnai Patel. On Wednesday from 2 to 4 pm, there will be a rally against the abuse of women at the Women's Studies Department where, according to the facebook profile, the YAF will be passing out literature. This event may be one of the more contested, but probably the most contested will be held on Thursday evening. The conservative activist and author, as well as sponsor of the nationwide Islamo-fascism week, David Horowitz, will be speaking at Jack Morton Auditorium at 8pm, with doors opening at 7:30pm. Tickets are required for the event and protests are expected. Finishing up the week, on Friday night at 8pm, Young America's Foundation will be showing, Obsession. The film is a documentary about radical Islam's war against the west and it compares radical Islam today with World War II Nazi Germany.

Flier Controversy Update

GW has been engulfed in heated controversy since fliers were hung around campus on Monday, October 8th. The fliers read "Hate Muslims? So do we!" and cited the Young America's Foundation (YAF), a conservative group on campus, as the group responsible. Seven students unaffiliated with the group later admitted to hanging the posters to oppose Islamo-Fascism Awareness week, which is sponsored by YAF and will begin October 22nd.

Despite the group responsible for the poster's intentions, many on campus said they felt the fliers were offensive. "I think that the post they were trying to make was a good one, that there is a lot of racism towards Muslims. IT goes on event if its not talked about. The way that they went about it maybe went a little bit tot far because viewers didn't realize it was satirical. If that wasn't obvious, then the point wasn't clear, because no one knew," said one GW sophomore.

In response to the fliers, President Knapp issued a statement saying that "any violations of university policies that occurred in connection with the incident will be handled through the Student Judicial Services process without regard to the political views or affiliations of anyone found to be involved," and reiterated that "there is no place for expressions of hatred on our campus."

The enraged YAF responded by having two full page ads in the Hatchet. One was titled "A Forgery and A Hate Crime," and the other, "Stop Profiling Conservative Students." Both ads expressed their concern over anti-conservative sentiment at GW and the lack of action taken by the university int he hanging of fliers.

Lawrence Slocum, a GW senior, said, "As a conservative, I think the Young America's Foundation's letter to Knapp is very true. I think there's extremely liberal bias in terms of professors in the classroom and it's reflected in the student body. There's a stigma to being conservative here on campus."

- Julie Hyman

Students Admit to Hanging Posters

Seven students have taken responsibility for the anti-Muslim posters hung around campus on Monday, according to the Hatchet. The students, Adam Kokesh, Yong Kwon, Brian Tierney, Ned Goodwin, Maxine Nwigwe, Lara Masri and Amal Rammah, sent a letter to the Hatchet late Tuesday night saying that the intent of the posters was to counter the Islamo-Facism week.

"We regret that some people were unable to discern the intent of these posters and took offense. We wanted to wanted to counter the true hate speech that is embodied by the upcoming Islamo-facism Awareness Week. We hoped students would feel outraged and come together," they said. The letter was signed as "Students for Conservativo-Facism Awareness." View the full letter here.

Islamo-Facism Awarness week, sponsored by David Horrowitz, is scheduled for later this month on 142 campus across the nation and will feature events focusing on terrorism awareness. The students responsible for the fliers call the week racist although organizers disagree.

The local media has picked up the story, using it as one of the leads for two consecutive nights in a row. Even the pundit Fox News talk show, Hannity and Colmes, featured the story, bringing Sergio Gor, the president of the Young America's Foundation, Adam Kosech, a graduate student who was one of the students responsible for posting the fliers, and Jason Mattera, the national spokesman of the Young America's Foundation, to talk about the incident. Check out the clip on YouTube here.

Since the fliers were hung, the campus has been swarming with anti-hate events. Monday night, a peace forum was held with the GW community – the leaders of the Young America’s Foundation as well as leaders from many student organizations, the Student association and the Multicultural student center, SAC, and the president’s office.

In a statement released by President Knapp, he said the university "will not tolerate, the dissemination of fliers or other documents that vilify any religious, ethnic, or racial group," and that "an investigation was launched to determine who was responsible for creating and posting [the fliers]."

It has not yet been determined what, if any, action will be brought to these students.

-Mallory Thompson

"Hate Poster" found in GW Dorms, Buildings

When GW students woke up yesterday morning, posters full of anti-Muslim sentiment adorned many of the residence halls and academic building hallways. The poster picturing a Muslim man pointing out crude characteristics shouted the words, “Hate Muslims? So Do We!!!”

The posters featured a link to the Terrorism Awareness Project and were attributed to GW student organization, the Young America’s Foundation. The organization sent out a press release earlier today claiming no involvement in the fliers.

The posters also contained the GW logo, what Tim Miller, the executive director of the Student Activities Center, said was a requirement for all approved student posters hung around campus.

“No one would have approved this poster,” he said. “…It was obvious to me that it would be read as anti-Muslim.”

Miller, along with UPD and the help of GW housing programs took down most of the posters before 8am.

In a statement released by President Knapp, he said the university "will not tolerate, the dissemination of fliers or other documents that vilify any religious, ethnic, or racial group," and that "an investigation was launched to determine who was responsible for creating and posting [the fliers]."

- Mallory Thompson