Political Play Action Analysis

Ann Coulter vote for a Democrat? Hard to believe. Ann Coulter vote for a Clinton? Even harder to believe. But, on January 31, Coulter said that she would vote for and campaign on behalf of Hillary Clinton if she and John McCain are the two general election nominees. Coulter claimed that she would vote for Clinton over McCain because “‘she’s more conservative than he is.’”

Coulter’s surprising remarks were not for the purpose of informing the American people of her voting intentions; rather, Coulter used a Fiat in order to Call Out McCain on his record which Coulter does not feel reflects the ideologies of traditional conservatives. It was Coulter’s intention to publicly express her skepticism about the conservativeness of McCain’s record and beliefs as well as challenge his claims of electability. Coulter ran a Fiat by making the simple statement that she would vote for Clinton over McCain and expecting that the merit of her comments and her personal infamy would garner the attention she desired for her alpha play: a Call Out of McCain’s record.

Coulter’s Call Out involved detailing the way in which McCain’s and Clinton’s positions on issues are similar and the way in which McCain’s beliefs on immigration and campaign finance reform are not in line with the Republican base. Coulter selected to run this play at a strategic time (leading up to February 5) in order to publicize McCain’s less conservative issue positions as well as challenge his ad campaign in which he Labels himself the “true conservative.” Coulter’s pledge to vote for Clinton over McCain also subverts McCain’s message that he has general election electability because he appeals to independents since he may lose traditional conservatives like Coulter because of his more moderate beliefs. In addition Coulter’s Call Out was likely intended to provide a competitive advantage to McCain’s rival Mitt Romney, whom Coulter preferred over McCain.

McCain [dodged] questions about Coulter’s criticism of his conservative record on February 4 when he said, “‘I’ve never met Ann Coulter.’” By responding with a Deflect, McCain dismissed Coulter’s comments and allowed two major recent events, McCain’s success on Super Tuesday and Governor Romney’s subsequent withdrawal from the race, to be the focus of stories about him.

Post by Megan Klein, MA candidate