A significant number of security moms and other women ? many of whom have reflexively voted Democratic in the past, appear to have concluded that President Bush has proven a competent steward of national security in the wake of 9/11. This explains, in part, Sen. Kerry?s determined effort to savage his record, undermine public support for his efforts to consolidate the liberation of Iraq and promote the idea that Mr. Bush is out of touch with reality about the latter being part of the war on terror and the progress being made in it.
Unfortunately for the challenger, most women seem unlikely to buy the argument that George Bush has not worked hard at keeping them and their loved ones safe. The absence of a terrorist attack in this country since September 2001 is probably attributable to many things in addition to Mr. Bush?s leadership. But such success makes it difficult to dismiss that leadership. To be sure, a new attack could occur at any time; indeed, there is every reason to believe our enemies hope to perpetrate a devastating one before Election Day.
Still, whether Sen. Kerry thinks so now or not, security moms, like most other Americans, appear to understand that the removal of Saddam Hussein was ? and remains ? part and parcel of the war on terror. In fact, two years ago, even Massachusetts junior Senator agreed: On September 15, 2002, Mr. Kerry told the CBS program ?Face the Nation?:
[Saddam Hussein] may even miscalculate and slide these weapons [of mass destruction] off to terrorist groups to invite them to be a surrogate to use them against the United States.
Security moms are likewise understanding of the need for effective counterterrorism laws like the Patriot Act. They are unlikely to feel comfortable with his call last December for ?replacing the Patriot Act with a new law that protects our people and our liberties at the same time." Their confidence in his judgment could scarcely be enhanced by the shift such demagoguery represents from Senator Kerry?s declaration just four months earlier that, "Most of [the Patriot Act] has to do with improving the transfer of information between CIA and FBI, and it has to do with things that really were quite necessary in the wake of what happened on September 11th."
Then there is Sen. Kerry?s much-touted ?plan? for getting the U.S. out of Iraq. If it is something other than an strategy for cutting-and-running, this ?plan? amounts to little more than an unsubstantiated assertion that he can implement Mr. Bush?s strategy for enlisting allies, training Iraqis and achieving elections more effectively than the President can. One who now derides his opponent at every turn for inhabiting a ?fantasy land of spin? must have a pretty low regard for the intelligence of security moms if he thinks they cannot discern fantasy plans of spin.
The Nation could do worse than to have its next president decided by security moms. At the very least, they appreciate the priority he and they must give to protecting us all. I suspect they also understand who is best equipped to do that.