Land wants a plan, won’t say what it is

Nearly 16 months after she announced her candidacy for the Senate, Republican Terri Lynn Land is still talking gobbledy-gook on foreign policy matters and, with a month to go until Election Day, she still hasn’t fully explained what her views are on our most recent U.S. war in the Middle East – the battle against ISIS.

When I tried to write a news story contrasting Land’s views on the fight against ISIS with those of her Democratic opponent, Congressman Gary Peters, I gave her five days to call back. A gentle email reminder of my request for an interview was sent to the campaign each day. On the fifth day, I got a short, not-very-specific statement from Land’s spokeswoman at about 5 p.m.

When Land granted a phone interview on Tuesday to Bill Bennett’s nationally syndicated talk-radio show, she emphasized foreign policy without adding much to the discussion for voters to sink their teeth into.

Here are a few key moments from that interview:

“ … People in Michigan do not feel safe. The number one issue, you know, for the president is to have national security and people just do not feel safe, so there are lots of issues out there. We're talking to folks and getting around our great state and getting our message out.

“ … Last year this wasn't so much on the forefront of people's minds, but now it has, it's moved up there, and that's national security. People do not feel safe. They just do not. You know, with what's been happening in the Middle East and with ISIS, and you know, they see it on TV now, with the YouTube videos, and it's coming home and people can see what's going on there and they just feel like the president isn't leading and they're not safe. 

“… Congressman Peters (stands) with the president and (his) policies whether it's economic policies or these regulations with the EPA, and also, you know, with national security. I mean the president needs to lead, he's even mentioned he leads from behind. You can't have that. I mean this is a threat to our country. He needs to have a clear and concise plan, he has to bring it to Congress, Congress has to approve it and he needs to take on these issues. You know, they're not going away and although the Americans, we’re wary, and I do not support putting combat troops on the ground, I think it is important that we have a plan on how to stop ISIS. I mean they have to be stopped.”

At that point, Bennett follows up, asking whether the candidate is adamant in her opposition to boots on the ground.

BENNETT: “Would you absolutely rule out troops, boots on the ground? A lot of generals are getting more courage now and it's making back to the president saying we shouldn't rule out, absolutely rule out anything.”

LAND: “And you know, that's a good point. The president hasn't listened to his generals and the folks in the military, and that's been the problem. You know, he hasn't listened to them, taken their advice, or talked to them about you know what to do, and that's the challenge here. And you need a president who is going to, you know, get that information, you know, make some decisions, come up with a clear and concise plan, and bring it to Congress so they can vote on it.” 

As The Macomb Daily reported earlier this week, Peters voted in the House for U.S. funding to train and arm Syrian rebels. He also backs the airstrikes against ISIS in Syria and Iraq conducted by a U.S.-led coalition.
A few days after our story was published, the West Bloomfield Township Democrat said that Land’s reluctance to discuss foreign policy matters is “irresponsible and reckless.” The Peters campaign also used the sequence of campaign events to remind the public that Peters was a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, qualified as a Seabee combat warfare specialist, and rose to the rank of lieutenant commander. 

That's called rubbing it in.