SMITH has recently presented an oblique rotator model for the Crab pulsar1 in which the magnetic axis is inclined at an angle of 45° to the rotation axis and the observer's line of sight is at a latitude of about 20°. This model is in conflict with that discussed by Wampler et al.2, Kristian et al.3, Manchester4 and others, in which the magnetic axis is almost perpendicular to the rotation axis and the line of sight passes close to the magnetic axis (the magnetic pole model). Both these models base their interpretation on the observed variation through the pulse of the position angle of the optical and radio radiation. In Smith's model the emission originates from regions close to the velocity of light cylinder where relativistic effects are important. We wish to show that Smith's model, as presented, cannot explain the observations.