Posted on 06/06/2006 5:13:56 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
June 6, 2006
While considerable attention focuses on Ann Coulter's more superficial charms, from a conservative perspective Ann's real beauty is her absolute refusal to buy into liberal logic, no matter how pervasive. That independence of mind was on display this morning during her interview with Matt Lauer. Ann was on to tout her new book, Godless: The Church of Liberalism, released today on . . . 6/6/6 - sign of the devil and all that.
The first example came in the the context of President Bush's current push for a constitutional amendment that would prohibit gay marriage. The liberal mantra on his initiative, as exemplified by Ann Curry's performance on yesterday's Today, is that this is a cynical political ploy and a waste of time when there are myriad 'real' issues out there to be addressed.
Right out of the box, Lauer invited her to buy into that logic. Lauer:
"David Gregory said if you ask people what they care abou they say Iraq and gas prices. Gay marriages are way down on the list, but that's what the president is talking about and what the Senate is taking up. Why?"
Coulter would have none of it:
"I don't know what people are talking about or how David Gregory knows that. But I do know that gay marriage amendments have been put on the ballots in about 20 states now and passed by far larger numbers than Bush won the election by."
Lauer then hit Ann with a classic bit of perceived liberal truth: "Here's how E.J. Dionne puts it in the Washington Post:'The Republican party thinks its base of social conservatives is a nest of dummies who have no memories and respond like bulls whenever red flags are waved in their faces.' Do you agree with that?
Coulter: "That the base are dummies or that Bush thinks that?"
Lauer: "That he can wave a red flag and they will run to the polls to respond to him?"
Coulter: "They don't need to respond to him. He's not running again."
Lauer: "They want the voters to turnout in the mid-term elections. They don't want to lose control of the congress."
Coulter: "Maybe they want to do what the voters want. Whatever you can say about whether or not Bush has a mandate, the mandate against gay marriage is pretty strong. It passed by like 85 percent in Mississippi. Even in Oregon, and that was the state that the groups supporting gay marriage fixated on and outspent their opponents by like 40:1, it passed even there. There is a mandate against gay marriage."
Lauer: "Do you think George Bush in his heart really cares strongly about that issue?"
Coulter: "I don't know what anybody cares in his heart."
Lauer: "Would you take a guess?"
Coulter: "I know what Americans think because they keep voting, over and over and over again overwhelmingly they reject gay marriage. So why is that a bad thing for politicians to respond to what is overwhelmingly a mandate?"
Ann's rejection of Lauer's liberal logic was again on stunning display a bit later in the interview. Lauer suggested that Pres. Bush's low approval ratings are attributable to Iraq. That in turn engendered the following exchange.
Coulter: "I don't think so. That's the one thing he is doing right and that the Democrats are incapable of doing. That is fighting the war on terror."
Lauer: "But I am talking about the war with Iraq, not the war on terror."
Coulter: "I consider them the same thing. We didn't invade Guatemala."
Cue the rim shot!
Today Show/NewsBusters Ann-Coulter-rocks ping.
Brilliant, beautiful, decisive. What more could a man ask for?
Thanks for all your hard work, GLGB.
Thanks for the great report. Ann of the amazing mind strikes again. All too often the "conservative" guest buys into the premise and thereby distorts the argument. Not so for Ann.
She's so smart, she can just play with Lauer-mouth.
That was mean. Lauer's just a kid.
Classic! I consider them the same thing. We didn't invade Guatemala."
What more could a conservative woman ask for? Ann Coulter gives Matt Lauer a wedgie that he won't soon forget. Just reached over and pulled his Tuesday panties straight UP. Ouch!
Coulter threads such as this one tend to serve as touchstones for showing which FReepers have latent liberal tendencies and actually support the destruction of the traditional family through liberal machinations such as gay marriage. They'll be here shortly to denounce Ann for her "red meat" rhetoric.
A beer?
A little noise drowned out by the roar of overwhelming truth.
RULES! WE MUST OBSERVE THE RULES!...............
i wouldn't call Ann's charms "superficial".
Lauer in a battle of wits? Then he is severely under-armed......
I'm not sure that was the best reply but the whole thing is really quite impressive.
I love Ann when she digs in and goes to head to head. Nothing better. Would pay to see it every single day.
She's terrific.
Indeed, she's an outstandingly brilliant woman! She can see through any BS the media puts out there.
This was the most aggressive response I have ever seen anyone give Matt Lauer - it was incredible - I was amazed at just how strongly Ann defended her position with zero apologies.
While Matt sits there with producers yelling in his ear - Ann just fired right back at him.
I must admit to you Ann Coulter - I am now a fan.
This interview reminds me of William F. Buckley being asked why Robert F. Kennedy refused to debate Buckley on "Firing Line"... I think Buckley's comment went something like: "Wouldn't the meat refuse the grinder, if given a choice?"
In the battle of wits, lauer is a nit.
A very uneven match of intellects, I'd say. Matt Lauer should be more careful about whom he challenges in a debate.
I also enjoyed the part where he said something and she said "Well...you're getting testy with me!" She doesn't hold back does she....haha
Wish the congress had half the guts that she does to stand up for what they believe and say so.
Two questions. One, why would the Today Show ever book someone like Coulter as a guest? And two, why would Coulter ever appear on something as biased as the Today Show?
You are so right.
Ann, could you bring me a beer?
My pleasure, DCP, particularly on morning's like this!
Coulter vs Lauer; it's like watching a cat play with a mouse.
"Brilliant, beautiful, decisive. What more could a man ask for?
A beer?"
A cigarette!
A beer?
Ding-Ding-Ding! Line 'o the day nominee!
Two - She is a best-selling author - with a new book to sell.
See #3 for gosh sakes.
Thanks for that update and fill. Love to see Ann in action.
There was a good, quick round on F & F this morning too, between Bill Kristol and E.D. Hill.
Topic was illegals. Kristol is on the same page as the Administration, touting the 'comprehensive' bill, yada yada yada.
E.D. interrupted Bill and told him 'you are out of touch with America'. She went on to give a few examples which Kristol shrugged off as insignificant.
===
Yep, the soft little libs will be along soon to decry that Ann is "mean spirited".
SLLLAAAAPPPPPPP!!!!
Good stuff. I would have liked to watch that.
Weak, Ann. Very weak.
The proper reply is "They are the same thing."
It's not a matter of opinion, so don't state it as such. The War on Terror has many fronts, including Afghanistan, Iraq, the States, etc.
In fact, the War on Terror and the war in Iraq would be the same thing even if Ann Coulter didn't "consider them" so.
Ann's charms are wasted on Lauer. Couldn't they find a man to interview her?
Thanks a million for posting this. It would have been worth my time to watch the Ann/Matt catfight.
I'm hopeful Ian will have the video on his site.
You do a great service GLGB. Thanks.
Sorry I missed it. Sounds like Ann was on her game. She deserves to be lauded louder than Lauder.
She'll be a best selling author, Today Show or no Today Show.
Lauder = Lauer
Glad you enjoyed it - it's really my pleasure.
ratings, ratings, ratings - she attracts conservatives who respect her, and liberals who hate her.
#3 doesn't count. Has a liberal nutjob in it......
That Ball is Outa Here! Check for Steroids on that lady!!
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
There are a lot of liberal freepers. We've all assumed we were all of similarly like minds, but that isn't so. There are a bunch of left wingers, especially the open borders gang with their invective against Ann Coulter.
We may have a more peaceful thread than usual because Ann defended Bush, keeping the Bushbot roar to a minimum. They usually trash her too.
Just close your left eye ;-)
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