Edwards capitalizes on Coulter slur

Associated Press ^ | 03/06/07

[highball]

You do not win the most powerful job in the world by running around screaming "whaaa, Ann Coulter was mean to me". If Ann makes Edwards cry, what is Putin or Kim Il or the UD Congress going to do to him?

That's a cute comment, but not reflective of reality.

Edwards isn't whining at all, he's saying "Look, the conservatives are all bigots." And the Dims look somehow reasonable based on her stupid and childish comments, which all sensible Republicans now have to waste time disavowing.

That's the worst part - she's actually making him look better by refusing to stoop to her level.

Coulter is reinforcing the silly stereotype that Republicans are intolerant haters. That will make it harder to appeal to the mushy middle (which is how you win elections, after all), and will make it more difficult for us to win so long as this issue stays in the public consciousness.

The only good thing I can say about Ann's silly remarks is that they probably come too early to do any serious damage. Hopefully she'll learn to engage her brain before her mouth by the time the general election comes around.

[fishtank]

On top of all that, you just committed one of the classic blunders!

On the one hand, you think she is vitriolic and venomous, because she might be 'insulting' a public citizen, John Edwards, while you then attack Ann's physical appearance.

"I am getting really sick and tired of that transvestite-looking Anne Coulter. Each and every time she is on TV or writing an opinion piece, it turns out to be some sort of vitriolic and venomous attack on whoever the person of the week is."

"Vizzini: You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The first is never get involved in a land war in Asia. The second, only slightly less well known, is this: never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line!"

[Smokin' Joe]

Do you know why it's a bad idea in sports to insult your opponent before the game?

Actually, we used to make a point of it. They might play harder, but they will be angry and definitely not play smarter. It will screw up their game more often than not.

[Dominic Harr]

They might play harder, but they will be angry and definitely not play smarter.

If they're a pushover, I guess it's no big deal.

But if they have any quality players, it will focus them. Make them play harder. Make them consider tactics and strategies they might have otherwise not been willing to try.

Ann saying this is like when the Dallas Mavericks let it leak that they had planned the victory parade before they had won the series.

Just a mistake, is all.

[Americanexpat]

I agree with your views on this issue. I saw a clip of Ann in Hannity and Colms today. I can not believe she let that other sissy Alan talk his stupid crap. She should have reminded him what libs and Dems have been saying about the assassination attempt on Chenny. I think we should take them to task every time they spew their hateful crap. The Repubs are appearing weak because we never stand up to these idiots.

[Smokin' Joe]

You do realize the "faggot" remark was probably not so much directed at Edwards as this situation, don't you? link to story

It was satire about political correctness. It never ceases to amaze me how the reactions to Ann's comments underscore her point.

[Malone LaVeigh]

The Edwards camp is now seeking to capitalize on the slur by soliciting $100,000 in "Coulter Cash" to "show that inflaming prejudice to attack progressive leaders will only backfire."

Yeah, deposit your cash right here ...

[Dominic Harr]

You do realize the "faggot" remark was probably not so much directed at Edwards as this situation, don't you?

Her joke was, "Edwards is so pretty he's almost a faggot! But I can't say 'faggot', so I won't say that."

The problem is, many, many of us in the world do believe that calling someone a 'faggot' is over the line.

Many -- in fact, most, if the blog reaction is a sign -- people who believe in a conservative use of federal power also believe that calling someone a faggot is just wrong.

[FastCoyote]

"gee, if that's a money-maker for Edwards, it's only a matter of time before he has a video showing an abortion and a button to click to donate more to his campaign."

How in the world do you capitalize on a campaign that says you aren't a faggot. It all comes out sounding like:

"I am so not a faggot, thilly!"

Coulter may be over the top sometimes, but it sure can be effective- I think she just fried Edwards. I hope the MSM spends the next year stating that Edwards "Is not, is not, a faggot!"

[Smokin' Joe]

Nope, no seegar.

The quote is: "It turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I'm kind of at an impasse -- I can't really talk about Edwards."

Put that in the context of the story at the link.

Pray tell, how can we support the bombing of Baghdad, taking on the Taliban, and hanging Saddam but be so bloody offended with the word "faggot"?

How many people here were in favor of NUKING countries over 9/11? or Iranian nuclear development, but become rectally incontinent over the word "faggot"?

I'm having trouble with the concept here that it is okay to blast our enemies to ashes, turn their villages to puddles of glass, leave the survivors burned and scarred for life, but we cannot risk hurting someone's feelings?

Look, in reality, political correctness is not about being nice to people, it is all about castrating a language.

[TexasCajun]

It was satire about political correctness. It never ceases to amaze me how the reactions to Ann's comments underscore her point

After 66 comments, someone finally said it.

-Thank you-

[expatguy]

"On the bright side, he's taking cash away from some Dem that might have a snowball's chance."

Ann Coulter is a genius.

[youngjim]

What was the name of that lib cartoonist that was going to take money from supporters on the internet and sue AC for libel . . . . .

Yah good luck with that Edwards, you nancy boy. [this rhetoric has been edited 'for the childrunnn']

[M-cubed]

I hope he capitalizes on it so well, he drives Hillary's poll numbers to -0-

Then a Hunter/Edwards race will give this country a real VICTORY!

[M-cubed]

Hmmmmm....If she's a transvestite....*G*....I may have a lil "faggot" in me!!!

[Smokin' Joe]

You're welcome!

[KoRn]

The only thing I dislike about the entire situation is it brings attention to the lil bitch, and I'm not talking about Ann.

[MNJohnnie]

The Republicans followed your "play it safe don't make the media or the Democrats mad" strategy in 2006. How did that work for them?

[Dominic Harr]

The quote is: "It turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I'm kind of at an impasse -- I can't really talk about Edwards."

I'm aware of the quote. She clearly is saying "He's a faggot (presumably cuz he's too pretty/too metrosexual for her tastes) but I can't call him a faggot without getting into trouble, therefore I won't say anything else about him".

This is about effective communication. If we're talking about other people, calling them names isn't effective or clever. This is our version of "Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot".

Stupid. Silly. And it makes her look bad.

I guess maybe you don't understand why most folks in the world try not to offend others. I'm not offended by 'faggot'. Or 'nigger'. Or 'kike', or 'spic', etc.

But others are. And I, as a decent human being, understand the reasonable request by those folks to not use those words in that fashion.

It offends them. It's that simple. You and I may feel it shouldn't, but it does. So by using the term, you're being knowingly, purposefully offensive.

And that is *not* the way to win votes and influence voters.