Posted on 08/20/2010 2:55:46 PM PDT by RonDog
The Ann Coulter You Don't Know
by Matt LatimerThe flap over Coulter’s speech to a gay Republican group
shows that the right’s provocateur is a heck of a lot of more
complicated than she’s made out to be."Wait until you hear what Ann Coulter did now" has become a cable news era cliché—up there with “fair and balanced," "we report, you decide," and "can I please get a word in edgewise, Mr. Carville?" So upon learning that Ann has found her way into another controversy—a sadly overused word when applied to Ms. Coulter—the natural temptation is to brace oneself. This, after all, is the woman who mused—in jest?—that perhaps America would be better off if women couldn't vote.
One of the carefully guarded secrets of Ann Coulter world
is how much she is not hated and—dare one say it—even liked
by many within the dreaded liberal elite.
No doubt to the surprise of Coulter haters—and "hate" is not too strong a word here—the supposed Bellatrix Lestrange of the Republican Party recently took a stand that the more rational among them might even applaud. When informed she could not participate in a political conference if she kept a commitment to speak to a group of gay Republicans, Ms. Coulter told organizers just what they could do with their conference. Noting that she speaks to all kinds of groups whose views she does not necessarily agree with—"the main thing I do is speak on college campuses, which is about the equivalent of speaking at an al Qaeda conference"—Coulter, in her own style, stood for something that conservatives are supposed to believe in: the free exchange of ideas. Few, of course, have exercised that particular privilege with more vigor than the woman who famously labeled Katie Couric "the affable Eva Braun" of the liberal movement.Lately, in fact, Coulter has been making a habit of getting on the bad side of the right’s Dwight Schrutes, even at the risk of alienating some of her book buyers and website subscribers. She was, for example, an early and outspoken opponent of the Obama birther movement, calling its adherents a collection of "cranks." And in response to commentator Bill Kristol’s haughty demand that Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele resign because Steele criticized the military surge in Afghanistan, Coulter turned the tables. "Bill Kristol Should Resign," she wrote, thus fearlessly taking on one of the Grand Poobahs of today’s GOP and provoking a needed debate within the conservative movement over the dangers of supporting every military action at every time under every circumstance.
Tolerance for differing viewpoints...willingness to stand up to the GOP’s titans...is this the Ann Coulter that liberals loathe and Republicans love? That is exactly her. But you’re not supposed to tell anyone. In fact, one of the carefully guarded secrets of Ann Coulter world is how much she is not hated and—dare one say it—even liked by many within the dreaded liberal elite. Well-credentialed members of the mainstream media privately extol her. Among her friends is the decidedly unconservative talk show host Bill Maher, on whose cable program she frequently appeared. "Unlike so many people in America, she was not afraid to get booed," Mr. Maher once said of his pal. But at a quasi-debate with Maher, Coulter showed the limits of her affection. "Bill wants me to behave like a wife who laughs each time she hears her husband tell the same story," she told her audience. (Predictably she did not oblige.) To the shock, awe, and dismay of many on the left, Coulter even has dated a number of liberal acolytes, including a one-time aide to Joe Biden and the former president of the New York City Council. There are even anecdotal cases of—brace yourselves—actual kindness.
I can attest to this unsettling phenomenon. Some years ago, a geeky political nerd from Michigan came to Capitol Hill with grandiose dreams and a debilitating shyness. Few among the great potentates and perennial climbers of the United States Senate had much time for the lugs at the bottom. But Ann did. Though a senior aide to a U.S. Senator, she took the time to get to know the rest of us, ask our opinions, share stories, and be a friend. Even then I knew that Coulter would not be long for the dreary rituals and bloviating self-absorption of Capitol Hill. Instead she became a media star.
More than a decade later, when I wrote a book about my experiences in Washington I asked my publisher if Ann could read it. I figured she wouldn’t remember me and expected a polite rebuff. Instead Ann got to it quickly and wrote a generous blurb. When the book received criticism from prominent Bush aides and some conservative friends waited out the deluge from a comfortable distance, Ann Coulter stood by with her support, even appearing on Fox News to lend a hand and correct the facts.
I jokingly told her that from here on out I’d punch anyone who attacked her in my presence. "You’re going to be pretty busy," she instantly replied.
None of this is to say that Ann Coulter hasn’t deserved the animosity or opposition she has received over the years—and which she sometimes has shrewdly cultivated. She knew well what she was doing when she boldly criticized the 9/11 widows or poked fun at Senator John Edwards before that particular sport became a national pastime. And most likely she wouldn’t take back a single offending word she has ever uttered.
But there is a reason why all the latter-day Coulter imitators on cable news channels have been about as cutting edge as a J.C. Penney commercial. People—at least those who matter—usually are more complicated than their caricatures. It’s too bad that politics doesn’t allow us to see more public figures that way.
Matt Latimer is the author of the New York Times bestseller, SPEECH-LESS: Tales of a White House Survivor. He was deputy director of speechwriting for George W. Bush and chief speechwriter for Donald Rumsfeld.
If I were Ann, I’d love it!
If you think being married has anything to do with being or not being gay, you’re clueless.
And if you dare to disagree with her, her fans will insult you.Hardly.There can be NO disagreement.
Many of Ann's long-time fans here are DISTURBED by this, but there are also many who SUPPORT her on this.Hardly the monolithic defense of Ann that your post implies. :o)
Sorry but I disagree.
I see her as an entertainer not a conservative leader.
Her fans see her as a leader. I don’t follow anyone, seldom reading or listening to any of them. FR is my news source. And I value opinions of Freepers. They aren’t elitists.
Sorry but I disagree.LOLOL!
It's not a matter of OPINION -- whether Ann's fans here are divided on her speaking at this event.Even a CURSORY review of the threads marked with the keyword "homocon" will reveal that.
But I **will** grant you that the FReepers who DO support her in this **have** been very vocal in bashing YOU. :o)Unfortunately, that comes with the territory. ;)
SOMEONE needs to hold Ann accountable, and you're doing an admirable job "holding her feet to the fire" with this decision.But Ann has been around this forum long enough that she gets a HUGE "benefit of the doubt" with MANY of us.
Rush has mentioned 0thugga’s eligibility issues more than a few times, and never calls people “birthers” or “cranks”, AFAIK.
Coulter merely sneers.
That is not an issue that I have addressed or even thought about.
Unfortunately, that comes with the territory. ;)
Doesn't it though. *shaking head*
Support her selling her soul for a few queer 3 dollar bills? Where are they?
The group may be “gay”, who knows if they’re Repubs or not, but they for sure are not conservative.
GOProud is not conservative. They’re regular “gay” activists masquerading (not very well) as “conservatives”. Anyone who reads their legislative agenda will see clearly that it is 90% homosexual agenda.
GOProud is a militant homosexual front group.
Chairman of the Board, Christopher Barron: “We are a gay organization, we only work on gay issues, we have never claimed otherwise. My God people.”
Twitter Aug 4, 2010 http://twitter.com
And just for the record, here is GOProud’s Federal Legislative Agenda, copied from their website, my notes [NOTE] added.
http://www.goproud.org.php5-12.dfw1-2.websitetestlink.com/federal-legislative-priorities/
Federal Legislative Priorities
GOProud’s Conservative Agenda
The so-called “gay agenda” is defined by the left through a narrow prism of legislative goals. While hate crimes and employment protections may be worthy goals, there are many other important priorities that receive little attention from the gay community. GOProud’s agenda emphasizes conservative and libertarian principles that will improve the daily lives of all Americans, but especially gay and lesbian Americans.
NOTE: “Hate crimes” and forcing people to hire homosexuals are WORTHY GOALS!
1 – TAX REFORM - Death tax repeal; domestic partner tax equity, and other changes to the tax code that will provide equity for gays and lesbians; cut in the capital gains and corporate tax rates to jump start our economy and create jobs; a fairer, flatter and substantially simpler tax code.
NOTE: Domestic partner - more “gay” rights!
2 – HEALTHCARE REFORM – Free market healthcare reform. Legislation that will allow for the purchase of insurance across state lines – expanding access to domestic partner benefits; emphasizing individual ownership of healthcare insurance – such a shift would prevent discriminatory practices by an employer or the government.
NOTE: Domestic partner health benefits - end “discrimination” - code words for “gay” rights!
3 – SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM - Bringing basic fairness to the Social Security system through the creation of inheritable personal savings accounts.
NOTE: “Fairness” is a code word for “gay” rights!
4 – DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL REPEAL – Repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.
NOTE: They want homosexuals in the military!
5 – HOLDING THE LINE ON SPENDING – Standing up for all tax payers against wasteful and unneccessary spending to protect future generations from the mounting federal debt.
NOTE: But they want government spending for “gay” rights!
6 – FIGHTING GLOBAL EXTREMISTS – Standing strong against radical regimes who seek to criminalize gays and lesbians.
NOTE: They want the US to police other countries for “gay” rights!
7 – DEFENDING OUR CONSTITUTION – Opposing any anti-gay federal marriage amendment.
NOTE: THEY WANT HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE!
8 – ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP – Package of free market reforms to encourage and support small businesses and entrepreneurship in the gay community.
NOTE: Tax money to “GAY COMMUNITY”!
9 – REVITALIZING OUR COMMUNITIES – A package of urban related reforms; expanding historic tax preservation credits; support for school choice.
NOTE: They want tax money for old town parts of cities where homosexuals often live!
10 – DEFENDING OUR COMMUNITY – Protecting 2nd amendment rights.
Are our fellow conservatives really THAT stupid and gullible? Freepers especially should know better.
I keep posting this list on every thread about Coulter speaking at the Homo-”con” GOProud shindig.
Most of the rah-rah Coulter supporters ignore it totally and refuse to answer me if I ask them what they think of that agenda.
It’s pretty interesting.
They just pretend it’s not there.
Very well said.
(the following not directed at Brytani, but in response to some of the more hateful comments I see posted here)
Seems I was absent the day we Conservatives voted to hate all gays.
I have gays in my life I love dearly. I pray they will be forgiven and spend eternity with me. My life would be less full without these wonderful people. What was that old, outdated saying I was taught? Oh yeah, love the sinner, hate the sin. Does this make me less of a Conservative? I think not.
Do Not Want!
(I know enough already...)
But if anyone is still unsure about who and what the GOProud are, they should check it out!
What do you think of the GOProud’s legislative agenda posted right above - comment 72#?
I am wondering what you think of the agenda. You’re talking about “hating” individuals, and no one who objects to the GOProud’s agenda or Coulter’s engagement with them is saying they hate any homosexual individuals.
It’s the agenda. Please read it and let me know what you think of it.
I did check and it’s there. Apparently they only work on conservative issues from a homosexual standpoint. Social Security, include gays. Taxes, include gays. That’s it. No interest other than gays be included. The Tweets are there.
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