Posted on 12/07/2005 8:32:41 PM PST by SmithL
STORRS, Conn. - Conservative columnist Ann Coulter gave up trying to finish a speech at the University of Connecticut on Wednesday night when boos and jeers from the audience became overwhelming. Coulter cut off the talk after 15 minutes and instead held a half-hour question-and-answer session.
"I love to engage in repartee with people who are stupider than I am," Coulter told the 2,600 people at Jorgensen Auditorium.
Coulter's appearance prompted protests from several groups, including Students Against Hate and the Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center. They criticized her for spreading a message of hate and intolerance.
Nearly 100 students gathered inside the Student Union for a rally against Coulter. About a half-dozen people held protest signs outside the auditorium.
After a book signing following her appearance, Coulter called the audience's reaction "typical."
Coulter, originally from New Canaan, Conn., has a history of bashing Democrats in best-selling books, frequent television appearances and speeches. Harding University in Arkansas dropped her from its lecture series in September, citing her abrasive image.
Last April, the president of the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota denounced a speech on the campus by Coulter, calling it hateful. In October 2004, University of Arizona police arrested two men who ran on stage and threw custard pies at Coulter; one of the pies glanced off her shoulder.
In her speech at UConn, Coulter called Bill Clinton an "executive buffoon" who won the presidency only because Ross Perot took 19 percent of the vote. She called California Sen. Barbara Boxer a good candidate for the Democrats because "she is a woman and she's learning disabled."
During the question-and-answer session, someone asked Coulter if she really was against a woman's right to vote.
"Not having women vote is a joke," she said, reversing comments she has previously made.
Eric Knudsen, a 19-year-old sophomore journalism and social welfare major at UConn, didn't attend the speech.
"We encourage diverse opinion at UConn, but this is blatant hate speech," said Knudsen, head of Students Against Hate.
Kareem Mohni, a 20-year-old junior and a member of a campus Republicans group, said he was disgusted with the Jorgensen crowd.
"It really appalled me that we're not able to come together as a group and listen to a different view in a respectful environment," he said.
Journalism and Social Welfare? Now days they're one and the same. BTW, Eric Knudsen needs his ass kicked.
Just wait until he starts working and sees his first paycheck and who is really paying for all that social welfare!
No wonder Ann was SO ticked off during her post-UConn appearance on Hannity & Colmes tonight...
Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.
She should have kept playing along and not actually explained it was sarcastic. Anyone that dumb does not deserve an explanation.
2600 people in the audience have an evening of thought-provoking discussion ruined by 100.
Tyranny of the minority...a liberal's idea of 'fairness'.
I find your comment very interesting. I've encountered that sentiment many times over the years at the DUng heap and the indymedias.
Ann was on Hannity & Colmes via satellite after the debacle. She was pissed. It was in her tone, her voice and her facial expressions. I can't stand liberals.
You make the huge assumption that they will actually leave the University and get a job!
Or perhaps:
"We'll decide who is worthy of free speech."
"We encourage diverse opinion at UConn, but this is blatant hate speech"
Funny thing, the quotes that they mention can't be even close to being hate speach. It's not like she's advocating killing liberals. Listen to the vitriol liberals spew against George W, and you would see what hate really is.
Come on now, you know he's just itching to get out there and find some great cause to champion. Like, well I don't know something like better treatment for homosexual-illegal aliens who have trained in terrorist training camps in the mid east and now can't find decent living conditions in New Orleans or something like that.
Are you people blind??! She obviously has the racisms.... and while I'm onthe subject--
Where were the buses?
Where be the gubmint buses at?
I believe colleges are today more liberal than ever.
In the 60s and 70s, the radicals were more radical and loud and had civil rights and the draft to exploit but it sure looks like today the percentage of lefties is higher and no doubt the faculty has been subjugated
When I was in college from 75-80, the left had a small presence...quite small.
Nowadays, the left appear to rule almost every campus and conservative speakers can NEVER muster the same support for cover.
Sad.
sounds like great wife material....malleable and dilettante yet passionate...is she pretty too?
cooks?
(/s)
Ann needs bodyguards armed with full auto paintball carbines...
Please read my reply at post 28, im pinging you to it.
It was absolutely nothing the way this article was reported. The crowd mostly drowned out the disruptions, and the liberals ran up to the mic foaming at the mouth and made fools out of themselves. I've heard everyone on campus talking about how disrespectful liberals are and they should be ashamed.
Ok, i just saw you read my post..
As for what you said...No Comment ;)
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