Giuliani, Romney, McCain camps denounce Coulter’s attack on Edwards

Hotair ^ | 5:12 pm on March 3, 2007

[MovementConservative]

Conservative author Jennifer Rubin wondered this morning whether any Republican candidates would have the decency to do a little Sistah Souljah-ing here:

It is not “caving” into political correctness to distance and indeed condemn such remarks as unworthy of a political event like CPAC… Excommunication is not being suggested, just a public rebuke. By clearly stating her comments are beyond the bounds of civil discourse and her presence not a welcome addition to a mature political party, the Republicans could do themselves a world of good. How often does a party have the opportunity to display some measure of dignity, restraint and self-reflection.?
Actually, it sounds like she is suggesting excommunication. No presidental contender’s gone that far (yet), but if it’s condemnation she’s waiting for, the wait is over:

Of the major Republican candidates, only Mr. McCain did not attend [CPAC], but he denounced her remarks on Saturday morning. “The comments were wildly inappropriate,” said his spokesman, Brian Jones.
Mr. Giuliani said, “The comments were completely inappropriate and there should be no place for such name-calling in political debate.”
Kevin Madden, a spokesman for Mr. Romney, said: “It was an offensive remark. Governor Romney believes all people should be treated with dignity and respect.”

Coulter’s own reaction, per an e-mail to the Times: “C’mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting that they are like John Edwards. That would be mean.”

Do the denunciations mean Edwards’s site will quit referring to her as a “Republican mouthpiece” or his campaign manager, David Bonior, will stop sending out fundraising appeals like this?
John was singled out for a personal attack because the Republican establishment knows he poses the greatest threat to their power. Since they have nothing real to use against him, Coulter’s resorting to the classic right-wing strategy of riling up hate to smear a progressive champion. And the Republican attack dogs will keep playing this despicable trick as long as they think it works.

No, of course not. There is a potential silver lining here for gays, though. Says Robbie at the Malcontent: Romney has spent months wooing the Religious Right with culture warrior issues like gay rights and abortion. It certainly doesn’t take an oracle to know gay marriage will come in for yet another bit of rehashing during the 2008 campaign. Now, every single time Romney or any other Republican candidate decides to take gay issues for a good beating to curry favor with the base, at the back of the media’s and many voters’ minds will be Ann Coulter calling someone a faggot after Mitt Romney said nice things about her. Politicians like to euphemize their positions. The sanctity of marriage. Platitudes about disagreeing with gay rights but affording homosexuals in society dignity and respect. Coulter has now made those euphemizations just a little bit more untenable…
If those who support gay issues possess any political wisdom, Coulter’s message will be entwined with anti-gay political rhetoric from now until election day. “Sancitity of Marriage. Faggot. Applause.” All of a piece. Love the sin, hate the sinner? Applause for faggot. Coulter receiving choice interview spots on programming like Hannity and Colmes? Applause for faggot.

For what it’s worth, Romney did win the CPAC straw poll. Rudy came a strong second and, unlike Romney, with no big contingent of his own volunteers there cheering him on.

[farmer18th]

Whatever you call it, it's "piling on" against someone who had the courage to speak the truth.

Our movement is too timid.

The homosexual lobby would have our children and youth recruited on network television, in public schools, and within the training programs of the civil service. (I know; I had a brother in law in the forrest service who was asked to forfeit his own moral beliefs about homosexuality so as to tow the federal line.)

Anne is sick of it, and I'm grateful. It's time to start calling them the hideous things they really are.

When will you folks wake up to the fact that we are in a war against people who fight dirty? Homosexuals don't want you to remind the public that their genitals are covered in HUMAN EXCREMENT every time they have sex. They are a disgusting, vile, ugly threat to the public health and the more rhetoric we have on all levels against them--THE BETTER!

[upsdriver]

"Kevin Madden, a spokesman for Mr. Romney, said: “It was an offensive remark. Governor Romney believes all people should be treated with dignity and respect.” "

Does he mean the same dignity and respect accorded pro life christians and GW Bush?

[Bigh4u2]

So are you saying that Rush calling feminist's 'FEMINAZIS' and even Edwards the 'BRECK GIRL' is not equal or possible even worse than what Ann said about him?

I don't see the distinction.

How about Kerry calling our soldiers 'terrorists' and still there hasn't been any outrage from the Left OR right?

It seems the 'outrage' from some is pretty 'one sided' to me.

[farmer18th]

Truly hilarious.

[jetson]

"Yeth...we think Anne is mean and should keep her mouth shut."

[Basheva]

While I am as conservative as Ann Coulter - I really don't want to be associated with her.

We don't need her kind of acerbic rhetoric to win.

I don't think she's good for our side.

[DaGman]

The issue to me is maturity and Coulter is sorely lacking. She's the spoiled brat that has to constantly draw attention to herself with outrageous actions and words. "Look at me! Hey! Look at me!" And, I'm sick and tired of people wanting to act and talk immature then complain when they think they're being attacked for not being PC. This 8th grade, "you're a faggot/no you're a faggot" crap has no place in the discourse of deciding who will be the successor to the most powerful person in the world.</rant>

[Steel Wolf]

What did she say that is not true or accurate?

This isn't some kind of math question, a point that many on FR seem to be missing. It's politics, which is about managing your image and the public's perception.

If a prominent conservative were to refer to a certain leading Democratic candidate as a "fat, trailer trash, carpet-bagging, socialist cow riding her husband's semen stained coattails all the way to the White House", that might serve to get cheers from the hard 15% right. Overall, it'll make the other 85% of America look at the right wing like garbage.

Which is fine, if you're an ideologue who's happy to throw firebombs to increase your own book sales from said 15%. It's not so great for grown ups on the right trying to appear reasonable and attractive to undecided voters.

[sauropod]

Attitudes like yours are precisely why CPAC has turned into a RINOfest.

[farmer18th]

Dick should have disowned his daughter. We had a lezbo aunt and we would not let our children associate with her. Good old shunning served Western Civilization for 2000 years; it's only in the post anti-biotic generation we think we can outrun God on this stuff, but you can't.

[sauropod]

I'd rather listen to, watch, or read Ann Coulter over Hugh Hewitt, RINO extraordinaire any day! You can keep Hewitt!

[ScubieNuc]

[Steel Wolf]

You're missing something about Reagan. He had an edge--something none of these "kinder, gentler" imitators have. When I was a graduate student and he used the term "evil empire," I can remember how horrified the left was, something like they are with Anne. People who tell the truth are always going to offend people who defend lies.

There's nothing wrong with edge. I just refuse to believe that anyone out there can envision Ronald Reagan referring to a political opponent as a 'faggot'. It's a measure of a man's class, pure and simple. Being articulate and pointedly honest is entirely possible without being a cretin about it.

[NorCalRepub]

I'm even more outraged by the left....you make it sound I'm fine with that. I'm not....but I hold "us" to higher standards and never excuse bad behavior by pointing to other bad behavior......and actually, Breck Girl is like girly man....and off handed insult yes....but not a slur that demonized a set of people......feminazis I have to admit was pretty funny....

[Bigh4u2]

"but not a slur that demonized a set of people"

I'm sorry, but they 'demonized' themselves with their lifestyle.

And emulating Reagan is something that would be difficult, if not downright impossible because he WAS rare to begin with.

[ml/nj]

I don't understand your comment at all.

I asked what she said that was not true or accurate, and you tell me about math questions and managing ones image. One of us is very dense and, of course, I don't think it is I.

ML/NJ

[NorCalRepub]

I'm not disowning God....I can tell you are passionate, and yes, I hate homosexuality, but I don't hate them that practice....hate the sin, not the sinner....I'm trying to dissuade you at all.....if you think Dick should have disowned his own daughter then great....I don't see it like that

[mrsmith]

Ah, I missed your point. Ann declined to deride "faggots" after all.

My point was that liberal "humorists" who make "gross" attacks against conservatives are feted.

Sam Kinison caught hell for his routines though. Boy, even I'd have watched the Oscars if he had MC'd it.

[farmer18th]

You know it's funny: If a Nazi, in full regalia, walked down the street he would be shunned and villified, if not beaten to a pulp, which is all as it should be. What we villify tends to disappear. What we successfully demonize remains on the fringe--unable to influence the body politic. My uncle, wounded at Normandy, would be grateful we continue to demonize Nazis.

With sodomites, who practice the eroticizing of human excrement, Anne observes that you get asked to undergo rehab if you use a term that demonizes them--faggot. If we spent a little more time demonizing them, or if we had continued demonizing them when they were asking the culture to legitimize their disgusting lifestyles, we wouldn't have had to contend with so many of the vermin.

The only difference between Anne and most of the Rinos here is that she sees things clearly.

[Genyous]

Excellent reply! Very well put! I agree 100%