Posted on 03/03/2007 8:01:55 PM PST by llevrok
Ann Coulter is not African-American, does not sing and never said “If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?” However, she is the closest the Republicans will get to Sister Souljah.
Coulter has made a career of interspersing insightful and cutting political criticism with outrageous and morally repugnant remarks. She attracted considerable attention with her crack about the group of 9/11 widows dubbed the “Jersey girls,” with a line in one of her books, “These broads are millionaires, lionized on TV and in articles about them, reveling in their status as celebrities and stalked by grief-arazzis. These self-obsessed women seemed genuinely unaware that 9/11 was an attack on our nation and acted as if the terrorist attacks happened only to them. ... I’ve never seen people enjoying their husbands' deaths so much.”
Then, there was her crack about Muslims at last year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC): “I think our motto should be post-9-11, ‘rag head talks tough, rag head faces consequences.’” At CPAC on Thursday, in endorsing Republican presidential aspirant Mitt Romney, who needs more bad press like a hole in the head, she piped up with this one: “I was going to say something about John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word ‘faggot.’”
It's about time for a presidential contender, perhaps all of them in the spirit of Newt Gingrich’s crusade for improving public discourse, to say “enough.” Coulter’s never-ending stream of venom is not amusing, unhelpful to Republicans, and not in keeping with the ideals of a party that fancies itself as the proponent of a colorblind society and heir to Lincoln.
It is not “caving” into political correctness to distance and indeed condemn such remarks as unworthy of a political event like CPAC. To the contrary, it is altogether fitting that a group that ostensibly searches for the best in conservative ideas, rewards political courage and encourages intellectual debate, should be able to differentiate the amusing from the offensive, and the clever from the vile.
Conservatives take great glee in condemning ideological opponents who share stages with Al Sharpton or give a convention seat to Michael Moore. It would certainly boost their credibility to toss their own baggage out.
Would it be a stunt to call out Coulter, who obviously revels in the attention of provocative pronouncements? No. 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.?
So who will play the role of Bill Clinton to Coulter’s Sister Souljah? It would be a sad commentary on the GOP if the answer is “no one.”
Jennifer Rubin is a writer who lives in Virginia. Her columns appear in the Weekly Standard, the American Spectator, Human Events, abc.com and National Review Online.
If Ann did not throw out provacative comments she would be as forgetable as most speakers. Left Wingers have a Bunch who are a lot worse.
The best thing about this article are Ann Coulter's quotes. LOL
And that makes it good, how?
These aren't the droids you're looking for, Jennifer...
I completely disagree.
It is the absence of more individuals like Coulter that keeps conservatives consistently on the losing side of public policy even when they win.
Ridicule is basically controlled by the Left. The Left continues to speak in the patronizing voice.
Poor stupid conservatives-- they dont believe evolution, they dont want people to get out of wheel chairs, they hate gay people, they are racist, they are sexist, they dont get global warming, etc etc etc.
The scorn dynamic allows liberals to control conservatives even when they are in power.
The absence of scorn and ridicule on the right is part of the pious conservative persona that is "above it all" and turning the other cheek.
Conservatives must learn how to frame public argument in terms of ridicule.
Its time to start selling life jackets for polar bears to convey our deep concern for these gentle arctic giants.
Without comparable canons such as Colbert and Stewart, the Left will always be able to turn the tables on any power grab. Re-framing of public argument is currently directed by the left via ridicule. This is why Coulter is deemed so threatening. The right is not allowed to ridicule the left. It is the sacrosanct position of rhetorical privilege.
No matter what anyone says, however, it should be noted that from now on, John Edwards and the word "faggot" are as intertwined as was Ed Muskie and the word "meathead", way back when.
John "Faggot" Edwards.
I only wish she had said something so sticky about Hillary.
It's a sad commentary that the left has no sense of humor.
Won't apologize for Coulter .. because I didn't write her material so I have nothing to apologize for.
Oh, and BTW, Jen - may I call you Jen, Jennifer? Maybe they didn't teach you this in journo skool, but you use "double quotes" for an exact quote - kind of like this:
"Oh, and - I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, ummm, but it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word ‘faggot,’ so, I — so - kind of at an impasse, can’t really talk about Edwards, so I think I'll just conclude here and take your questions. Thank you."
They may not have taught you that misrepresenting an actual quote and then riffing off it is what we call "bad journalism".
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
We need more Coulters, not fewer.
But, the high-fiving goes on, among the cool kids and their buds at the school paper...
Sorry, Jenny Sweet Pea, you'll just have to suck it up! And then thank 'Ann' for giving you something to write about - even though no one is listening to your pathetic condemnation.
This writer sounds very young. When you've been around the block a few times you realize the left-wing only bothers to attack conservatives who are EFFECTIVE. Ann drives them crazy because she hits the target way too often.
Grow a spine.
Ann is all about Ann. She wanted to get the attention, good or bad. She is an attention whore.
We are better than those effing left wingers.
You are so right...liberals are so much worse and unapologetic.....however, since I don't aspire to be a liberal nor use their tactics, I think the many pundits criticizing Ann are correct on this one
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