Posted on 03/05/2007 3:32:50 PM PST by Nasty McPhilthy
Always late to a party, it wasn’t until yesterday that I heard Ann Coulter’s remarks regarding Presidential candidate John Edwards. The video is available at this link, but, for those of you without the proper plug-in, she informed a Conservative Political Action Committee audience that she could not comment on the former Senator because “you have to go into rehab if you use the word f*ggot.” Predictably, a firestorm ensued. CBS News dubbed her words a “slur against gay people.” Mr. Edwards called her comment, “hateful, selfish, childish behavior.” He further noted, “What I’ve learned is that if you don’t have the courage to speak out against it — no matter who says it, and no matter who it’s leveled at — then it becomes tolerable. And it’s not tolerable, any more than the language I heard leveled at African Americans when I was young.”
As it turns out, the fringe candidate is wrong on all counts. F*ggot is not a term of hate. It’s a word sometimes used to describe gays as well as a bundle of sticks or branches, a type of meatball, and, way back when, it even represented a unit of measurement. As far as offensiveness goes, there is no reason why it would appall gays; particularly since it has “been employed by gay men in a defiant, self-consciously empowering or self-mocking way.” Gay advice guru Dan Savage, in his “Savage Love” columns, an adult version of “Dear Abby,” prefaced each query with the salutation of “Hey F*ggot.” A person coming across his columns, as I used to in The Chicago Reader, would never have considered the greeting to be a symbol of abomination.
I honestly think that when most people utter it they use it to describe something they regard as silly, goofy or embarrassing which, at its root, may have nothing to do with homosexuals. Consider Coulter’s statement for a moment. Does she really think that Edwards is gay? I seriously doubt it. She was using her enemies PC sensitivity as a means to provoke and incite—which is exactly what happened. The quip was an incendiary joke. Coulter is not publicity shy, and, given her background, must have known that furor would follow her heretical observation. Ironically, Howard Dean’s response—“this kind of vile rhetoric is out of bounds”—plays like made-to-order dogma. Like Dean, many leftists would like to send Coulter to places far fouler than rehab. Why is saying a word like f*ggot out of bounds? If a homosexual called Coulter a breeder or a black person called her a cracker, would we judge them “hate-filled and bigoted?” Of course not.
Many of her adversaries, those supposed lovers of diversity and goodness, can be seen on YouTube referring to her as a c*nt and a transvestite. I guess this goes to show that tolerance can only be tolerated when it is extended to the right kind of people. Some guerrillas sabotaged her wikipedia page by altering her biographical entry [they may have deleted the insertions by the time this piece is published] by fictionalizing her early history and mental status:
After her birth in New York City, she was taken to central park, where the family had built a sacrificial platform. Young Ann was then stoned and burned alive. Because obviously she fit all characteristics for being an evil satan spawn. It was however, found that her body was resilient and oppositely gotten stronger. After another attempt where her infant body was thrown down the laundry shoot…After observant careful study of Ann’s behavior, it is obvious her mental well being is not in check. Possibilities include: Manic-Depressive Disorder, Rare form of Gonnorrea which consumes your thoughts and logic over a long period of time.
Well, at least they weren’t being hateful.
Most humorous was Edwards’ exploitation of the situation. He put together a special webpage in which one can eradicate injustice by forwarding him a cool 100 grand which he’ll be happy to call “Coulter Cash.” Ambulance chaser fails to describe most lawyers, but John Edwards could smell a C-note even if it were encased in lead.
As for the offending agitator, Coulter responded by saying, “I’m so ashamed, I can’t stop laughing!” The hullabaloo is absurd but far from funny. Our media and politicians continue to be involved in a great race to prove which uncaring overfed yuppie happens to be the most sensitive and self-righteous of all. The general public has little interest in these pursuits, but are the only losers in the competition. Since the late eighties, we have been cowed into modifying our speech and thoughts as one can only view so many PC crucifixions before realizing the inherent danger of speaking truth to commissars. Sadness, as opposed to mirth, is the proper emotion for this circumstance.
The most important thing to remember about this incident is that Coulter has not, and hopefully will not, apologize. Thank God there are a few conservative millionaires out there who possess the financial and mental wherewithal to actively defy societal convention. Their presence helps to delay the date of PC’s eventual victory over free speech as the totalitarian nature of our Therapy State becomes more apparent with each passing day. Indeed, this morning I awoke to discover that high school officials in Washington State are now considering banning fan booing during games due to its supposed cruelty. I have a better idea, why don’t they just mind their own f*cking business? That’s a better government “solution” than any other in history.
People should have the right to say what they want to in our society, and when we disagree with them we have the right to respond. Mumbling a few cacophonous syllables does not align one with the forces of evil. In my opinion, more fearless commentators like Ann Coulter—on both the right and the left—are precisely what this country needs.
PIK syndrome
(panties in knots)
so comparing Edwards to gays is a slur?
GIVE EM HELL ANN!
The best part is she gave so many PC conservatives the vapors. Well done Annie.
Someone gets it! PC be damned!
Its and insult to gays to call them an Edwards.
Amen! I will put forth a challenge to everyone on this forum to not use PC speak for the rest of their lives. Who's up to the challenge? Or are all you too scared to speak your mind? They want us to eat our own.
Let's see...she's already used "raghead" and "faggot"...I'm opening the betting pool on when she uses the n-word and attempts to pass it off as a statement on political correctness.
Hehehehehe Too close to the truth John?
Gays were pretty offending by the association to Edwards. It offended their sense of masculinity. I can't really blame them, there...
"so comparing Edwards to gays is a slur?"
Yes. Gays don't deserve that.
I think faaar more is lost than is gained from Ann's remarks, but--heh heh heh-- John Edwards has been IDed as a faggot to a national audience, and there's nothing he can do but pretend righteous indignation. He must be squirming. LOL!! Couldn't happen to a nastier greaseball.
Edwards should be happy, it gets him the faggot vote!
I glad people are brave to say *(*^_(*^*^
No one should ever be afriad to say (*_*(&_&_
And here, let me clear on my website, that I am not afriad to say *&^)&*^)&)
Anyoine else pic that up?
I am free, white and (over) 21, so count me in. Tact never was one of my strong points anyway.
Adults criticize people's positions and record rather than name-calling.
She was making an inside joke that was about Hollywood PC attitudes. It seems to have gone over the (empty) heads of many people. For the record, Edwards is a faggot.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.