ABC's Overnight Anchor Jokes About a ‘Skinny Death Match' Between Paris Hilton and Ann Coulter

NewsBusters ^ | 6/28/2007 | Matthew Balan

[Pyro7480]

ABC's "World News Now," a news program that airs at 3:30 am Eastern, when most people in the U.S. are fast asleep, replayed Jake Tapper's earlier "World News" report on the war of words between Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of Democrat presidential candidate John Edwards, and Ann Coulter during its broadcast on Thursday.

At the conclusion of the report, hosts Taina Hernandez and Ryan Owens had a brief exchange, in which Owens proposed an "Ann Coulter blackout," similar to a "Paris Hilton blackout" that the program apparently has, and Hernandez, as a counterproposal, joked, "Or we can pit them together in some kind of skinny death match." At the end of Owens and Hernandez's exchange, and as the weather report began, someone in the control room at ABC queued-up Elton John's "The B**ch is Back."

Video (1:11): Real (1.93 MB) or Windows Media (2.18 MB), plus MP3 audio (463 kB).

I guess ABC News isn't above the "politics of hate," or to paraphrase Elizabeth Edwards' words to Ann Coulter, "the debasing of political dialogue."

Below is the transcript of the Hernandez-Owens exchange on Thursday morning's "World News Now:"

RYAN OWENS: "Ok. I have an idea."

TAINA HERNANDEZ: "Ok?"

OWENS: "You know how we have a Paris Hilton blackout? "

HERNANDEZ: (Laughs) "Yes?"

OWENS: "How about an Ann Coulter blackout?"

HERNANDEZ: "Ah, no Coulter cash for us."

OWENS: "No."

HERNANDEZ: "No. All right. Or we can pit them together in some kind of skinny death match?"

OWENS: "Skinny death match?"

(Unidentified person off-camera) "Or go to jail together."

OWENS: "Here's your weather."

HERNANDEZ: "Or go to jail together. That's Peter. Here's your weather."

[Hat-tip to FreeRepublic.com poster L.N. Smithee's thread.]

[George W. Bush]

“A skinny death match?” I think that’s funny.

Ann probably will have a field day laughing over it. She's fun-loving lady and isn't above poking a little fun at herself as well as others.

Our Ann is pretty tough. She can dish it out with relish and she can take it too.

[George W. Bush]

How stupid is that??? Ann would whip that wimpy wench with one skinny arm tied behind her back!

If she didn't just whip out her favorite handgun for a little target practice instead.

[RonDog]

Indexing some of the more recent NASTY articles about Ann -- while we await her NEW column -- in response to Elizabeth Edwards -- VERY SOON:

ABC's Overnight Anchor Jokes About a ‘Skinny Death Match' Between Paris Hilton and Ann Coulter
	Posted by Pyro7480 On News/Activism 06/28/2007 8:58:23 AM PDT · 41 replies · 1,366+ views NewsBusters ^ | 6/28/2007 | Matthew Balan
Andrew Dice Coulter [ExileStreet]
	Posted by ParsifalCA On News/Activism 06/28/2007 7:25:43 AM PDT · 37 replies · 1,039+ views ExileStreet ^ | 6/28/07 | Patrick Hurley
ABC News Serenades Ann Coulter With "The Bitch Is Back"
	Posted by L.N. Smithee On News/Activism 06/28/2007 3:15:39 AM PDT · 108 replies · 3,053+ views ABC World News Now | June 28, 2007 | L.N. Smithee

[Bigg Red]

Getting offended about what they, or anyone else, say about Ann Coulter, is similar to all of the other ‘professionally offended’ people we on FR tend to disparage.

^^
I agree with you. I have never even heard of these people, but, really, as much as I despise the MSM, I think this is just a stupid joke and nothing malicious.

BTW, I wish all of the news outlets would go on a Paris Hilton blackout, as well as a latest-missing-bimbo outlet.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Ann vs Paris? That’s like pairing a kitten against a pit-bull.

No offense meant to either one of them...

[Doogle]

..it would be a typical pay-per-view over in 10 seconds spectacle with AC landing a right cross to the blond covered left temple, causing a mini-explosion in the vacuum occupied brain area,knocking out the blue contacts,causing said competitor to utter “mommie” before crashing to the canvass.

[driftless2]

"get offended"

Let me ask you, have your two network friends ever made jokes about Bill Maher, Michael Moore, etal? Anyone can be made fun of, and I have no problem with that. But these two nitwits, like countless lib tv flacks before, have targeted a conservative speaker without presenting the whole story. Now do you still think that's something to be taken lightly?

[4yearlurker]

Right you are. How about a Rosie and Moore fat slob death match.?

That being said Ann Coulter is on the skinny side. She needs a few quarter pounders with cheese.

[texgal]

My money is on Ann!

[Polonius]

To be fair, the phrase “death match” doesn’t necessarily mean a literal fight to the death. Some wrestling organizations promote “death matches,” which are matches with violent and often gruesome stipulations. I tend to equate the term with “grudge match” when it’s used in a generic sense.

[libstripper]

Paris is a slut, but a benign, gorgeous slut. Out of pure humanity, Ann shouldn’t shoot her. But wrestle with her in mud and olive oil . . .

[George W. Bush]

Out of pure humanity, Ann shouldn’t shoot her. But wrestle with her in mud and olive oil . . .

Down, boy. Down! LOL.

[weegee]

And what does throw her in jail mean to you?

Another phrase out of context?

The Libs would like to have a Gitmo for conservatives.

[syriacus]

I used to think libs picked on Coulter because she was a bright and witty Conservative.

But an argument could be made that the libs are sexist -- they won't allow Coulter to make biting remarks, but they will let men do so.

[syriacus]

"Paris Hilton blackout"

It's ironic that CNN [Larry King], the news channel we are supposed to take so seriously, was willing to spend so much time with Heiress Piltdown.

[Elsie]

Skinny is ok...

Nappy is not...

[Elsie]

 

Rosie O' vs Mikey Mo!!

 

 

       

 

      I'll bring the Mazola!!                                      And I'll get the mayonaise!!

    

 

 

 

              (Only on Pay-Per_view)

 

[an amused spectator]

Except Coulter has class.

Yeah, I'll bet Taina Hernandez could give Hilton a run for her money in sleazy, and Ryan Owens prolly cruises the gut after work for $5 good-time darlins'.

[L.N. Smithee]

Let me ask you, have your two network friends ever made jokes about Bill Maher, Michael Moore, etal? Anyone can be made fun of, and I have no problem with that. But these two nitwits, like countless lib tv flacks before, have targeted a conservative speaker without presenting the whole story. Now do you still think that's something to be taken lightly?

Well, real? What do you have to say? Anything?

[Captainpaintball]

I expect nothing less from Jake Ass-Tapper and the other slimy newz douches at ABS.