Why conservatives should condemn Ann Coulter (vanity)

Vanity | October 12, 2007 | ChicagoHebrew

[ChicagoHebrew]

I've seen a significant amount of support on this board for Ann Coulter's recent comments on CNBC. Let me explain why that support is misplaced:

First, as an initial matter, I don't think Coulter's comments about Jews needing to be "perfected" are offensive at all. As an observant Jew, I obviously don't agree with Coulter. But Coulter's remarks here clearly represent standard Christian belief, and it's wrong and intolerant to condemn someone for her basic religious beliefs (provided, of course, that those beliefs don't cause one to do things like blow up Israeli school children or crash airplanes into buildings).

That being said, Coulter said more than standard Christian dogma. In explaining why the 2004 GOP convention was "like heaven," Coulter said "People were happy. They're Christian. They're tolerant. They defend America." That's flatly wrong and blatantly offensive -- attendees at the GOP convention included Christians, Jews, Muslims, atheists, agnostics and adherents of several other faiths. In defining the Republican Convention (and, tacitly) the Republican Party as Christian-only, Coulter has done a tremendous disservice to Republicans and conservatives in general. The fact of the matter is that you don't have to be Christian to believe in things like small government, strong national security, legal fidelity to the constitution, and basic moral values. No one here should defend attempts to define conservatism or the Republican Party as limited to believing Christians. . .

As an aside, please don't let this thread be dominated with replies trying to "convince" me that Christianity is right. Suffice it to say that I have heard and rejected every single one of those arguments. But, as is the nature of being a 1% minority, I -- like most Jews -- get missionized quite frequently, which we find very irritating. Kind of like door-to-door salesmen who keep showing up a few times a week and don't always take a polite "no" for an answer.

[weegee]

No one here should defend attempts to define conservatism or the Republican Party as limited to believing Christians. . .

I agree and haven't seen any posters making that claim.

I also have the liberty to talk of my faith and not be apologetic for my convictions in my beliefs.

I can acknowledge that others follow Scientology, Rev. Moon, wicca, paganism, devout atheism, etc. but I don't have to look for the "silver lining" in their belief systems.

There are a lot of misguided people in this world (see Scientology). Doesn't even have to be religious or political or dietary.

There are subjective differences of opinion (say in music). I can be tolerant of your difference of taste but I don't have to apologize for my lack of support for your choices, whatever they are.

Ann made a comment that can be heard in the clips' I've heard rebroadcast where she says that it would be good if was an observant Jew. The host says he is. That was an issue that could have been discussed to find some common ground. Not even settle the argument of which is the "true" belief system (or if Christians are "misguided" followers of a false prophet), just to speak about how that faith in something greater than themselves (Ann or the host) does affect their worldview and on that they can agree.

[umgud]

I can’t argue or debate you on the merits of her latest comments because I haven’t heard or read them in their entirety and context.

What I can say is that Ann does not have any history I’m aware of that is remotely anti-semetic. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt for the time being.

Maybe off-topic, but a lot of Jews believe people who support them do so primarily out of Christian views (G-d’s chosen people, etc....). I’d venture to say that Jews and Israel recieve a lot of support because of their admirable attributes (excluding the lunacy of voting for dems) as a people.

[fr_freak]

Wrong.

First, if you are going to condemn someone for something they said, give us the quote. I'm willing to bet that you have misattributed something to Ann.

Second, Ann embodies a quality that every conservative should exalt. She speaks her mind, and is unabashed about her beliefs. We have many so-called conservatives who are afraid to say what they really think because it is unpopular or because some minority group objects to it, and that is exactly why the Left gets to control the debate so much of the time. We live in a virtual tyranny of the minority because people are afraid to say anything that might offend even the smallest minority group, and often that means that the speaker compromises his beliefs in favor of the group who claims offense.

Third, Ann is not running for public office. She can say whatever the hell she wants.

Fourth, the USA did, indeed, begin as a Christian nation. The Christian tradition was upheld fully until the last couple of decades. That doesn't mean that the US has to remain primarily a Christian nation, although I hope it does, but nobody gets to rewrite our history. If you don't like the history of the US, you are always free to move to a country whose history you do like.

[mamelukesabre]

What is an “un-observant” Jew?????????
~~~~~~~~

Umm...one that believes in santa claus and likes hotdogs?

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

We Christian conservatives are very grateful for your participation in the political arena. I don’t think Coulter in any way feels you don’t belong. You are taking everything wrong, being particularly sensitive to this issue. She is talking about eternal matters when she says everyone shuld be Christian. The blood of Christ is the only acceptable sacrifice to atone for your sins. What she isn’t talking about is the Republican Party, other than in a general sense that many of them are Christians. The values represented (or at least used to be represented) by the Republican Party are Judeo-Christian, not uniquely Christian. So don’t worry about it. They are wonderful values, but you still sin and therefore still need a Savior — two different issues.

[CzarNicky]

I -- like most Jews -- get missionized quite frequently, which we find very irritating

Just be glad they weren't muslim.

[TommyDale]

One who strays from a Kosher menu?

[weegee]

Christopher Hitchens recently made the media circuit pimping his atheist screed against ALL religions (but specifically forcusing on how the world would be better off without Christianity). THAT is intolerant.

Islam’s worldview is that non-muslims are second class citizens under Islamic law. That is discriminatory and Islamic supremacist in ideology. They are tough on muslims who convert away from the faith of Islam because unlike non-muslims, they WERE saved and turned their backs on Mohammed/Allah.

[DJ Taylor]

I think you have just identified one of the mysteries of life: Christians are conservatives and Jews are Democrats, and it’s a phenomena for which Ann Coulter cannot be held accountable.

[Revolting cat!]

Dude, you are missionizing (is that a word?) us for multi-culturalism - don’t say anything that might offend Eskimos, because there just might be one of them here amongst us, the 1,000 rednecks that gathered at this hall. Eff that, dude! That’s another demand for everyone to eat tasteless white bread, so that a slice of pumpernickel won’t offend a challah eater. Thanks, but no mucho gracias.

[Harris]

Why condemn her for expressing her view? For example I want all women’s bodies to be perfected to say that of Jessica Alba or 18 year old Britney Spears. Ann obviously strongly believes in Christianity and believes that to adhere to that religion is to be perfected. I would think you would consider it the same of any of your beliefs that you hold strongly.

As for her comments about the convention being Christian, I think it was meant almost generically. I’m sure if asked to explain she would recognize and welcome each and every Jewish Republican at the convention.

Intellectually she was probably correct from her perspective. It was mostly opinion. I don’t she meant to convey any invidious attack on Jews, Christians, or any other religion with the exception of Muslims. She has quite clearly expressed contempt for Muslims. I join her in that thought. (Here’s where that quote from the Pope during crusades should be inserted; little help please).

[bentover]

I love Ann, she can do no wrong.

[DakotaRed]

Seems to me that there have been calls from certain radical Islamist terrorists “inviting” everyone to submit to their brand of “worship,” or face annihilation.

I’m somewhat amused and dismayed at the same time seeing that the left worries more about wanting to condemn one little female speaker and author for her comments on Christianity than terrorists pushing their brand of Radical Islam.

At worst, she throws back the left’s stance to them with audacious words of her own. At best, she really gets under their skin.

Watch as one by one, the left steps up their efforts at silencing conservatives.

[PeteB570]

Opinions are like ***holes. Every body has one.

Including you.

[bray]

Christians are fine as long as we know our place. We should be quiet and not heard for fear of offending in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Ann Rox!!

Pray for W and The Martyred Church

[joebuck]

Gotta be the dumbest vanity I’ve ever read.

[Ancesthntr]

For the record, I stopped paying attention to Ann a long time ago. She makes too many outrageous statements that really are not helpful to the conservative cause.

Precisely the point. I, like ChicagoHebrew, am Jewish (somewhat observant and moving in the direction of being moreso), and I'm not offended that she believes as she does. That's her right, and the doctrine of her religion. While I disagree, substantively, that's OK.

I happen to agree with her most of the time on the issues. But Ann needs to learn when to put a sock in her mouth - she hurts the cause of Republicans and conservatism with her outrageous statements.

For those who say "but the media distorted it, etc., etc." Yeah, OF COURSE they did. That's the media. Ann knows this, and that lots of people are ignorant enough that they only get their news from the media, yet she continues to give the libs in the media more fuel to add to the fire. That's just plain stupid in my book, and I expect more from someone of Ann's obviously high intelligence.

Lose the immaturity, Ann, it is unbecoming of you and hurtful to the causes that you so correctly espouse.

[AppyPappy]

Her comments weren’t about Jews. They were about Christianity. The host made them about Jews.

[thefactor]

i found those statements you highlighted odd as well. as many know around here, i am a new york city cop and i worked the RNC everyday for 12 hours a day. nice piece of overtime.

anyway, i saw a lot of cowboy hats and i heard a lot of accents. people WERE happy, they WERE tolerant, and they DID defend america. but i honestly do not know if they were all christian. actually i know not all of them were. so why say that?

and, incidentally, i am one of the non-observant jews. i am jewish. but i do not now nor have i ever practiced. not going to temple or not having a bar/bat-mitzvah can change the fact that you are jewish by definition.

[kabar]

Much ado about nothing. This is another Media Matters instigated story meant to harm conservatives and Reps. The JDL is just piling on as part of the Leftist, Stalinist coalition.

Ann Coulter is not a spokesman for the GOP, conservatives, or any other group. She is representing her own views as a political commentator and columnist. Extrapolating from what she said is like divining entrails [haruspicy] to come up with some grand interpretation of the universe. Ann says controversial things. It is part of her persona. The fact that the JDL got involved says more about them than it does her.