Posted on 08/19/2010 11:12:03 AM PDT by Ol' Sparky
News that conservative columnist Ann Coulter would speak at "HomoCon 2010," an event organized by the conservative gay group GOProud, prompted conservative outlet WorldNetDaily to drop her from speaking at one of its upcoming events.
Coulter defended her decision to accept the invitation, saying, "They hired me to give a speech, so I'm giving a speech. . . . I speak to a lot of groups and do not endorse them. I speak at Harvard and I certainly don't endorse their views."
But while she may have lost a WND speaking gig over it, most young conservatives I spoke to defended Coulter's decision. "I think it is terrific that Ann Coulter is speaking at HomoCon," RedState's Erick Erickson told me.
Other conservatives even went so far as to argue that supporting gay rights is inherently conservative.
"Conservatism and gay rights are actually natural allies," said S.E. Cupp, conservative columnist and author of "Losing Our Religion: The Liberal Media's Attack on Christianity." "Conservatism rightly seeks to keep the government out of our private lives, and when you strip away the politics of pop culture, it's this assertion of privacy and freedom that the gay rights movement is essentially making."This is how institutions evolve and emerge within a conservative culture," says Jon Henke, a libertarian-leaning blogger. "In time, gay people will be married, extending the valuable social institution of marriage to more people. In time, conservatives will argue that the positive impact that marriage has on the gay community is further evidence of the importance of the institution of marriage."
National Review's Dan Foster believes the changing attitudes are largely generational, but added that "a central thread of conservatism, going back to Edmund Burke, is . . . gradualism."
Change has come gradually, and it's worth noting that Coulter's decision to speak at HomoCon is merely the latest example of prominent conservatives (of all ages) lending, at least, tacit support to the cause of gay rights.
Conservative anti-tax activist Grover Norquist serves on the board of directors for GOProud, and RightWingNews, the blog site run by conservative blogger John Hawkins, has agreed to co-sponsor HomoCon.
Meanwhile, Ted Olson, the lawyer who represented George W. Bush in Bush v. Gore, the case that resolved the 2000 presidential election, recently worked to overturn Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriages in California. Fox News host Glenn Beck recently said he thinks government should stay out of the gay marriage debate. And The Daily Caller's Tucker Carlson is speaking at an event hosted by the Log Cabin Republicans.
Note: Despite reaching out to social conservative activists and groups, few were interested in commenting on this story -- a point which is, in itself, telling. Several young conservatives I spoke with also drew a sharp distinction between opposition to gay marriage and being "anti-gay." And many who oppose gay marriage said they would be fine with domestic partnerships or civil unions.
What next, a speech to NARAL.
She’s following in Ted Olson’s footsteps.
Sad to say the least.
The same logic could be applied to addressing NAMBLA. Of course, NAMBLA is never, to my knowledge disinvited to homo marches of any kind.
I cannot support her on this at all.
Ah, Coulter as mercenary, soldier of of fortune.
Following out her logic, “They’re paying me to give a speech”: how much would it take in cold hard cash for her to join the Islamic jihad, “I mean, you know, they are paying me to fight so I’m going to fight.”
Ann lost her moorings a couple of years ago, when she began to moon over the most liberal Governor in the history of the republic, Mitt Romney, and to twist the truth to defend the indefensible. Sad. And now, predictably, she keeps heading further out to sea.
I’m right wing as h*ll.
Yup, even have a gay friend - no snide comments, I’m happily married.
He makes me look like a lib....so sexual persuasion does not necessarily correlate with political persuation.
I have no problems with Anne speaking at any convention - she can take care of herself (unlike our Loon-O-dent).
They’re corrupting the young. Nothing the least bit conservative about that.
Ms. Coulter is an intelligent woman, but I have lost some respect for her. Ann Coulter’s decision to speak at this event has reduced her to an entertainer rather than a public voice for conservative issues.
Most unfortunate.
There's nothing that says a homosexual can't be fiscally conservative. But of course, he/she can't be socially conservative. :)
People like that don't care what you say ~ EVER.
Ann is wrong on this one.
You are ignorant of the facts, then.
You've nailed it!
Why, yes.
Carlson, Beck, Norquist, Cupp, Henke, ... The list goes on and on in that article.
Not a conservative among the entire lot, yet they deign to define our values.
I’ll give her a pass until I see the context of her speech.
I’ve made a deal with Ann, she does’t tell me which web sites to frequent and I don’t tell her where to give speeches. Works great.
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