Posted on 09/19/2002 5:08:10 PM PDT by BrianS.Wise
Every once in awhile, someone says “no” to Ann Coulter, and a light-duty controversy ensues; typically you’ll see debate whenever some odd person or organization has the nerve to refuse a prominent woman’s desires, demands and / or opinions (e.g. the recent controversy over female memberships at Augusta National), but things are always different when Ann Coulter is the woman in question. The newest controversy began with a column, “Battered Republican Syndrome,” in which she fired off the following salvo:
“This [the Kennedy family badmouthing the Bush family out of turn] is as we have come to expect from a family of heroin addicts, statutory rapists, convicted and unconvicted female-killers, cheaters, bootleggers and dissolute drunks known as ‘Camelot.’ Why would anyone want such people as ‘good friends’?” (Well then! Let it be said here that some of debate’s most unbelievable battles have been drawn around the bodies of the Kennedy boys; the most savagely your author has ever been handled in a debate was the night it came from the conservative podium, “Am I supposed to respect them [JFK and RFK] because they each used Marilyn Monroe as a spittoon?”)
The Centre Daily Times, a State College, Pennsylvania newspaper, took that as the last straw and dropped Coulter’s column from its pages, having previously informed its readers that the column was on probation (as it were) due to the frankness of her views and the manner in which they were conveyed. On The O’Reilly Factor, Times editor Bob Unger went to reasonable lengths to say 1) that his paper is basically a moderate paper in a largely Right-wing town, 2) that Coulter is a hater of Democrats, liberals, environmentalists and “most Muslims,” and that, 3) a majority of mail sent to his paper plainly stated they were okay with the column’s removal because people are “tired of hate.” Safe to say no vote was needed on whether or not people are tired of hate.
In defense of Ann Coulter: she is an asset to a movement (conservatism) that is, generally speaking, much too plaintive and soft spoken for its own good, that refuses to recognize the rest of the world has modernized while it hasn’t, that will not face its opposition (liberalism) in the same manner in which it is continuously treated. Coulter’s tendency is to respond to liberalism as it has responded to conservatism over the years, with open contempt. In terms of tone, she has said nothing here of the Kennedy’s that hasn’t been said of President Bush’s family, by the Left, with the accusations changed to retain relevance.
It also bares mentioning, though it should seem obvious, that Coulter gets as good as she gives; the difference between “Battered Republican Syndrome” and Thor Helsa’s old “Ann of a Thousand Lays” column for salon.com (in which it is suggested Coulter injects herself with her own urine to stay thin) is that Helsa’s piece is considered high comedy by its primary audience, while Coulter’s blasts are considered hate speech. (One cannot help but wonder if this is because Coulter’s work is actually being read by enough people to register an impact. How many bestsellers has Thor Helsa had?)
Now to the other side: The more often someone is dumped, the less likely it becomes the person being dumped is simply misunderstood (cf. Coulter’s previous problems with National Review Online). A certain act can play itself out in a column distributed, say, to Internet-only audiences, but when it comes to newspaper syndication, one should probably exercise a little more decorum. (Your author wouldn’t, for example, refer to Marilyn Monroe’s being used as a spittoon had this column been written for the Wall Street Journal.)
Those who appreciate Coulter (I am one) cannot help but wonder whether or not she consistently stacks the deck against herself because she enjoys the challenge (“I Stand Alone Against the World”) or because she is a keener public relations maven than originally suspected. No matter the overall truth of the Kennedy statement (and there’s nothing but truth in it), Coulter’s thought pattern doesn’t always translate well to those not as vehement in their objections, especially over breakfast.
Anyone who openly defies or opposes Ann Coulter is her enemy; whether or not this is inherently healthy as a personal philosophy can be debated (though one suspects not), even if on a base level people appreciate protectionism of one’s allies and beliefs. Problem is, the more managing editors she alienates, the less likely it is Coulter will be taken seriously, and the damage done then is not only to her reputation, but to conservatism in general, which her fans hope she comes to consider.
Dont tell that to the all-knowing joebucks!
Well I actually listened online at www.wgn.com and then click on the radio web site...i think it was 720 but i'm really not sure since i dont live in chicago.
You're right this kind of rethoric has been used by the left against the right for decades now, and I guess they are just not used to hearing it given back to them. Ann's a real assest. I just hope she doesn't push things too far and lose access to our big news/editorial outlets.
Ann has said millions of things. You cannot just take her quotes out of context and indict her on them. Regarding the Vet, I would think that that comment had absolutely NOTHING to do with his serving in VietNam. Ann is a huge supporter of our military.
Regarding the environment: Technically, she is right. She is obviously not in favor of destroying the earth since it is her home too. Silly. she was talking about the crazies who act like the earth is our god and animals are superior to humans.
You don't have to like Ann or her style. But taking those quotes out of context to make a case against her shows, to me, that you don't understand her at all.
The Ann I see is smart (exceptionally), loyal, bold, hilarious, sensitive (yeah, I mean that! She's got a heart of gold!), resourceful, honest, etc..etc... She's very clever and very funny and she only goes after people in a defensive mode. She critiques those already in the game. She isn't like the lefties who just attack people to keep them in line. She's a fierce defender of the right! The left is so vicious and dishonest; we desperately need people like Ann.
I am not saying Ann is perfect and never made a mistake. I am saying she is near perfect and rarely makes a mistake. Look around. NO ONE IS PERFECT! She's close enough for me. She ALWAYS defends me and I am profoundly grateful for that.
The thing about Coulter is she writes predominantly from emotion and from the gut. People praise her courage and gutsiness, and they agree with her point of view. Coulter's insightfulness or wisdom is much more rarely acclaimed. That's because she's writing from the gut more than from the brain. She's saying what people feel but can't or don't say so emphatically, rather than writing things that people realize are logical, sensible and true when they read it.
Someone like Sam Francis or the younger Joe Sobran might offend, but they also made one think. I don't get that feeling so much from Coulter. She's more of an attack dog than a philosopher. While the criticism of her by the left has been cruel and offensive, I don't get the feeling so much that she's been a voice crying in the wilderness, ahead of her time and suffering for her beliefs, as that she's been a very fortunate person, seeing her opportunities and taking them. It's not so much that her judgement and discernment are to be valued as that there was a niche in the opinion market to be filled and she rather shrewdly occupied it.
I am not a fan of Anns ..but boy I agree with her here..
A handsome youth and wealthy parents too, The family fortune got its start in brew. Honor Church and duty he was taught, But more than often this was all for naught.
Indulged with every benefit of life, He nonetheless was central to much strife. Life's problems drew him in at every phase, Its troubles came in many different ways.
Lets be fair...the family weren't all zeroes, A handsome President and then Joe war hero. But in this youth a thing or two off beat, Good Lord this Harvard student was a cheat!
Another took his test while at that school, When caught the young man said "I was a fool." Out and then returned for this cheap act, While other mortals permanently sacked.
A family man with children and a wife, Faithful to her promised he for life. But booze and girls and parties through the night Sleaze no rarity he's quite a sight!
His adulation by the crowds still great, In spite of death for her that stayed out late. Death was slow it came from suffocation, Not quick like drowning or in conflagration.
Her air supply abundant for a time, If help would come... it only costs a dime! He swam for home the safety of his friends, No thoughts for her 'til legal issues tend.
Was Samuel Johnson's view of "vain" so true? Power wealth position brought him through! NOW... false feminists all shrug, Like Paula Jones her case swept under rug.
The leprechaun of booze he did embrace, The fleeting youthful look abandoned face. Divorce and later parties near the sand, Close to cries of rape and rocking band.
He's held by Senators in high esteem, "A worldly man but he is on our team." Since character they say does not relate, To holding any office for the State.
In oaken Senate chamber does he sit, Raised high above them roasting on his spit. Integrity of them he brings to question, This hypocrisy brings indigestion.
The roast of Bork, a genius of the law, In microscopic detail searched for flaw. Finding none they drop him anyway, They wanted one with socialistic sway.
On ethics probes he holds much power and might, Passed on her who launched the armored strike. Our tanks crush people with no proven sin, Infants gassed then burned, cries lost in din.
Coifed and tassel shoed he shines with grace, Home State people vote him every race. Those who want free lunch give much support, Weird outer fringe he's also skilled to court.
In TV, Times, and Post his sins toned down, Controlling owners hold him with renown. These People through their puppets shape the crowd, The bewildered, strange and angry praise him loud.
Many politicians of both sides the same, Power from the people? Yes, a game! This country is the best there is no doubt, Yet people like this makes one want to shout.
An IQ. test perhaps for those who lead? And character above reproach a need? Though free from sin no mortal ever born, Yet leaders like this maybe we should scorn.
But Jonathan Swift is great and I'm his fan, His insight deep into the soul of man. Concerning pride and problems that it brings, Perhaps this is why to trouble Ted does spring.
Yes. Some applaud his life some see him gross, And in Massachusetts he with pride they boast. But cheer up, the voting system IS the best, Since truth ended any presidential quest.
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Composed by Sally... my beautiful wife... This was written as a senior English major at a Catholic College...The administration hated it for the Kennedy family was at that time viewed with God-like reverence.....But they ultimately relented and Sally did graduate with high honors.
Coulter is on the money with her Kennedy family description.
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