Posted on 03/05/2007 12:51:58 AM PST by kristinn
It is with growing dismay and frustration that I am watching so many of my friends and acquaintances in the conservative community attack Ann Coulter for her comments pointing out that saying the word 'faggot' can get you sent to a rehabilitation clinic.
That she said it in the context of primping pretty boy Democrat presidential candidate John Edwards has sent conservatives to the fainting couch in an episode of 'why I never!' mass hysteria.
Ann Coulter has walked point for conservatives for almost a decade. She has been assaulted, threatened and stalked. She requires bodyguards for protection. Liberals believe they are justified in physically attacking Ann. I heard one say so at CPAC--not in response to her rehab joke, but because Ann 'insults people.'
Ann has been an early and loyal friend of Free Republic. She is one of the few prominent conservatives who regularly breaks bread with FReepers. Her friendship is now being repayed by FReepers who want her driven out of conservatism.
That so many conservatives want Ann banned from CPAC is a sad indicator of the state of conservatism. It is not Ann Coulter's fault that Republicans lost both houses of Congress. It is not Ann Coulter's fault that President Bush is not popular. Sacrificing Ann Coulter on the altar of political correctness will not win the elections of 2008 nor will it prevent conservatives from being sent to rehab for uttering politically incorrect words and ideas.
After Ann uttered the words that have given so many conservatives the vapors, the line for her booksigning at CPAC was just as long as usual. I know, I was standing in that line. If CPAC attendees were so outraged about Ann's remarks, it was not manifested there. I didn't learn about the controversy until I read about it online later that night.
I spent the next day at CPAC. Ann's remarks were not a hot topic. I know because the only time I heard it talked about was when I brought it up. Those I spoke with about it were not upset.
I do not wish to speak ill of my friends and acquaintances who are dumping on Ann, other than to express my disappointment. I do wish they'd reconsider and stop attacking a friend who has walked point for them. Liberals must be laughing themselves silly as they watch us take out someone they've been wanting to eliminate for years.
Do you really want a man that cries more than you do??
Pray for W and Our Troops
Cheers!
If you *don't* choose Ann over Hillary...
you're either "crooked" or a faggot ;-)
Cheers!
Here's a tribute to your knight in shining armor:
http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/JonSanders/2007/03/07/reparations_for_coulter
A faggot is a kind of pork meatball, a traditional dish in parts of the UK, especially Wales and the Black Country. It was originally made from unwanted off-cuts of meat (typically a blend of sausage meat and offal, especially Liver).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faggot_(food)
So, calling someone a "meatball" is oooooh so bad. How do you know Ann Coulter didn't mean "meatball"? Assumptions are a dime a dozen and those who make assumptions are even cheaper.
Here, here.
And, whats the big headline coming out of CPAC? Is it that Josh Sparling won a much-deserved award? Is it that conservatives remain committed to the war for freedom against terrorism? Is it that this post-blowout CPAC was the largest CPAC ever?
No. The headline coming out of CPAC is that Ann Coulter said an awful thing. Which is what she wants, since itll keep her profile up and help her sell books. She doesnt care that conservative heroes and leaders and thousands of other less known conservatives who were present will end up getting tarnished by her remarks. She doesnt care that shes putting the CPAC organizers in a bind, since shes their biggest draw but also their biggest liability. She probably doesnt care that shes John Edwards spokesmodel. She probably likes the attention. Its all about Ann. And thats the problem.
I think the comments above by Michelle Malkins partner, Bryan Preston of HotAir.com, pretty much sums up the CPAC Ann Coulter kerfuffle for me. So many amazing headlines could have come out of CPAC: the presentation of CPACs Defender of the Constitution Award by Col. Ollie North to Spc. Josh Sparling, the eloquent and passionate speech by modern civil rights leader Ward Connerly, the moving presentation by Vietnam Veterans Legacy Foundationss Col. Bud Day the nations most highly decorated soldier since Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the honor and recognition of the 'Joan of Arc' of Ukraines Orange Revolution, Yulia Tymoshenko. The list goes on and on
Yes, I immediately understood that Ann was trying to make a joke tying in the Isaiah Washington faggot-rehab flap (although this reference to pop culture was completely lost on most of the 45+ crowd sitting with me at the front tables at CPAC).
Ann defended her use of the word faggot on Hannity & Colmes the other night, saying it was just a schoolyard term meaning wussy or nerd. I have never heard the term faggot meaning just wussy or nerd it means gay/homosexual. In my opinion, there is no connection between gay/homosexual and John Edwards, so why even make a stupid and confusing joke about it? The fact that Ann has had to make numerous appearances on talk radio and television shows since Friday to explain her way out of her joke says to me: Ann - You know youve told a bomb of a joke when you have to go around for days explaining the joke over and over again.
I'm still in Ann's corner, and in no way do I want her to be banned from CPAC. Im not thin-skinned and her comment didn't "send me to the fainting couch". I absolutely love her books and her speeches (most of the time) and look forward to seeing her again.
I'll concede that I'm OK with this type of comment if she's speaking to a bunch of college students on campus or at some smaller event. But I don't think this kind of sophomoric language is appropriate at an event like CPAC - the premier gathering of the country's conservatives... and under the close scrutiny of the MSM just waiting for an opportunity like this to bash conservatives yet again.
Just my 2 cents
Exactly.
I like Ann, but I am very offended by Ann stealing all the good that happened there and made it "All about Ann".
Worse, she didn't get caught on an open mike, or something. This was a part of a prepared statement that was a calculated effort to do just that.
Well said, FRiend...
Here is the official statement from CPAC
"The just completed 2007 Conservative Political Action Conference on March 1 3, 2007, was the largest in the 34 year history of the event, featuring 33 panels on a variety of public policy issues, 24 stand alone speakers including public officials, writers, student activists, media personalities and comedians. ACU, the events primary sponsor and CPAC strive to provide a platform and forum for a variety of differing views and personalities. ACU and CPAC do not condone or endorse every speaker or their comments at the conference. As such, ACU and CPAC leave it to our audience to determine whether comments are appropriate or not. Ann Coulter is known for comments that can be both provocative and outrageous. That was certainly the case in her 2007 CPAC appearance and previous ones as well. But as a point of clarification, let me make it clear that ACU and CPAC do not condone or endorse the use of hate speech, said David A. Keene, ACU Chairman.
Ann will be back at CPAC.
"Hate speech" - just lovely.
Nice to see our 'spokespeople' have taken so willingly to loaded leftist terminology. Lambs to the slaughter...
While it shouldn't be said, I'm intrigued at how OFTEN it is now being said in the context of criticizing her for saying it.
She said it _once_ (in what I find an insightfully & well crafted comment) and got off stage; critics are repeating it so much I think they're wallowing in it.
Methinks those who roundly criticize her for it are exactly what the subtleties of her comment were about.
You need to read the statement more closely. It does not accuse Ann of hate speech.
Its the very acceptance of the term thats offensive. I would hope our side would not adapt the left's hotbutton words and the principles they imply.
Agree, but sometimes that is the only way we can communicate with the public. The Left/MSM have seized the lexicon. We need to develop our own. I find the use of "hate speech" less objectionable than Chertoff's use of the term "undocumented workers" while testifying before Congress recently on comprehensive immigratiom reform. We live in an Alice in Wonderland world.
The late Molly Ivans used to say some pretty nasty things, too, but I don't recall her being crucified at the alter of PC.
That was lame.
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