Addition or subtraction?: Ann Coulter and the conservative crossroads

Townhall.com ^ | March 7, 2007 | Michael Medved

[MadIvan]

I said "one of the reasons". Reading things I didn't say into what I said isn't particularly useful.

Ivan

[ichabod1]

"In fact, exit polls showed that self-identified gay people made up 4% of the total electorate in the incomparably close election of 2000, and nearly one third of those homosexual voters cast their ballots for George W. Bush."

And how well did Exit Polls do in predicting the winner of the election?

[Ramcat]

Just a couple of things here Dave. Without knowing you I'll concede the point that you are probably more politically correct than I.
Neither word in our discussion is or was considered a swear word in any community or religious affiliation I've been associated with.
Who made them swear words?
As far as them being fighting words? Well maybe the N word but the F's (not homosexuals) weren't much for fighting.
Vulgar to the high brow society meant sense means common or ordinary as in language.
If you want to say your more refined than I , well that's OK too.

[ichabod1]

I don't even like them calling it a 'slur'. The word beginning with an 'n' that must not be uttered is a slurring of an appropriate word, 'negro', meaning 'black.' To now say that any word somebody doesn't like is a 'slur' is a self-serving twisting of the language.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

It's hilarious Ivan, not even 5 posts and one of the GOPNegatives tells Mr. Medved to get "screwed"!

I clearly illustrates what Michael is saying.(sadly)

I all simply boils down to whether you are GOPPositive or GOPNegative. The results are directly in relation to what polarity of conservative the majority falls under.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

He's too THICK to understand that Ann made a joke?

Sheesh. Well this is a puff piece for liberals to love.

[ichabod1]

And I would say that the sucking up and pandering to the left was what cause the debacle of 2006.

[El Laton Caliente]

So... we need the gays and democrats on our side... [scratches head]... No thanks.

The Republicans lost because of a lack of leadership, a lack of integrity, a lack of follow through with promises and becoming the in-trenched Washington elite the country didn't like.

They are not going to win by becoming Democrats, the country has those already.

[southern rock]

Well, like I said further down in my post:

Doing the deed with the fat chick could make me feel sick, gross, guilty, dirty and desperate, and without any self respect or self esteem.

Personally, I tend to lean toward the position that sticking with the Playboy is basically guilt free. The only down side is that it leaves you feeling like a loser that can't score. But I guess scoring with the fat chick leaves you feeling the same way.

I think I'd better stay sober on election day so I don't do something I regret. LOL!!

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

You are in for ONE rude awakening in 2008!

[MadIvan]

In retrospect, I probably didn't need to post this article - I guessed the range of responses to this as soon as I put it out there.

Regards, Ivan

[concerned about politics]

Who made them swear words?

They're not. Political correctness was designed to silence any opposition to the liberal agenda.

Faggot is in opposition to their gay rights movement, therefore they've forbidden it's use. Get it?

[Mr. Silverback]

I am sick and tired of the asymmetric warfare both military and political. You can't allow your enemy to fight by his rules while you fight with mittens on and expect to win.

What a Grade A load of crap.

You're telling me Ronald Reagan won elections and implemented all those policy positions by calling people names? Do you think he was so classy because the Dems never insulted him?

Standing for something (which Coulter does) is not the same as acting like a leftist idiot (which Coulter did at the time we're discussing) and if one does the latter, nobody hears the former. People who make themselves look like idiots look like idiots, not socialist idiots, pro-gay idiots, pro-family idiots, free market idiots--just idiots. I'm no fan of Medved's humongous tent approach, but the idea that we're going to advance conservatism by calling someone a faggot is ludicrous.

[PajamaTruthMafia]

What a crock. Everyone has known the definition of the word since 5th grade, which also happens to be the last time most of us used it. This was shortly after "poopy butt" went out of fashion for us

So, what's the definition then?

[SoothingDave]

Neither word in our discussion is or was considered a swear word in any community or religious affiliation I've been associated with. Who made them swear words?

My mother did. Long before the homosexual "movement" had any type of traction, the use of "faggot" was considered taboo. We may not have known any, and no one might have admitted to being one, but using the word in school or church or in fron of your parents was a no-no.

As far as them being fighting words? Well maybe the N word but the F's (not homosexuals) weren't much for fighting.

You stereotype grandly.

The point is that the words are meant to insult. I may turn the other cheek if you refer to me as a drunken mick mackeral slapper, but the intention to insult is clear.

So the point becomes, is it useful to the political movement of the right to go out of its way to use insulting words, words that society considers taboo? You may not like homosexuals, but if they are going to support our candidates for fiscal or other reasons, why get them riled up? Why purposely limit your appeal to others by acting like a rube?

Politics is about persuading people to join you.

[MadIvan]

He actually mentioned Latinos, African Americans and Gays. As previously stated, without the African American community, the Democrats would be dead ducks; if that community split more for the Republicans, the Democrats would never return to the White House.

Latinos are one of the fastest growing groups in the United States; the majority are there legally. It would be a mistake to mix the illegals with the legals and somehow advocate policies that repeated that mistake.

Finally, there is a difference between being opposed to the political agenda of homosexual groups and to gays themselves. As for the former, that can be fought off without being egregiously insulting to the latter.

Ivan

[El Laton Caliente]

We're conservative, not Republican.

If the GOP wants to fall into the liberal toilet and pull the handle so be it. We're not going for the ride.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

ABSOLUTELY, you needed to post this article. It is painfully obvious that rational thinking and logic are becoming rare these days. This article clearly illustrates that outlook.

And, thanks for posting it. (I read it earlier on Town Hall.)

[LibertarianInExile]

"This challenge creates a miserable dilemma for every GOP contender. If the candidate ignores the controversy, he looks gutless and paralyzed in the face of obviously inappropriate and over-the-top insults. If he condemns Coulter, he looks like he’s wimping out to the liberal establishment and offends right-wing true believers who feel instinctively protective of Ann the Outrageous."

Medved, as usual, posts the dilemma in a way that biases the conclusion. Don't even need to read the article to know he's coming down on the side of wussing. The headline ought to be "Gays Shouldn't Be Demeaned By Conservatives." That's all he's saying.

And boy, does that sound like a PC thing to say.

[LibertarianInExile]

"Medved is pompous, arrogant, and self-delusional (he believes in Bigfoot,...God he's not so sure of, but Bigfoot,...no problem). Bush is Hitler, our Marines are savage murderers, America is worse than Pol Pot's regime, but no one can make a joke about an effeminate tweeb who is better known as the Silky Pony and Breck Girl. Especially when the joke was merely about lib PC doctrine!"

100% dead on BUMP!