Addition or subtraction?: Ann Coulter and the conservative crossroads

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

[LWalk18]

I don't know why people think that the right to free speech means the right to say whatever you want without any consequence from anyone. People have the same right to use free speech to object to what you say, or to use their right to not associate with you.

No one is advocating that Ann Coulter be put in prison or otherwise prosecuted for what she said. But it doesn't mean that no one can criticize what she said, or to refuse to associate with her or to listen to what she has to say.

We are all responsible for we say- and no, life isn't fair, there are double standards in how people react, but that's reality.

[Ramcat]

Politics is about persuading people to join you.

Marketing is about persuading people to join you. Marketing is used in politics. Your mom is a fine woman for teaching you what she did. I try to teach my kids the same thing.
Problem is that politics is not an arena for gentlepeople. I'm not sure if it ever was?

[PajamaTruthMafia]

First of all, Ann is not RR and she is not running for any office that I know of. Second, this isn't 1980. Things have changed substantially since then. Third, you don't really understand the point she was making which was about "Semantic Totalitarianism" of which you are either a victim or a perpetrator. If you are offended by the use of the word that's your problem, not the worlds. Ann provided a major service by bringing this issue into clear focus.

[PajamaTruthMafia]

You know, to even compare what Ann did to the Leftists idiots is very revealing on your part. To draw some morale equivalence is really an outrage.

[SeaBiscuit]

Good post.. "Ann provided a major service by bringing this issue into clear focus." ..and she put many of the perps into clear focus as well.

[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 means common or ordinary as in language. If you want to say you're more refined than I , well that's OK too. Just wanted to clean this up a bit Dave as you probably already consider me a cretin.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

"calling someone a faggot is ludicrous."

And, in the name of "a joke" on top of it, does not change the fact that our society has banned the term as well as its' use.

John Kerry was lambasted twice for calling our troops stupid and later trying to sell it off as a "botched joke".
There is a point where humor or the excuse of it, is no longer acceptable.

[concerned about politics]

So, what's the definition then?

My kids looked it up yesterday because I told them it was a normal word they could use. It means homosexual. It also means a bundle of sticks, because homosexuals used to be burned to death when they got caught. (People didn't have modern medicines back then to stop the eventual disease and plagues brought about by the behavior.)

[SoothingDave]

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.

Let's try the contra-positive.

"Conservatives Should Demean Gays"

Is that really the message you think should be put out there? Should our platform really include the mandatory demeaning of any group?

[Dominic Harr]

If you are offended by the use of the word that's your problem, not the worlds.

:-D

So if someone you don't like calls you a 'faggot', you aren't offended?

Watching ya'll defend this is too darned funny!

I guess extremist Cs will defend the indefensible just like extremist Ls.

Ann's funny. She smart. She's cute as heck.

She goofed this time.

Amazing to find this so difficult for the 'politics as a team sport' crowd.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Would you care to provide us with a link where Medved said "Bush is Hitler", our Marines are savage murderers, or that America is worse than Pol Pot's regime?

I have listened and read Mr. Medved's material for the last 15 years and I have never come across anything that resembles what you just demagogued to this forum about Michael Medved.

[SoothingDave]

Problem is that politics is not an arena for gentlepeople. I'm not sure if it ever was?

But voting is. And voters don't like voting for mean and nasty people.

[Ramcat]

You stereotype grandly.

Let's see, so far you inferred that I'm vulgar, a cretin and a rube and I stereotype?

[Dominic Harr]

My kids looked it up yesterday because I told them it was a normal word they could use.

!

I don't know where you live, but here in Texas if you call someone a 'faggot' you better be 6 ft 3 and weight 250 pounds!

Dang, this is funny, you should hear how ya'll sound.

[PajamaTruthMafia]

So. in your book calling somebody a homosexual is a slur then? How about being a homosexual is that a bad thing too?

For the record, Ann's definition of the slang is correct - it's a synonym for Wuss and that was clearly the context in which it was used in order to make a broader point about the insanity of semantic totalitarianism and the political correct culture of word rehab.

[Ramcat]

And voters don't like voting for mean and nasty people.

Then Mrs. Clinton doesn't stand a chance?

[concerned about politics]

But voting is. And voters don't like voting for mean and nasty people.

The democrats acted like blood thirsty wolves, and the Republicans acted like sheep. Guess who won the 2006 elections.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

You just (unknowingly) illustrated the whole point of this article.

You did read and understand it didn't you?

[RobRoy]

The republicans are not the answer. They are part of the problem.

I stopped voting two years ago.

Who is John Galt?

[concerned about politics]

Dang, this is funny, you should hear how ya'll sound.

Ditto.