Posted on 03/11/2007 9:08:10 AM PDT by doesnt suffer fools gladly
Has Ann Coulter Hit Her Tipping Point?
By DAVID BAUDER
NEW YORK (AP) - Ann Coulter has been a reliable name for years among people who plan television news shows - an attractive, articulate blonde conservative who's made a living lobbing verbal bombs.
Following her use of a gay slur about Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards this month during remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference, some on TV are wondering whether her shelf life is expiring.
Many were angered by her use of the "f-word". Coulter later said she considered it a "schoolyard taunt." She said it was a joke about "Grey's Anatomy" actor Isaiah Washington saying he would seek counseling after using the word to refer to a fellow actor.
At least four daily newspapers have dropped Coulter as a columnist, citing her comment about Edwards.
Head-turning remarks are hardly anything new for the author of "Godless: The Church of Liberalism" and "How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)." In "Godless" last year, she wrote of World Trade Center widows: "I've never seen people enjoying their husbands' deaths so much."
"It's a world of 'are you talking about me? are you talking about me?'" said Steve Friedman, executive producer of "The Early Show" on CBS. "And eventually you have to get more and more outrageous to be talked about. One day you cross the line and become persona non grata. I think she's getting close. I think Bill Maher is getting close."
Friedman has no plans to book Coulter on his show, but said he had no plans even before her Edwards comment.
Some people on NBC's "Today" show didn't want to see Coulter before she was booked to talk about "Godless" last summer, said Jim Bell, the show's executive producer.
He overruled them. Having only certain points of view would make for a bland program, he said. Since Coulter is a best-selling author, clearly there's an audience that responds to her. Coulter also appeared on a "Today" segment this Feb. 8, debating a University of Pennsylvania professor.
Bell said last week that Coulter's legitimate points of view are beginning to get lost in the noise of being outlandish.
"She sometimes goes out of her way to push some buttons and tends to generate more heat than light," he said. "We love a lively debate, but we would tend to get people who would generate more light."
Said Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism: "You do wonder whether she's destined for 'Dancing With the Stars' at some point."
Several conservatives criticized Coulter for her Edwards remarks. Fellow columnist Michelle Malkin lamented that Coulter had tarred the work of people at the Washington conference. She called Coulter's humor "tired old shtick." Tim Graham, director of media analysis at the Media Research Center, said some conservatives envy the attention she gets and dislike how she distracts from legitimate arguments.
"If you got the sense that she was saying things you thought she believed, it would help," he said.
Still, Graham said it would be "outrageous" if Coulter is blacklisted by networks but Maher isn't. The HBO comic angered some by recent remarks suggesting more people would live if an assassination attempt against Vice President Dick Cheney had been successful.
The liberal organization Media Matters for America, which has long campaigned against Coulter, hopes this is a "defining moment" that causes TV networks to turn their backs on her, said spokesman Karl Frisch.
MSNBC once fired Coulter as a regular contributor after a remark she made to a Vietnam veteran. But Coulter has appeared there as a guest on shows and the network has no policy against her.
The remarks "won't stop conservatives from buying her books and her ability to sell books is what drives her bookings on TV," said MSNBC's "Hardball" host Chris Matthews.
CNN had scheduled Coulter to appear with Paula Zahn last Monday. The network said Coulter canceled her appearance.
"We have and will continue to interview provocative guests and ask them tough questions," CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson said. "We don't have overall bans about anyone. We will book them when we think it is appropriate to do so, on a case by case basis."
The changing nature of cable news may limit Coulter's ability to speak to those who don't already agree with her. Cable talk shows used to be built upon fiery debate, while now there are more shows that take a point of view and depict world events through that prism. Think Lou Dobbs, Keith Olbermann and Glenn Beck.
A spokeswoman for Coulter did not return a call for comment. Coulter, however, did appear on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" three days after the Edwards remark and belittled the idea that it would do lasting damage to her. It's a cycle, she said: she says something, the same people become hysterical, and that's the end of it.
It's about her 17th allegedly career-ending moment, she said.
"It happens about every six months," Coulter said, "and you're always there to put me on TV, Sean."
Substance shmubstance - - let George Will and Bill Buckley handle that.
Meanwhile, I find it amusing when Ann kicks them in the groin and laughs.
I did a search for Ailes and for Fox. I can't find it. I did hear it mentioned on Fox News Sunday (I had the TV on in the other room, but I didn't catch it).
What did he say?
There are several. Here is the first one I saw: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1798793/posts
Democrats Cancel Fox News Debate Over (Roger Aile's) Joke
Good explanation, Jo. I think that Ann made a very powerful point with incredible conciseness, almost backhanded. The point has been made even more strongly by the reaction from some other conservatives: We must act as is if homosexuality is respectable.
I understand that some people have a different take on the situation, and that's fine.
My first impression is that he is making a joke about President Bush not knowing the difference between Osama bin Laden and Barrack Obama.
But I'm not sure if it's that, or he is saying Obama could be confused with a terrorist...not sure what the joke is.
Roger Ailes represents only himself and Fox News. I don't suggest that anyone, anywhere should not have free speech, and never have. But they should not be surprised to be criticized. That's part of free speech too.
Actually, I really believe that Ann was using the word as a euphemism for light in the head as opposed to light in the loafers.
>>We must act as is if homosexuality is respectable. <<
I hope you are not inferring that I ever said any such thing, because I never have.
Please go back and read post #97.
Neither inferring, nor implying, that particular sentiment on your behalf :-).
I'm simply saying that this is my interpretation of the media and bloggers' reaction to Ann Coulter's line.
>>Neither inferring, nor implying, that particular sentiment on your behalf :-).
I'm simply saying that this is my interpretation of the media and bloggers' reaction to Ann Coulter's line.
<<
That may be the media's reaction, but there is plenty of legitimate criticism of Ann Coulter's remarks that is NOT pro-gay.
As long as we're setting the record straight...
My reaction to AC's comment was that if you were her Mommy TC, her bottom would be blistered for behavin so badly in public.
I've found her behavior of the last year or so to be just mean and bratty. That's all, no more, no less.
I agree that's true in the intention and beliefs of some critics, but I still think the effect is to shut off speech that offends homosexuals and those who support homosexuality.
I miss most of what happens in the news, I'm afraid, so I can't comment.
I agree this incident is tacky, but ... John Edwards is just such a gamma male, and the worst kind - the kind with money and power! If it were anybody else ... but EEEEW.
>>I agree that's true in the intention and beliefs of some critics, but I still think the effect is to shut off speech that offends homosexuals and those who support homosexuality.<<
Of course the left wants to silence politically incorrect speech. But just because they are on that jihad does not preclude me from criticizing Ann's remarks, which I thought were juvenile and out of place.
No, of course it doesn't. We simply disagree ... I thought the remarks were calculated and in-place ... and that doesn't bother me in the slightest.
Cry babies.
Send them to rehab.
I think my issue has become, because it's Ann, anything she does is OK. Anything.
But I'm seeing more and more behavior on her part that is almost like "I can drop kick a puppy into a barbeque pit and these folks would still kiss my shoes!".
I almost think she believes she can do no wrong.
AMEN!
Viva Ann.
>>I thought the remarks were calculated..."
We agree on that at least.
>>I think my issue has become, because it's Ann, anything she does is OK. Anything.<<
I actually read a Freeper post the other day that "Ann can do no wrong in my eyes."
Admittedly, that's just one Freeper, and it takes all kinds.
And the ultimate irony is how many of the same people who mocked the Muslim's preposterous outrage are piling on with their own self-righteous outrage at Ann Coulter. (Malkin, Hewett, Medved and countless Freepers.)
It's very revealing. And very disgusting.
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