Maybe in the context of the article that would be more obvious. But taken out of context, I don't see it meaning anything different than what it says. Obviously, many other people see it that way also.
Yes. And, it is a perfectly wonderful 'discussion' line, except that the PC police haven't the courage to defend it as such. And, like OWK, I don't defend it, only her right to speak it, in the courage of one who doesn't 'kowtow' to the 'sensitivity terrorists'.
Yes.
I saw Ann Coulter's words about "killing their leaders and converting them to Christianity" in that now-famous column as sheer hyperbole and not inconsistent with her usual writing style, in which she often uses irony as a vehicle to make a point. I was amazed at the negative reaction she received for it, but I also noted that many - including here on FR - were not fans of Coulter to begin with.
Just as with Jerry Falwell, this statement was mis-used by her detractors as a weapon to diminish Coulter and make her less credible. Doesn't work with me, but I can see how it was an irresistible opportunity for Ann-haters and fake conservatives to knock her down a peg and look righteous and fair-minded in the process. I find the ensuing religious arguments on this topic thread absurd, and simply using this one column of Ann's to launch the old religious arguments we see all the time on FR.
I'm very pleased by the way Ann has handled this silly controversy. No apology, no back-tracking, no 'explaining' and her comments regarding her column being dropped by Nation Review Online don't cry 'censorship' (she wasn't censored - the column ran) and Ann makes lemonade out a lemon by mentioning how NR attempts to appease the left-wing press (I agree) and that she's gotten great publicity from the incident. Good for Ann! She impresses me with the way she performs under critical assault and I expect she'll emerge from this overblown flap as stronger and even more popular.
I vote for conscious hyperbole to make a point.
But the barbarians among us will take it literally because it allows them to strut their milimeter thick "intellectualism" and moral superiority.