[laurav]

I think you're right that he seeks out reporters. And since no one thinks that the guy who is coming up to them with a ready-quote has been quoted hundreds of times before, they jot down what he says and file. Only later does it become clear what a publicity hound he is.

There are people who write letters to the editor of major newspapers every day. Some of them do write well, but the edit page will have a policy such as "only one letter a month from Mr. X" because they know readers watch that sort of thing. Apparently news sections count on fewer people keeping score.

[kegler4]

Reporters at these types of boring stories always look for the first people in line and no doubt this guy also searches out the reporters. Coulter seems to be trying to create a scandal where there isn't one -- and it isn't even her own discovery, since this guy's been written about before.