Ann Coulter Answers Conservative Critics Live on Larry Elder Now

KABC Los Angeles

[Cinnamon Girl]

Apparently, some people have taken issue with what Coulter has written about McCarthy and the "blacklisting" in Hollywood. Ann is on Larry Elder's show now with a conservative director explaining her work in "Treason."

[Rob45and2]

"I was in college in the early 90's. These guys were old. And famous. Everyone knows they were blacklisted."


Sorry. I'm way to old and cynical to just accept, out of hand, someones word for such a claim. "Everyones knows it" is usually a precursor "It may not be the truth, but by God it outta be"......

[Bob]

Sorry. I'm way to old and cynical to just accept, out of hand, someones word for such a claim. "Everyones knows it" is usually a precursor "It may not be the truth, but by God it outta be"......

Like you, I'm old and cynical. Read a little farther through the thread.

I was skeptical, as well, but Cinammon Girl did name names (Abe Polonsky and Frank Tarloff).

Cinnamon Girl,
I had (and still have) no reason whatsoever to disbelieve your statement. My suspicions regarded the truthfulness of your teachers' claims. I hope that I was clear on that point.

[Cinnamon Girl]

I understand, Bob.

[Marysecretary]

How very sad.

[u-89]

I knew a number of CPUSA members and people attending party meeting in the '40s and '50s. The activities are understated to this day.

You're an educated and insightful man so I have a question for you but first allow me set it up with some rambling thoughts. Please bear with me. Politics, from local up through national to the geopolitical is filled with duplicity, intrigue and skullduggery. Any one issue or event is multifaceted with no one reason, cause or benefit. There are groups with stated aims and secret aims. There are opposing groups, allying groups with overlapping interests and within groups there are factions and personalities vying for prominence. Additionally opposing groups can make on occasion common cause which may or may not be apparent publicly. I compare it to playing chess with animated pieces, each having a mind of its own, on board a ship in the middle of a typhoon and your opponent is none other than Nicoli Machiavelli himself so not only does one have to doubly question his every move one has to wonder why he is even on the ship and playing with you to begin with.

Now let me ask you what you think is behind the advance of socialism in this country and this countries support of socialism abroad while we simultaneously opposing communism? Taking that further why would capitalists support politicians who target them as the enemy? Why would the politicians who are bought and paid for by capitalists push legislation that hurts their benefactors? Why would law enforcement knowingly leave enemy agents in place? Why would politicians appoint people with suspect beliefs and associations and then protect them against recrimination? On the face of it socialism and communism is naive do gooderism that has grown into a secular religion. But that only explains the motivations of many of the foot soldiers, what of the officers and generals? Seems odd how capitalists would embrace or at least try to harness socialism or even communism. Unless one accepts that socialism allows the rich and powerful to have a monopoly on wealth and power and places the burden of their operations on the state. Did I just answer my own question? What's your oppion of how the world works and why reds in the government would pursue a cold war fightings reds abroad?

[ggekko]

In Liberal circles especially in academia, everyone knows someone who was "hurt by the blacklist". This is similar to the situation in post-WWII France where suddenly everyone was claiming to be part of the resistance and not a Nazi collaborator. Both claims are ridiculous, of course; if nothing else Liberals are geniuses in imposing guilt-induced groupthink.

On a broader note Ann Coulter's performance on Larry Elder's show diplayed her usual wit and nimbleness. It is becoming obvious that several of the critics of "Treason" have not read the book. As Ann pointed out on the show several critical points raised about "Treason" are based upon the widely believed myth of Mcarthy rather than historical facts.

Liberal historians have been relentlessly pushing the Mcarthy myth for fifty years. This myth is so entrenched that is becoming obvious that a number of conservatives have bought into it at least in part. Revisiting these issues are important because the Liberal pattern detailed in "Treason"
as seen during the Cold War is being repeated in the War Against Terror.

[RLK]

I look at people such as defense secretary Robert McNamara who was at one time president of Ford Motor. He was touted as being a great industrialist and capitalist. In fact, according to his own book, "In Retrospect," he was described as an admireror of socialist Norman Thomas. He was a Berkeley graduate who later went into Ford, not out of personal belief, but as part of playing the game. He never believed in this nation.

The university system is graduating thousands like them who are ideologically compromised each year and who support that compromise politically even though they make money under free enterprise. To control the educational system is to ultimately control everything.

[houstonian]

You will learn that a de-facto blacklist was already in effect by the commies against the non-commies before HUAC.

The Stalinists are masters of guilt-projection. These evil toadies pursue it with a vengeance.

I heard part of the LE show, and was sickened by the California Republicans parading their self-important cavils against Coulter's book. Could anyone list the name of the guests on the show--in particular the Hollywood documentary film-maker, with rightist credentials. Imagine that, a Hollywood film-maker with Republican credentials.

[Map Kernow]

How could Abe have been in the OSS? He was a film director.

It happens. Here's an extract from a biography at http://www.wga.org/WrittenBy/1299/polonsky.html:

Abraham Lincoln Polonsky died October 26, 1999, after a long and honorable life spent variously as a seaman, lawyer, college English teacher (in his 20s), member of the Communist Party, labor organizer, radical novelist, OSS agent in World War II, screenwriter, radio and television writer, film director, and finally a teacher of screenwriting at the University of Southern California School of Cinema and Television.

On Frank Tarloff, the other individual you mentioned, here's a blurb from http://entertainment.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?mp=b&c=127912:

Screenwriter Frank Tarloff was one of the many victims of the House UnAmerican Activities Committee red scare that occurred in the 1950s. Like many fellow artists who wanted to act out in their opposition to the Nazi Party in the 1940s, he had joined the Communist Party. His membership was very short-lived, but it did not escape the notice of H.U.A.C. Tarloff was subpoenaed, but refused to cooperate. His work in Hollywood ended swiftly and he fled with his family to London, England. In 1964, he was hired to co-write a script for a movie named Father Goose. The movie, starring Cary Grant, went on to win an Academy Award in 1965, and it enabled Tarloff to return to Hollywood. He later served as a board member of the Writers Guild of America and held several posts with that organization. Tarloff was also a writer for numerous television shows, ranging from The Andy Griffith Show to The Jeffersons. In 1999, he succumbed to cancer. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide

Sorry, but it doesn't sound like he had it too bad---in fact, I think he's one of the guys Ann writes of in "Treason" as a "blacklist victim" who had it pretty easy.

[liberallarry]

Just do a Google on Abe Polonsky and make up your own mind.

[DPB101]

Is there any doubt? Polonsky refused to tell what he knew when Americans were being killed by communists--shortly before Stalin instituted his purge of Jews in the Eastern Block too.

You believe he was some kind of hero protecting our constitution?

Suppose he was a member of the German Bund and he refused to tell congress what he knew about Nazis in America? What would you think of him then?

A victim of a witch hunt?

[CyberAnt]

Actually, you should be calling your local FCC office - because that kind of interferrence means somebody is possibly running some illegal equipment.

[CyberAnt]

This is such a great point!

The group which did the blacklisting was the HOUSE - HOUSE UNAMERICAN ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE.

McCarthy was in the SENATE!!

[CyberAnt]

I haven't gotten that far in Ann's book, but I remember that in order to work in some areas of Hollywood, you had to be a member of the Communist Party. A lot of Hollywood people may not have really known what they were getting into (you can see how air headed they are). So, a lot of those who got called before the House Committee told the same story - the only way they could work was to join the party.

But ... being liberals, they went like sheeple and joined the party - instead of organizing and taking out the group who was demanding this outrageous rule.

[CyberAnt]

The only reason people fawn all over other people is because they are TERRIFIED of them.

[CyberAnt]

And speaking of good books - I heard a guy by the name of Phil Kent describing his book "The Darkside of Liberalism: Unchaining the Truth". Although I don't think he gets into the McCarthy issue - most of the things he said were a complete confirmation of everything Ann is saying in her book.

[VOA]

I always thought Elia Kazan was wrong and now I'm getting the other side of the story...

I didn't see it, but my brother said that a brooding, visibly angry Nick Nolte
sat on his hands when Kazan got his special recognition Oscar a few years ago.

There's a message about who was/is right and wrong there...

[CyberAnt]

"McCarthy was after the Communist take over of the media"

No he wasn't - he only went after those in GOVERNMENT! It was the HUAC that went after the media.

[Cacophonous]

Terror or ignorance. The idiots that were fawning over the Soviets and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat sure looked surprised when the bullets entered their brains from the back.

[CyberAnt]

Speaking of Treason: How's this for a scenario - x42 is going on a trip to Africa - why - because in his INSANE JEALOUSY he has determined it is his duty to travel behind Bush and UNDERMINE HIS OWN PRESIDENT.

Then ... as if that wasn't enough - x42 has planned the opening of his library for ... are you ready ... NOVEMBER 2004, so he can steal the limelight from Bush when Bush wins the election.

I almost hope Hitlery runs in 2004 - so we can beat the living pulp out of her at the polls and get rid of her.