Coulter-bashing has reached a fever pitch, with the story of her CPAC remarks moving to network television and, even, Albert Mohler signing on. "Why," Mohler wonders, "would Ann Coulter use that word? And, even more troubling to me, why would any in her audience laugh? There is nothing remotely funny about that word in any context."
I lost patience with Coulter about 18 months ago, and have lately found more to dislike than like in her columns, so I don't feel sorry for her. Mohler is a bit off about what she's done wrong, though, so I think it's worth examining.
First, I doubt very much that Coulter intended to hurt John Edwards personally, and I doubt that he was. If John Edwards has any sense, he's grateful for Coulter's remark because it reminded people he's running for president. It probably is the best thing that has happened to his campaign, albeit inadvertently.
I think Coulter intended to get some laughs by using a naughty word and, as every writer and public speaker knows, it's an effective tool when it is used properly. Consider this passage from a blog post I wrote a while back: "Nobody except the most perfervid fundamentalists believe any more that an old man with a long beard thrust his head out the underside of a cloud and bellowed things like 'Stone the adulterers, and the fairies.'" I used the word "fairies" to draw, and intensify, a ridiculous picture, and nobody minded. It worked in its plain context. This piece was republished here at Blogcritics, and not one comment was concerned with my use of that word.
Coulter's remark was without context, though, a gross non sequitur that affirmed and titillated Goody Two-Shoes with their own unspoken malice; that was its purpose, and the applause tells us it worked. And, why not? Captured by the evangelical, God-Is-A-Republican Right and acutely aware that anti-gay marriage initiatives do well on election day, the Republican Party has made gay-bashing a de facto plank in its platform.
The remark per se is insignificant, and thoughtful people can disagree in good faith and with good will about what our public policies ought to be regarding homosexuality. What is significant is that such infantile playground stuff, scarcely distinguishable from the knock-knock puns so beloved of children and other simpletons, is now the medium via which the Republican Party communicates.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Dave Nalle
Bob, Ann Coulter hardly speaks for the Republican Party, despite your suggestion that she does. Hell, CPAC doesn't even represent all republicans.
I can probably dig up as many people from the GOP who condemn Coulter as you can dig up leftists who hate her - and that was before her latest misbehavior.
She's a troublemaker and a lightweight and an attention whore. What else would you expect from her?
Dave
2 - jaz
well, we know Al likes it when she takes her teeth out before.....
but i digress
3 - Maurice
Dave is right about her not being the spokesperson for republicans. But she is very popular so she is being paid attention to by a large group of repubs.
I do think it is telling that the audience went with it.
4 - MCH
Anyone who thinks referring to someone as a faggot is just a joke, would probably also think it's funny to compare Max Cleland to a "gigantic thalidamide baby."
5 - Baritone
I'm somewhat of a newby to BC, and I'm sure that Ann Coulter has been discussed ad nauseam here.
Suffice it to say that I listened to the CD of Coulter reading her "Godless..." tome a few months ago. It was, of course, excruciating. The only solace I found was that it was a truncated version of the printed work.
To say I despise her is putting it mildly. She is a cheap shot artist of the first order. In a blog post I wrote about the book I referred to her as "the bitch-slut from hell" but then backed off of that statement a bit in that I don't believe in hell.
It is truly sad that she has such a large and devoted audience. Of course there is a great deal of cheap shooting going around on all sides. Coulter is not alone, but may well be the cheapest shooter of all.
B'tone
6 - Trojan
The Press has absolutely gone "Over the Top" on this issue. Not having anything better to, they seek ways to making mountains out of mole hills. If there is any chance to bash the Republicans and divide them, they jump all over the opportunity.
What Ann said was for CPAC, not the slanted liberal press. Give it up, will ya? She is a brillant writer, extremely intelligent and quick witted. Her pundits are all very jealous of her success.
7 - zingzing
"What Ann said was for CPAC, not the slanted liberal press."
ahh, so it was for the bigots, then? i don't get what the difference is. hate is hate. she spreads hate. she's no good for your party. makes you look like a bunch of dumb, reactionary, bigotted hicks with your morals stuffed so far up your butts that it comes out the other side in hateful vomited drivel like this.
8 - Nancy
Yes, altho some would take issue about her being a "brilliant" writer. I would say, her GHOST writer is a brilliant writer, & she had a really good editor. Pity she does't put some of that intelligence & wit to better use than just pandering to ultra-right hatreds for money.
9 - troll
since 'cunt' is an inappropriate word to use in polite discourse I can't write about Coulter
10 - Nancy
Isn't she currently being investigated or prosecuted by the Fla. DA for lying about her residence on her voting registration?
11 - Henry Bergson
Here's Mitt Romney right before Coulter's "faggot" speech.
"I'm happy to learn also that after you hear me, you're going to from Ann Coulter. That is a good thing. Oh yeah!"
Then, later, his spokesman denounces the remarks. Attack-dog political "strategy" at its most obvious.
12 - Nancy
Romney is another attention whore who will say whatever is expedient. If they told him he'd have to convert to Buddhism, he'd be wearing the saffron robe tomorrow. He's already major flip-flopped his positions on a host of issues as convenient depending on the audience he's talking to. MR is right that the voters elect nothing but sleazebags, but that's all that seems to run for election are the liars, thieves, & trash. Hard to vote for anybody worthwhile if the only candidates are bottom feeders.
13 - zingzing
yeah, well, i'm glad romney bashed her. it's high time that republicans realized that she represents all that is horrible about conservatives. hopefully, they'll take her out back (with most of the religious right) and put her out to pasture, or to have their own little party. or to shoot her until she is dead. their choice. keep it in the family.
14 - Nancy
I gotta admit, she makes big buck$ out of her nastiness & all kinds of people buy it, so she's doing something right, so to speak. I just think there are more honorable ways to earn a living - like dealing drugs or streetwalking, perhaps.
15 - Baritone
Coulter's voice on the CD of Godless... was nearly as grating as what she had to say. She maintains her condescending nasal drone throughout.
I would hardly characterize her writing as "brilliant." She is occasionally clever, but again, she couches pretty much everything in cheap shots.
She would have you believe that her positions are well researched and thought out. However, she imparts just enough "truth" to bolster her stance on whatever issue. Most of her "facts" are fictional dreck.
Coulter lies and/or tells half truths to support her positions. For instance, in "Godless..." her diatribe against evolution is supported by the supposed lack of adequate fossil records that demonstrate evolutionary transitions. However, as Richard Dawkins states in The God Delusion, only a very small percentage of all living things fossilize. It is rather miraculous that we have any fossils at all.
Sweet Annie pretty much hates everything and everyone left of Atilla the Hun. She castigates liberals just for being alive and effectively charges all Democrats with treason.
Someone I know said of her, "Yeah, she's bitch, but she's HOT! No. She's blond. She's thin. But she is ultimately grotesque.
B'tone
16 - Marcia L. Neil
At least the column is posted somewhere and numerous 'discourse'-oriented 'phone calls can be traced.
17 - STM
"Coulter lies and/or tells half truths to support her positions."
Perhaps she should run for President then ....
18 - Baritone
STM: Actually, I wish she would run for president. It would be interesting to see every dirty little piece of her life laid out for all to see. I'm sure it would be great fun watching her mad little tap dances to explain all the skeletons as they are being tossed out of her closets.
[Edited]
Ann Coulter is a lying, hypocritical, right wing turd [Edited].
B'tone
19 - Clavos
Ann Coulter is a lying, hypocritical, right wing turd
True, but not of any consequence...
20 - Baritone
Clavos,
Perhaps not. But collectively when taken with the likes of Limbaugh and others, the work of people like Coulter adds up, if you will. She is "out there" but regardless, there are a significant # of people who cling to her every snide word.
B'tone
21 - Clavos
Baritone,
All you say is true, but she has the right to do what she does. If she crosses the line legally, she can be sued (doubtful outcome); otherwise, she's within her rights; as are all of her peers, right or left wing.
22 - Baritone
Clavos,
I'm not challenging her "right" to say the things she does. I do challenge her ethics. In that same light I also challenge the ethics of say, Michael Moore who is also essentially a cheap shot artist, albeit a bit more ham handed than Coulter.
I essentially agree with many of Moore's positions, but I cringe at his tactics.
Coulter is simply near the top of the list of public people I find despicable.
TLS
23 - Clavos
And I agree with you, B'tone.
There's not much can be done about it, though.
BTW: What does TLS mean?
24 - Baritone
TLS - sorry, that's actually my initials which I use on other stuff. I haven't gotten used to the Baritone monniker as yet.
B'tone - (sometimes known as TLS)
25 - Nancy
Yes - be sure you make that known; you don't want to end up being castigated as being another Nalle/Vox. We all reallly should be limited to ONE blogname; it's too easy for people to make comments under various personae.