Though it hasn’t reached the volatility of the Hatfields and McCoys, the feud between presidential hopeful John Edwards and conservative columnist Ann Coulter is intensifying.
The latest salvo came from Edwards while on the campaign trail in Burlington, Iowa. While “rallying against the right-wing media,” Edwards referred to Coulter as a “she-devil.” He then caught himself and added, “I should not have name-called. But the truth is — forget the names — people like Ann Coulter, they engage in hateful language.”
Though the feud may make for interesting read or television viewing, it illustrates why Edwards is unfit for the presidency and should serve as a lesson for others whose lives come under public scrutiny.
Those in the public attract the attention of outspoken critics. Often these critics are simply people searching for attention; and the best advice to people with a following is to simply ignore them. Too often people running for office or in positions of power and authority let minor irritants bother them until those nuisances overshadow everything else.
Such is the case with the Edwards-Coulter feud. Their verbal sparing has gone on since March when Coulter jokingly used a derogatory term for homosexuals to describe Edwards behavior in a speech. Even though Coulter was lambasted for her remarks, Edwards didn’t let the remarks slide. Instead, his campaign posted Coulter’s remarks on its Web site, asking readers to “raise $100,000 in ‘Coulter Cash’ this week to keep this campaign charging ahead and fighting back against the politics of bigotry.” The two have been trading barbs in speeches, on television and in print ever since. Even Edwards’s wife, Elizabeth, has become part of the act when she called into Hardball and asked Coulter to stop the personal attacks on her husband and family.
Edwards may get some mileage out of Coulter’s remarks for fundraising, but the long-term effects of paying attention to Coulter are detrimental to his campaign.
Does anyone remember the message Edwards delivered in his Iowa speech? Nope. Instead of making headlines for his proposed agenda or vision of the future, all that came out of the speech was the continuation of his petty feud with a conservative bombshell.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Al Barger
Personally, I hate to love Ann Coulter. Hate, I say.
But still I do. She is in fact quite effective in taking Edwards apart. "Faggot" may be a simplistic schoolyard taunt, but it absolutely sticks to Edwards. And that he's got to send his sick wife out to deal with a mere opinion columnist only re-inforces her charges.
As Mr Keogh says, Coulter mostly is read and regarded highly only by hardcore rightwing nutjobs such as me. But Edwards and all the liberal netroots crowd are amplifying and taking her message out to a much broader public than would read her directly.
He thinks he's cleverly exploiting one of the top couple of most hated rightwingers in the country by raising "Coulter cash." Thing is, the word and meaning that he's endlessly repeating are in fact a perfect capsule criticism of him, and will stick with most people who hear it, except for the most chauvinistic of left wingers.
Look, if the blow dried pretty boy trial lawyer is struggling to cope with a skinny girl who writes a newspaper column, how's he going to cope with bad guys as president? Will he deal with Iranian nukes by filing a big ol' class action lawsuit?
2 - Dr Dreadful
Coulter is a cynical exhibitionist who displays the extreme arrogance and pseudo-superiority all too common among conservatives.
Her only redeeming quality seems to be her predilection for getting stoned out of her brain and then appearing on Hannity and Colmes.
But Abel is right: Edwards has far better things to do than waste his time on such trash.
3 - Ray Ellis
Coulter is a brat who needs a firm spanking!
4 - Dr Dreadful
Now, now, Ray. Sit down, take a few deep breaths and drink a glass of water.
If that doesn't work, then it's into a cold shower for you.
5 - Brad Schader
Ann Coulter is scum, but that is no great secret. She had made millions off her being unapologetic scum. Hell, I don't believe she believes half of what she says so much as she just loves pushing buttons. Edwards however wants to be President. She has not lowered herself one inch by taking him on, but he has lowered himself miles to do this "tit-for-tat" with her. Anyone who would vote for him has never given her a second thought and anyone who follows her would never give him one.
I hate to say it, but Coulter wins this contest simply by Edwards showing up.
6 - REMF
I would like to see Ann Coulter and Laura Schlessinger in a lesbian love scene, though.
(MCH)
7 - troll
you are sick...and I mean that in the most therapeutic way
8 - Dr Dreadful
AAAAGGHHH!!! My eyes!! My eyes!!!
9 - Brad Schader
There is a mental picture that is not going to go away for quite some time.
10 - Ray Ellis
We could make the picture even more disturbing with three words : six inch heels.
11 - Dave Nalle
Ray, when spanking Coulter gets you excited you can just look at her adam's apple to get yourself under control.
Dave
12 - STM
Ray said: "Coulter is a brat who needs a firm spanking!"
And of course, Ray should be the one to deliver it!
But, mate, can I watch?
13 - STM
What Dave, you're saying the big feet aren't a giveway?
14 - STM
Doc wrote: "Now, now, Ray. Sit down, take a few deep breaths and drink a glass of water".
Come on Doc, we all know what he really needs is a nice cuppa.
15 - alessandro nicolo
#6 - yeah, that's what I'm talkin' 'bout. For spice, add Huffington.
16 - steve
edwards is weak...I completely agree that coulter has taken some steam away from his campaign. hopefully, americans will also see how edwards pays more attention to petty b.s. rather than what actually matters. ann coulter is a stand-up woman in my eyes. cheers to a fellow conservative nutmegger!
17 - Silver Surfer
I love the title of coulter's book up there ... if democrats had any brains, they'd be republicans.
If republicans had any brains, they'd be REALLY dangerous.
18 - Clavos
Ahem...
19 - RJ
I do not understand the attraction to Ann Coulter.
Er, let me restate that. I can certainly understand why conservatives are attracted to her columns and books. She's a superb writer, and her hyperbolic partisanship is simply hilarious. Every column is delicious red meat.
But I simply do not see her as being physically attractive.
Sorry, but I'm not into gangly, awkward, anorexic, middle-aged women. Hell, Rich Lowry is more feminine than Ann Coulter. And I wouldn't **** him, either. :-/
20 - Ray Ellis
It's not a matter of attraction, RJ. The fact remains she's a brat who deserves a firm spanking. What I don't understand is how you could consider her "a superb writer." Attractions come in all forms, I guess.
21 - Baronius
RJ, I'm on the same page as you. But I haven't heard much conservative obsession with her attractiveness. There's a huge liberal obsession with labelling her unattractive, though.
I've noticed a few conservatives who savage Hillary Clinton on her looks. They creep me out.
22 - REMF
"Hell, I don't believe she believes half of what she says so much as she just loves pushing buttons."
- Brad Schader
I agree there, except probably more like two-thirds. Coulter is definitely another one of those conservative chickenhawk phonies.
(MCH)
23 - Andy Marsh
I thought you were banned from using hat word!
24 - Ann fan
I wonder why she is taking on Edwards? Isn't Hillama a greater threat?
P.S. Ann is hella sexy.
25 - Ray Ellis
Quite simple, Ann fan. Coulter never takes on people who could chew her up and spit her out without breaing a sweat. Edwards is still a trial lawyer at heart, and he loves a good brawl. Coulter is beneath the notice of Clinton or Obama. That leaves Coulter defenseless-- the fallen tree that nobody hears.