A Final Word on L'Affaire Coulter
Irony is not lost
By Leon H Wolf Posted in 2008 — Comments (64) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
As anyone who's been keeping up the last couple of days knows, I have stated in no unambiguous terms that I am no fan of Coulter's remarks at CPAC. That said, someone recently pointed this particular item out to me a few hours ago, and I simply can't resist making one more remark, here. John "John Edward" Edwards has apparently sought to make a few bucks out of the situation by making this plea:
More below...
Friday afternoon, Republican mouthpiece Ann Coulter brought hate-speech politics to a new low.
This video shows Coulter addressing the American Conservative Union's Political Action Conference, March, 2, 2007 in Washington, D.C.
We must show that inflaming prejudice to attack progressive leaders will only backfire.
Can you help us raise $100,000 in "Coulter Cash" this week to keep this campaign charging ahead and fight back against the politics of bigotry?
The irony here is so thick that you can stir it. In the first place, Ann Coulter does not speak - either officially or unofficially - for any Republican candidate. But even if she did, Edwards' outraged indignation would still be [unintentionally] hilarious. I, for one, cannot fathom how a Presidential candidate who's less than a month out from the revelation that he knowingly hired two anti-Catholic bigots to be campaign staffers (moreover, campaigns spokespeople, after a fashion), can make a fundraising plea based on eliminating bigotry in politics with a straight face. Especially after both of the bigoted bloggers in question had their careers with the Edwards campaign end in "voluntary resignation" rather than "termination." Unless, of course, we are to believe that with $100,000, he could afford to hire a blogger who isn't, you know, either crazy or a Catholic-hater. But if that's the case, it's hard to see what Coulter has to do with any of it.
Of course, it's possible that Edwards is merely channeling some dead spirit that I don't have access to, who's got some perfectly plausible explanation for why this isn't rank, screaming hypocrisy. However, until that spirit sees fit to make his or her wisdom known to all of us, we'll just have to wonder how anyone who actually contributed to Edwards through the above link doesn't just pass out. From, you know, the irony.
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P.S. I think it should probably go without saying that I write this post in an entirely independent and individual capacity.
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A Final Word on L'Affaire Coulter 64 Comments (0 topical, 64 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
I mean, anyone see two and a half years ago Cheney literally chew up Edwards in the VP debate? Cheney wasn't even at his pugilistic best, and even most liberals had to admit Cheney won that round (much to their consternation). Granted, unless the GOP's nominee is Rudy or Newt, we probably won't have a debater quite as sharp as Cheney, but we don't need top-tier firepower against Edwards; a beefed-up Super Soaker would suffice.
"I could explain, but that would be very long, very convoluted, and make you look very stupid. Nobody wants that... except maybe me."
I've gradually come around to looking at this debacle from the "bright side" in your way, Joliphant. Because if John Edwards' estate is any indication, the man doesn't know how to spend The People's money except to waste it on a duplicitous, ugly, architectural monstrosity.
That, my friends, is the most butt-ugly piece of highly-developed and expensive real estate that I've ever seen. It's so ugly it isn't even wrong. And in that sense, the more money people shovel in his direction, the better.
Finally saw her comments. (had to go to Edwards site to see it, ha!)
The thing that bothers me about this whole thing is the room full of people cheering wildly ten seconds after she said the word "f*ggot."
One of the things I like best about RedState is no gay bashing. To see such a large and prestigious group of conservative engage in that behavior was very disappointing.
how the heck do you call what she said "gay bashing"...FWIW, the minute this thing broke, the FIRST thing I thought of was the exact word she explained it with...wuss.
I have to ask...after seeing the clip of what she said...how can anyone say that she must have been referring to the F word, and how it's been used to bash homosexuals?
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
I believe Ann also said she chose John Edwards (to mention in her joke about Grey's Anatomy) because she'd already gone after Hillary and Obama, and it was Edwards' turn. Also, because he's not gay. Ann says, she has said something supposedly SO BAD that it's "career ending" every six months for the last ten years. Hasn't happened yet, and no apologies will be offered by her for this one either. Girl has stones. Good for her.
she gets torn to shreds...but then again, we've seen one of our own here at RS get the same treatment...from ModCons.
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
SideShow Ann just make an appearance on Hannity and set everyone straight on the whole Edwards kerfuffle, it was a JOKE...Def Jam style, but a joke.
Oh she also mentioned that for ten years she has been telling these sorts of "jokes", and laughing all the way to the bank. So anyone who disagrees with SideShow Ann needs to just shut up and keep writing her those checks.
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Dennis Miller for President...no more wimps!
Ann is a person. She has the right to say what she wants to say. People send her checks because they like to read her books. I do not get why so many on this site are so "outraged" by her. I think people are wound way way too tight lately.
If you think Democrats and leftists don't say ten times worse about us every day you are not reading many blogs or whatching much tv.
Also, the lefty blogs are "bragging" about how we are all in a tizzy and denouncing Coulter.
Molon Labe!
Doc
Because SideShow Ann is one of the faces and voices of modern conservatism. If modern conservatism is represented by the mean spirited, nasty to other people point of view espoused by SideShow Ann, then Republicans are on the path to destruction.
I don't care about what the Democrats are doing, or saying, I want to believe in what Republicans are doing and saying. I don't vote for Democrats because of the very stuff that is 10 X worse as you say and things they do that are 10x worse. I guess it comes down to worrying about having our house in order before worrying about the Democrats house.
It's about values, sorry you don't get it.
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Dennis Miller for President...no more wimps!
and then have the tag line you do.
As far as modern conservatives, I'm begining to think they are pretty much weasels, that toss each other under the bus with great ease.
I don't speak for Doc, but please don't try and tell others about values according to your idea of values.
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
... mean spirited, nasty to other people point of view ...
It's about values, sorry you don't get it.
If you believe what you wrote then maybe it's best to stop calling her names. Your point would carry more weight.
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FP Watergil
Just because they do it doesn't mean we should. We need to differentiate ourselves from them by being more civil, having higher standards, and not be hypocrites. If we denounce them for the name-calling they do, we shouldn't defend it when a conservative does it.
Leftie politics are about name-calling and talking points. On the right we like logic and civility.
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
No, that line didn't work for John Kerry, either.
Look, I knew she was trying to be funny. It was also bigoted, and that observation is coming from someone who is a homophobe to the point of opposing homosexual marriage.
And John Edwards is going to cash in on this and raise "Coulter Cash" aplenty. Like Leon, this more than a little steams me. John Edwards is an idiot and is in no place making an issue to make a fund raising issue of Coulter's classless and clueless utterances.
I'm not going to deal with this anymore. Ann Coulter was a jerk, and the Republic survived. I hope she can channel her fine mind and great talent into something effective and productive.
And John Edwards is going to cash in on this and raise "Coulter Cash" aplenty. Like Leon, this more than a little steams me. John Edwards is an idiot and is in no place making an issue to make a fund raising issue of Coulter's classless and clueless utterances.
However hypocritical Edwards' exploitation of Coulter's "joke" to raise fast cash, it would be inconceivable that he wouldn't go for the money. Coulter knew she was putting money in Edwards' pocket when she spouted off, but also knew that the publicity would also put money in her own pocket.
So when Ann's choice is between doing what's good for Republicans vs. what's good for Coulter's bank account, any idiot should know by now which one she'll choose.
I'm not mad at Coulter for her "f****t" remark, she was just being her predictable self. The ones to be mad at are whichever idiots at CPAC put her on the speakers list, who should have known she would find some publicity stunt to market herself while drowning out what the serious speakers were saying. I join others here hoping they've finally learned their lesson.
Theres just too many multiplying entities in that post to let it stand.
1st Helping Edwards hurts Republicans ? Do you really feel he is viable as a candidate ? Would a billion dollar war chest make him any more viable ?
2nd Ann felt Edwards was viable. Where is your support for this. Everything she has said is contradictory to the claim.
3rd Ann knew that this would hurt the Republican party. The experiments still running here but a little evidence to support the position would help. The Times screaming doesn't count.
4th That the money Edwards raises is additional cash that would not have been raised anyway. Seeing as most people have limited budgets common sense seems to be against this.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
The Republicans actually running for President and wanting to get their own messages out don't consider it a help, for some media whore to suck up most of the print and air time coming out of the conference.
Yeah, Ann really is trying to help the Republican party. There's a vital electoral constituency who's votes we need, but to get their votes we need to reassure them that Republicans aren't too wussy to say "f****t".
Its also not mutually exclusive to your first post being false.
As to your constituency, no not that one. Perhaps swing voters that need to see the Republicans as red blooded.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
Perhaps swing voters that need to see the Republicans as red blooded.
So swing voters won't see Republicans as "red blooded" if we don't consider "f****t" jokes polite entertainment?
After 6 years of letting the minority Kick us around, maybe so.
After 6 years of having a Cinc who can't even explain why we are at war and why we need win maybe so.
BTW how did you feel about VP Cheney's F-Bomb ? Hmmm ?
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
We're traditionalists.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
In the kind of personal confrontation where he said it, Cheney's "F-bomb" was just fine with me. But Cheney knows that using the same language in speech at a political conference is not the way to win votes.
Regarding acceptance of the word "f****t" as appropriate for a political conference, supposedly making Republicans more appealing to swing voters, I'm happy to let your points speak for themselves with no rebuttal necessary.
Admittedly it may have been one of the few honest things anyone has ever said there, but you can hardly claim its more appropriate.
As to getting votes, Ann isn't running for anything.
Oh just in case it wasn't obvious I was very much approving he said it. It made me hope the administration would start punching back. Unfortunately it was a short lived hope.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
His speach was on the senate floor
Your statement could be literally true in a Clintonian sense, but it would be absolutely false to say Cheney used the F word in a speech to the Senate. It was in a personal conversation with Senator Leahy that Cheny counseled him to perform an anatomically impossible act.
Do you really believe there's no significant distinction between what's appropriate for a speech to the Senate, vs. appropriate for a personal conversation that takes place in the Senate building? Or in your choice of words, were you deliberately trying to give the impression it was a speech to the Senate.
As to getting votes, Ann isn't running for anything.
I know, she just wants publicity for herself, because it gets her on TV and sells books. But the candidates who's message Coulter drowned out are running. I think more exposure for their message is more desirable than having Coulter's "f****t" publicity stunt soak up the available print and TV time.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
next year they need to have Michelle Malkin or someone instead of Ann. I don't think she should ever speak at CPAC again...or any important conservative event. Even if there was nothing wrong with what she said (I think there was), it was totally stupid to say it in that venue and has only hurt the conservative cause.
The Michelle malkin who spoke in favor of internment camps ?
Ok I can see how that will improve conservative image
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
Most jokes are based in truth. No one believed Faith Hill either. Carrie Underwood for the win!
"I'm just beginning...The pen's in my hand...Ending unplanned"
:-)
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
It was a joke doesn't fly, but it's just a nickname does?
Hypocrisy. You're just Ann-bashing and, what's more, you're reveling in it. At least she only f'd once. How many times have you SS'd?
Like I said before, hypocrisy. It's not about righteous indignation. It's about groveling for scraps and pats on the head from the left. Pats that will never come, mind you.
Fair charge, and when I am a multi millionaire book author, and someone who is lauded as a "voice" of the conservative movement, it will matter, I'm not by the way.
So, not as a joke, it's SideShow Ann, sucking the oxygen out of the room and diverting attention away from an adult conversation about the real issues facing this country. So I guess it's my "school yard" moment which you celebrate in SideShow Ann's utterances.
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Dennis Miller for President...no more wimps!
It's the old, I'm not a famous author defense.
Hey, I guess double standards require some type of rationalization.
It might make the haters feel good, but she hurts the party. Just like Limbaugh's ranting about MJ Fox hurt the party. Most in the center don't appreciate hate speech.
Republicans are in danger of defining themselves as bigoted haters - not good.
Yes, and from your post it's obvious you care a great deal about republican reputations.
"Ranting" about Michael J. Fox? False.
"Hate speech"? Ridiculous.
"Republicans are in danger meh meh meh meh bigoted haters"?
What an enormous load.
Listen up kowalksi, directors, others. THIS is what you encourage with your weak denunciations.
Hate speech. Preposterous.
people like you are out there looking out for the party...wow...I think we have a new contender!
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
That would make you a hater. QED.
Kyoto Now! (Because only pollution from the US hurts the planet)
There was quite a lot to say here about that.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
What does that have to do with this? Hint: Nothing.
Go elsewhere.
I'll match your anti-catholic bigots with my anti-muslim bigots anytime.
It's much more fun that way. We'll let B. Fred know too!
Try an alternative business model.
Kyoto Now! (Because only pollution from the US hurts the planet)
While we have religious freedom in this country, that was never intended to include a religion which has the single purpose of destroying that religious freedom. No religion will be recognized as a valid if its sole purpose is to undermine the government.
As long as Islam touts itself as not just a religion, but a theocracy, destined to control not just religious life but secular and political life, it will be subject to criticism and valid attempts to unseat it, at least as to the political and secular aspects of it. This is not hate speach.... it is survival.
We are entitled to do that.
Would the main stream media have even mentioned CPAC were it not for Ann Coulter's comments? I think it gives them a great opportunity to dismiss the entire gathering and reduce it to a single PC gotcha moment.
I am a social liberal dem, and I thought it was a funny joke. I almost never agree with Ann, but she is funny. None of my gay friends are offended. It was a joke I myself would probably tell. The Fox "comedy" show should have her on all the time. It might be funny.
Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of weak minds"
Nice to see a social lib dem get it. Folks, it was brilliant joke construction. She used the same word in two different contexts to attack two different things at the same time without gay-bashing anyone and she delivered perfectly. As a life-long conservative, my biggest gripe with my fellow conservatives is that we care too much about what the other side thinks of us. I think more people are upset about the left's reaction than they are about the joke. Why, when we're going to get torn apart no matter what we do? Didn't anyone catch the pro-gay things Ann said in the Q&A seesion following her speech?
Didn't anyone catch the pro-gay things Ann said in the Q&A session following her speech?
No. anybody got a link to a video?
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FP Watergil
on Hannity and Colmes tonight. Along with the statement that has consumed an inordinate amount of valuable time and resources that would be better spent holding our elected officials accountable and trying to stop Russia, Syria and Iran from further destabilizing the Middle East.
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“The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.” – Ronald Reagan
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HOqLvpGNaCA
Skip to 2:30
Coulter noted that she would never intentionally insult gays by implying they were like Edwards.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
....the way I see it, Edwards was for bigotry before he was against it?
Raul Valdes Every knows that Edwards is not a homosexual. He does spend a lot of time doing his hair? Now the statement that Mahar made about Dick Cheeney was totally unacceptable. Not only was it false (not a fact). It was despicable. The fact is that VP Cheeney under the Bush administration have saved and freed millions of lives all over the world.
My 18 year old loves Ann Coulters mouth and he loves to tell people he is conservative and if I am not mistaken a large portion of her audience are college students. I think those who laughed were her youthful audience and not the older conservatives ie Michelle Malkin, who excoriated her. If you want a new generation for the right side of politics you cannot be beholden to the "old school" thought process. I by the way am always grateful for someone who speaks "truth to power", she was making fun of a black guy having to go to rehab for saying the F word, now that there is funny and I don't care who you are!!!
Peace through superior fire power:)
and agree with you Rightmom
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
If she had followed her sentence, "They put you in re-hab if you use the word faggot", with the sentence, "Just think what they'd to me if I told you what I really think about Edwards.... I'd be put in front of a firing squad or thrown in jail", it would have put it all in the context I'm sure she intended.
I thought she did all right when she explained herself the next day saying, "I'd never insult gays like that, by comparing them with Edwards."
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Win their hearts and minds. If that doesn't work, grab 'em by the ba**s and their hearts and minds will follow. - Special Forces mantra.
is that I really would have expected a better choice of words from such an otherwise articulate person. Maybe she really does care first and foremost about her own aggrandizement, even at the expense of conservative candidates.
By now hasn't everybody who has the need {desperate] to establish their high tone moderation and impeccable other world civility arrived at some state of self satisfaction?
We should adopt the same approach the Dems use with the ocean of smears that come from their camp, ignore it. We have one Ann Coulter, they have thousands encamped in the moral swamp and junkyard they call a party. No one appreciates the protestations of purity and good taste concerning Coulter, they still want our jugulars.
"a man's admiration for absolute government is proportinate to the contempt he feels for those around him". Tocqueville
...that we're bashing Ann IMHO is that we want to "take the moral high ground" from the libs (in quotes because libs having the moral high ground on anything is just a ridiculous thought!). I think that we are all so used to liberals making such inflammatory remarks about conservatives and not condemning them makes us all quick to jump the gun here in condemning Ann for her remarks. I was all over Ann as soon as I heard the comment for this very reason because I knew that as soon as I talked to any of my liberal friends that I would be hounded about what she said. I wanted to show them that we practice what we preach. But now that I have had more time to think about it and have been able to see Ann's response to this whole fiasco, I realize that liberals are absolutely going to nail us no matter what we do. I truly believe that the majority of conservatives in their hearts believe that Ann made a good point no matter how poorly worded it may have been. The fact of the matter is, libs will try to nail us on anything we do or say, so why not use our time and energy on something that we really NEED to condemn and not a botched joke that, when finally explained by her, makes a great deal of sense?
n/t
UNC-Chapel Hill pays him way too much to promote class envy and "Two Americas."
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“The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.” – Ronald Reagan
Every dollar he raises is one less dollar for a democrat that may have a chance. Plus if he stays in the race maybe he can heat things up enough that they do some damage to each other.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777