Coulter Calls Edwards a Faggot

[Contrapuntal]

Link.

Is she about eight miles past the shark by now? If not, why not? Why do any Republicans let this crazy women appear as if she speaks for them?

[GIGObuster]

At any moment, I expect to see Mitt Romney being sorry for saying at the same conference that “I am happy to hear that after you hear from me, you will hear from Ann Coulter. That is a good thing. Oh yeah!”..

... any moment now...

[Contrapuntal]

Originally Posted by GIGObuster

At any moment, I expect to see Mitt Romney being sorry for saying at the same conference that “I am happy to hear that after you hear from me, you will hear from Ann Coulter. That is a good thing. Oh yeah!”..

... any moment now...

She endorsed him after the faggot remark.

Oh yeah. Also, "our blacks are better than their blacks."

[Kimstu]

The term "faggot" for nuts like Coulter seems to mean approximately the same thing it means to the average third-grader: namely, "I'm going to say a naughty word to convey the idea that I don't like you".

What worries me more than her choice of terminology is her apparent continuing legitimacy as a conservative spokesperson. I mean, this wasn't just some under-medicated harpy ranting in a bus shelter: this was an official speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in D.C., featuring such high-profile conservative and Republican figures as Tony Snow, John Bolton, Vice-President Cheney, Senator Brownback, and a host of other leading politicians and pundits.

If most conservatives really feel that Coulter is a loony extremist who isn't representative of their views, then why does she keep getting these gigs?

[Contrapuntal]

Originally Posted by Kimstu

If most conservatives really feel that Coulter is a loony extremist who isn't representative of their views, then why does she keep getting these gigs?

That's what I want to know.

[Qadgop the Mercotan]

Originally Posted by Kimstu

If most conservatives really feel that Coulter is a loony extremist who isn't representative of their views, then why does she keep getting these gigs?

I don't believe that most conservatives feel that she's a loony extremist, given the mainstream conservative company that she keeps.

[Kimstu]

Originally Posted by QtM

I don't believe that most conservatives feel that she's a loony extremist, given the mainstream conservative company that she keeps.

Well, all the conservatives around here seem willing to dismiss her as such; I can't remember ever hearing from any of them (except perhaps the long-departed Wildest Bill) that they respected her or took her seriously. Are there no "real conservatives" here at the SDMB?

[Qadgop the Mercotan]

Originally Posted by Kimstu

Are there no "real conservatives" here at the SDMB?

Note that I said "most", not "real". The SDMB tends to attract a different type of conservative to it than those typically found in the populace at large.

[Der Trihs]

Originally Posted by Kimstu

If most conservatives really feel that Coulter is a loony extremist who isn't representative of their views, then why does she keep getting these gigs?

IMHO, because most don't feel that way; I believe that Coulter is a fairly good example of what American conservatism is really about.

Originally Posted by Kimstu

Well, all the conservatives around here seem willing to dismiss her as such; I can't remember ever hearing from any of them (except perhaps the long-departed Wildest Bill) that they respected her or took her seriously. Are there no "real conservatives" here at the SDMB?

Not many; they wouldn't last long. Also, they tend to avoid any place with people whom might seriously argue against them; they prefer either yes men or weak liberals who'll let the conservatives walk all over them.

[samclem]

As Media Matters for America documented, Coulter called former Vice President Al Gore a "total fag" on the July 27 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, claiming immediately that the comment was "a joke."

.

From http://mediamatters.org/items/200703030002

So, her latest comment isn't just a mistake. I'm sure she only says things like this to pander to her audience. But, I couldn't sleep at night if I had her attitude.

_{Unless I sold furniture, or aluminum siding, or had an infomercial.}

[Aeschines]

I can't say much more than, "Wretched, just wretched."

[Mr. Moto]

What can I say? Conservative activists, like liberal ones, like a little political entertainment, and for some of them Coulter fits the bill. I don't much like her myself, but there you go.

Even so, these remarks outraged a lot of people present at the conference. Michelle Malkin described the remark on her blog as getting only a smattering of laughter, and not from her. The Captains Quarters folks were outraged, as was Dean Barnett, who blogs at Hugh Hewitt's site.

Looks like they got more than they bargained for when they booked her.

[MovieMogul]

The Human Rights Campaign responds:

“We demand that every single Presidential candidate in attendance at this conference, along with Vice President Cheney stand up and publicly condemn this type of gutter-style politics,” continued Solmonese. “If not, then their silence will be deafening to the vast majority of Americans who believe this type of language belongs no where near the discussions about the future of our country.”

Given that she's "speculated" about Bill & Hilary's sexual orientation as well, I wonder what her big hang-up is about the subject.

Anyway, I would really like to believe that this puts the nail in her publicity coffin--the comment she'll never fully escape, the one that people will continue to pester her about whenever she's tramping to the press, and the one that GOPers finally can use an excuse to distance themselves from her.

I'd like to believe it. We'll see....

[mhendo]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

Michelle Malkin described the remark on her blog as getting only a smattering of laughter, and not from her. The Captains Quarters folks were outraged, as was Dean Barnett, who blogs at Hugh Hewitt's site.

Given all this "outrage" from conservatives that you list, and Malkin's assertion that she only got a "smattering" of laughter, i'm wondering where all the cheering and the clapping in the video was coming from.

Liberal foley, perhaps?

[MovieMogul]

Oh, and I guess she had to go after Edwards' sexuality because she already milked the whole "Edwards exploits his dead son" gambit. Coulter:

If you want points for not using your son's death politically, don't you have to take down all those "Ask me about my son's death in a horrific car accident" bumper stickers? Edwards is like a politician who keeps announcing that he will not use his opponent's criminal record for partisan political advantage. I absolutely refuse to mention the name of my dearly beloved and recently departed son killed horribly in a car accident, which affected me deeply, to score cheap political points.

Sensitivity, thy name is Coulter. They should ask Guiliani if he agrees with her feelings about those golddigging 9/11 widows.

[Mr. Moto]

I watched the video, much as I didn't want to. I didn't hear a roar of approval. I heard a few laughs, a couple of claps, and some boos.

[mhendo]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

I watched the video, much as I didn't want to. I didn't hear a roar of approval. I heard a few laughs, a couple of claps, and some boos.

I guess "a few" and "a couple" must mean something different where i come from.

C'est la vie.

[Mr. Moto]

I was judging response to that comment against that when she finished her talk a few seconds later, which drew a far greater response.

[mhendo]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

I was judging response to that comment against that when she finished her talk a few seconds later, which drew a far greater response.

And don't you think that "far greater response," in itself, says something? Especially coming, as it did, only about 10-15 seconds after the "faggot" reference?

If i went to listen to a speech, and the speaker referred to someone in all seriousness as a "faggot," i wouldn't be applauding at the end, no matter how good the rest of the speech might have been.

And i've seen Ann Coulter speak in person; politics aside, she's actually not even a good public speaker.

[Mr. Moto]

And again, I'm not defending it at all.

All I am saying is that if other conservatives say they are outraged by Coulter, as I am, you ought to believe them.

I'm not going to get into an argument about how many people applauded Ann Coulter. However many did, they were wrong to do so.

[David Simmons]

Originally Posted by Kimstu

What worries me more than her choice of terminology is her apparent continuing legitimacy as a conservative spokesperson. I mean, this wasn't just some under-medicated harpy ranting in a bus shelter: this was an official speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in D.C., featuring such high-profile conservative and Republican figures as Tony Snow, John Bolton, Vice-President Cheney, Senator Brownback, and a host of other leading politicians and pundits.

If most conservatives really feel that Coulter is a loony extremist who isn't representative of their views, then why does she keep getting these gigs?

Don't rock the boat. Let them continue to feature her. The fact that she didn't get big approval for her remark at the meeting is meaningless. No matter what she says the true believers won't leave the party. If they continue to give her a prominent role all she will do is drive away independents and those who are called Reagan Democrats.

I want more Coulter at these affairs.

[Miller]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

I watched the video, much as I didn't want to. I didn't hear a roar of approval. I heard a few laughs, a couple of claps, and some boos.

Those weren't "boos," those were "woos." And she had to wait a good three seconds for the room to die down before she could continue.

Sounded like a pretty good response, to me.

All I am saying is that if other conservatives say they are outraged by Coulter, as I am, you ought to believe them.

I believe you when you say that you don't like her. When Bricker, or Sam Stone say the same thing, I believe them, too. What I don't believe is when they try to tell me that their attitude is representative of conservatives in general. Anne Coulter is hugely popular with conservatives in this country, and however much you might dislike her, sooner or later you're going to have to own the fact that your political party heartily endorses her.

[Kimstu]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

All i am saying is that if other conservatives say they are outraged by Coulter, as I am, you ought to believe them.

I do believe them. What I don't understand is why Coulter continues to be so successful in mainstream conservative political circles. Are conservatives like you who find her "faggot"-type comments outrageous not representative of majority conservative thought? Or are most other conservatives also outraged by her, but simply unwilling or unable to express their disapproval?

Because I would think that if her antics generated a significant negative response on the part of conservative audiences and supporters, the organizers of these gigs would pretty soon stop inviting her to participate in them.

[mhendo]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

And again, I'm not defending it at all.

All I am saying is that if other conservatives say they are outraged by Coulter, as I am, you ought to believe them.

I'm not going to get into an argument about how many people applauded Ann Coulter. However many did, they were wrong to do so.

I do believe them, and i'm glad that you think the applause was wrong.

I was simply commenting on the speech in light of the more general theme of this thread, which is, essentially, "Why is it that Ann Coulter apparently gets so much attention and support from mainstream conservatives, when just about every conservative i've ever encountered claims not to take her seriously?"

Furthermore, many of those conservatives have also claimed, in the past, that intelligent and influential conservatives as a whole don't take her seriously either. Yet here she is, speaking at a major conservative event and getting considerable applause for calling a former United States Senator a faggot.

And, on preview, Kimstu beat me to the punch. And Miller.

[Mr. Moto]

I don't buy that association for one second, Miller. There are lots of conservatives around, and for some of them Ann Coulter isn't on their radar screen at all. Others, like I said, are disgusted by her.

National Review continues to be the flagship journal of opinion of our movement, and they cut Coulter loose years ago.

I could by your reasoning ask whether you endorse anti-Semitism and incitement to riot, seeing as how Al Sharpton was an invited speaking guest at your national party convention.

[Triskadecamus]

Republicans aren't going to lose votes by using words like fag, nor by promoting intolerance against immigrants. It's only recently they stopped using nigger. (That mostly happened when the folks who used the word changed from Democrats to Republicans during the civil rights movement.)

The sad part is that every election cycle, a few of the power brokers have to reassure the racists, and jingoist that the Republican Party isn't going to let all those libruls shame them out of speaking out against queers and wetbacks. So, just remember there are no political consequences in party politics, only sacrifices. If you want to be a Republican, you get these guys on your team, and they do represent your party.

We get the anti religionists, commies, and elitists. They suck too, by the way.

Tris

[Guinastasia]

Originally Posted by Kimstu

I do believe them. What I don't understand is why Coulter continues to be so successful in mainstream conservative political circles. Are conservatives like you who find her "faggot"-type comments outrageous not representative of majority conservative thought? Or are most other conservatives also outraged by her, but simply unwilling or unable to express their disapproval?

Because I would think that if her antics generated a significant negative response on the part of conservative audiences and supporters, the organizers of these gigs would pretty soon stop inviting her to participate in them.

I think some of them just like her because she's "hot". (Although I think she's too harsh and emaciated looking). The Free Republic morons have a rule that any Ann Coulter thread has to include pictures.

[Squink]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

Looks like they got more than they bargained for when they booked her.

I think even Condoleezza Rice could have imagined the results of booking Coulter. If CPAC could not, that reflects very badly on their leadership. On the other hand, if they did expect Coulter to deliver a helping of raw meat, it reflects badly on the leadership, and the members of the organization.

[Merkwurdigliebe]

Why is it that I get the feeling that the Republicans would like to talk like her all the time? BTW, what's up with her and men? I'd say she's got dyke written all over her, judging on her lack of a man. But oh god.......can you IMAGINE living with her? Yeeech. They should stop playing games and just give in to the Dark side so we wouldn't have to act all surprised when they say things like this. Do Republicans see Democrats in this way? I can't really think of a situation where some democratic dude say something and a Republican would think, "Well that's what most democrats think anyway. I think our fanatic base is much smaller than the Republicans.

[Fern Forest]

Originally Posted by Guinastasia

I think some of them just like her because she's "hot". (Although I think she's too harsh and emaciated looking). The Free Republic morons have a rule that any Ann Coulter thread has to include pictures.

Cats are too the SDMB
as
Ann Coulter is to The Free Republic


What a diverse world I live in.

[Hung Mung]

The conspiracy theorist in me wants to believe she's a hired gun for Old Money, Entrenched Republicans who want to make guys like Mitt Romney look bad.

Really, how big of a fuckup do you have to be to call a (relatively) well respected presidential candidate a faggot right before endorsing someone else?

Pretty goddamn big, that's how big. I'd like to say I can't wait for her first DUI, but it probably wouldn't even put a dent in her image. I just can't wait for her to be totally irrelevant, only making headlines like Zsa Zsa smacking a cop.

[Hung Mung]

Originally Posted by Merkwurdigliebe

I can't really think of a situation where some democratic dude say something and a Republican would think, "Well that's what most democrats think anyway. I think our fanatic base is much smaller than the Republicans.

Social programs such as Welfare? Public Social Security? Environmental restrictions on industry?

Notice the difference?

[if6was9]

Yeah, because only fanatics don't want industry dumping toxic waste into rivers and lakes.

Or helping the poor or old.

[Una Persson]

In real life, I only know of one, single person described as a "conservative" or "Republican" who likes Ann Coulter, or believes in her message and tactics, out of a sample size of perhaps 40.

Why does anyone get airtime like they do? I rather think that Coulter gets her airtime in the same way that Britney, Paris, Anna Nicole (used to), Al Sharpton, and all the rest of the loud, flashy, stupid attention whores do.

[Terrifel]

Originally Posted by Una Persson

Why does anyone get airtime like they do? I rather think that Coulter gets her airtime in the same way that Britney, Paris, Anna Nicole (used to), Al Sharpton, and all the rest of the loud, flashy, stupid attention whores do.

I'm not sure, but I think you may have just proved that, somehow, Al Sharpton is actually a blonde-haired white woman.

[Hung Mung]

Originally Posted by Terrifel

I'm not sure, but I think you may have just proved that, somehow, Al Sharpton is actually a blonde-haired white woman.

I look forward to the sex video.

[Frank]

Originally Posted by Hung Mung

I look forward to the sex video.

Good thing I'm going shopping today; I'm all out of brain bleach.

[Una Persson]

Originally Posted by Terrifel

I'm not sure, but I think you may have just proved that, somehow, Al Sharpton is actually a blonde-haired white woman.

All I know is that I'm not going to Google on "Al Sharpton's aversion to panties."

ETA: My goddess, it gets 355 hits without the quotes, none with.

[Chance the Gardener]

And the Culture War rages on! It appears that the Republicans are winning, and that culture is losing.

I think CPAC and other conservative groups and boosters invite Ann Coulter because she can get up there and say outrageous, crass comments that wind up bloodying specific Democrats. Since Democrats aren't about to start looking under rocks for a Coulter equivalent to recruit, they can't fire back in kind, so Coulter's thuggery goes unchallenged. Meanwhile, Republican candidates get to enjoy the benefit of keeping quiet on the issue unless someone asks them about it, when they can say, "Oh, that's inappropriate. I'm not a fan of Ann Coulter; she isn't typical of conservatives." But is there any Republican attempt to clean house and chase Coulter from their gatherings? I'm still waiting for it.

If there were someone like this flashing such bigoted comments at Democratic functions, you'd see Democrats denouncing these people and marginalizing them.

This all comes back to the fact that with their party's approval in the toilet and an extremely unpopular lame duck standard bearer leaving office next year, the Republicans realize that now they need to get meaner and dirtier than usual. Expect more of the same from them over the next couple of years, or longer. Their best hope is to discourage as many decent citizens from voting at all, because if the louts outnumber the level heads, the Republicans win.

Did anyone catch that tax-cutting radical at the CPAC event who came on after Giuliani spoke? The one who referred to the victorious party in the 2006 elections as "the bad guys"? I thought that was offensive enough. I didn't stick around long enough to catch Ann Coulter, the Battle-Axe of Evil.

For the record: I object to the "dyke" comments as an attempt to diss the Battle-Axe of Evil. No need to descend to her level by resorting to her brand of bigotry. How is calling her a dyke any better than her calling John Edwards a faggot? You either take the high road or the low road; you can't take both.

[Caridwen]

Originally Posted by Kimstu

Well, all the conservatives around here seem willing to dismiss her as such; I can't remember ever hearing from any of them (except perhaps the long-departed Wildest Bill) that they respected her or took her seriously. Are there no "real conservatives" here at the SDMB?

Yea, and nobody here voted for Bush either.

Makes me wonder how he got elected twice and her books are always on the best seller list.

[ElvisL1ves]

Is she perhaps thought by the righties to be essentially an entertainer, a late-night stand-up comic? Somebody who's fun to laugh along with as she gleefully bashes "the others", but isn't actually taken seriously by most, who go elsewhere for actual thought? I hope so, anyway.

[George Kaplin]

From the annals of http://www.nicedoggie.net possibly the most virulently right-wing (and popular, with over 2000 hits a day) blog on the net:

Originally Posted by Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler

There was absolutely NO reason to insult homosexuals like that, Ann. I know and have known quite a few gays in my life, and I have yet to meet one as effeminate as My Little Pony Edwards. Heck, I’ve yet to meet any women as effeminate as The Breck Girl.
.
.
.
Oh, and to all you “conservatives” tearing your hair out and throwing ashes over yourselves, trying to outdo one another in the outrage, OUTRAGE that somebody might say something mean IN PUBLIC, I won’t insult homosexuals by calling YOU “faggots” either.

I’ll have to come up with something special just for you.

Did I hurt your feewings? Go have a latte and a pedicure. You’ll feel much better afterwards.

Yeah, that sure sounds like a thorough repudiation to me

[Caridwen]

Originally Posted by George Kaplin

From the annals of http://www.nicedoggie.net possibly the most virulently right-wing (and popular, with over 2000 hits a day) blog on the net:



Yeah, that sure sounds like a thorough repudiation to me

Yea, that's a regular right wing think tank. About 29 posts posts either talking about how hot she is or about Edward's hair.

[gonzomax]

She does the dirty work the conservatives want. She appeals to the basest of the repubs and they need them to succeed. She can not be defended intellectually, but she strikes an emotional response to the haters. She gets paid well to throw as much shit as possible hoping some will stick. She is part of the strategy and is not outside the party at all.

[The Hamster King]

The Republican leadership knows exactly who she is and what she represents, and yet still gets invited to Republican functions, and is regularly invited to represent the Republican position on national television.

If she doesn't represent the views of the Republican party, they should stop having her speak on their behalf.

[Khadaji]

I gotta tell you, the only time I ever see her words is on the dope. Other than that, I wouldn't know she exists.

[Cartooniverse]

Originally Posted by Una Persson

Why does anyone get airtime like they do? I rather think that Coulter gets her airtime in the same way that Britney, Paris, Anna Nicole (used to), Al Sharpton, and all the rest of the loud, flashy, stupid attention whores do.

It seems to me that in the interests of full disclosure, if you have the links of Ann Coulter stepping out of a limo without having put underpants on first, you should be sharing them with us all.

Or, were you inferring that some whores accomplish the same goal by using one set of lips instead of another? If that was the case, i wholeheartedly agree with you.

Cartooniverse

[Cervaise]

Originally Posted by Khadaji

I gotta tell you, the only time I ever see her words is on the dope. Other than that, I wouldn't know she exists.

Oh, I think you'll be seeing more of this one.

[Liberal]

Originally Posted by Pochacco

If she doesn't represent the views of the Republican party, they should stop having her speak on their behalf.

This guy sees himself as a mainstream conservative, and he seems to agree with you.

Also, from his current front page:

I urge everyone – right and left – to take the following actions:

1. Never write another blog post about Ann Coulter no matter how outrageous, cruel, or bigoted her language.

2. Immediately write the Presidents of Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN demanding that they refuse to schedule Coulter on any show for any reason on their networks.

3. Write the editor of Human Events and demand that they drop her column.

4. If her column appears in your local newspaper, write a letter to the editor demanding that they drop her column.

5. If you see her writings in any on line or print publication, write the editor and demand that they stop carrying her columns.

6. Any upcoming forum in which she is scheduled as a speaker or panel participant, write a letter to the organizers and make it clear that the reason you are not attending is due to Coulter’s presence.

The goal is to starve the witch of the attention she craves. I’ll have more on this later today, including an on-line petition we can sign and send to the cable nets and a report on my progress.

[Crotalus]

Originally Posted by ElvisL1ves

Is she perhaps thought by the righties to be essentially an entertainer, a late-night stand-up comic? Somebody who's fun to laugh along with as she gleefully bashes "the others", but isn't actually taken seriously by most, who go elsewhere for actual thought? I hope so, anyway.

Elvis, I think think is the role she plays.

As Mr. Moto noted above, William F. Buckley's National Review is pretty much the voice of mainstream conservatives, and Coulter's writing has no place there, nor does any writing like hers. I've subscribed to the magazine since the 80s. It is still jarring to see her picture in ads in National Review for conservative gatherings despite her absence from the editorial content. I guess she has some sort of star appeal to people who have the money and the inclination to go to these things. I don't get it, myself. I think she's a lousy writer who depends on writing ever more outrageous stuff to maintain any attention at all.