# Ann Coulter...Why?? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 11, 2002, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425 "2002-07-11T14:58:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/161 "2002-07-18T04:13:20Z")
“There are a lot of bad Republicans. There are no good Democrats.” Ann Coulter, Interview on the Daily Show with John Stewart. The audience not only booed her but also sounded angry. She came off as a wacko that had no idea how she appeared or sounded and seemed unable to comprehend anything John was saying. Liberals are evil? I don’t feel evil. I don’t hate America. ---
**Author:** ![taggert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/96bed5/32.png) [@taggert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taggert)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/162 "2002-07-18T06:37:02Z")
I just saw it. She was awfully nice to the smart ass Jon Stewart. He said he had read her book. Thanks for the heads up. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/163 "2002-07-18T12:49:23Z")
I thought it was hilarious when Jon Stewart said extremism is the real problem and Ann seemed to honestly not get the slam. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/164 "2002-07-18T13:40:13Z")
**Jon** : ‘The problem isn’t liberal vs conservative, it’s moderate vs extremist’ **Ann** : \>\>\>whooosh\<\<\< Of course, the problem is that she doesn’t SEE herself as extremist… And speaking as a liberal, I felt VERY offended by the message she was putting forth - It’s people like her that make me fear for my country’s future. ---
**Author:** ![quarx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/50afbb/32.png) [@quarx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quarx)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/165 "2002-07-18T15:17:32Z")
Just finished watching the interview myself. My take on it is that Ann DID get the extremist slam, but she didn’t want to have a meltdown in front of the audience (She’s crazy, but she’s not THAT crazy). I’m guessing she thought John Stewart was going to kiss her ass ala Bill Maher, and when he started calling her on some of her more outrageous comments, she had no other choice than to kind of play along and pretend not to get some of the slams. John Stewart is articulate, intelligent and funny, and Ann seemed to realize that she was out of her depth fairly early into the interview. On another note (with apologies to **Anthracite** ), I thought she looked terrible. IANA Beautician, but she seemed to have bad skin. She was as nervous as a cat, and looked as if she’d just come off of a crying jag with that eyeliner. She definitely has issues with her weight, and I’m guessing either anorexia or a thyroid problem. It might explain some of her more unusual comments and behaviour. Someone needs to explain to her that thin doesn’t always equal pretty. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/166 "2002-07-18T16:21:52Z")
I saw _The Daily Show_ last night; hadn’t actually seen Coulter before, and wanted to be sure I was hearing her own words. Her physical appearance aside (not really relevant), I was left uncertain whether Coulter a) Means exactly what she says, because she’s fucking nuts; or b) Is doing an extended performance art project. And like Jon Stewart, I was wondering where her scary “liberals” are, because I don’t think I know any. It was funny when Stewart said, “Remember, kids – toe that line!” ---
**Author:** ![peasea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc79bd/32.png) [@peasea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peasea)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/167 "2002-07-18T17:30:34Z")
Is there way for people who don’t get (receive) Comedy Central to see a clip of this? Think they’ll be putting in their website archives soon? ---
**Author:** ![peasea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc79bd/32.png) [@peasea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peasea)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/168 "2002-07-18T17:34:53Z")
Oops. Think they’ll be putting (it) in their archives soon? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/169 "2002-07-18T21:08:53Z")
Because she puts out on the first date! * * * She said she wasn’t sure because she was a Christian. I told her she would be yelling “Oh God, Oh God!” in no time. ---
**Author:** ![quarx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/50afbb/32.png) [@quarx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quarx)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2002, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/170 "2002-07-18T21:20:14Z")
Actually, I think her physical appearance **is** relevant in this case, although not just to make cheap shots. If Ann had been composed and healthy-looking talking to John, I would conclude that she really meant everything she’s said up to this point without qualification. The fact that she showed up looking as messed-up as she did–especially after the pre-show makeup job–could be an indication that she might have painted herself into a corner. For example, on the rare occasions when I listen to Rush Limbaugh or David Duke (Assholes, both of them), they seem calm, poised and totally in control. I have no problem believing that they mean just what they say. But Ann, judging by her appearance, seems to be going through a lot of issues now. It’s like she’s kind of dug herself into this hole, where she almost HAS to spout off like this. She might not see a way out of this, and it shows when she appears on TV. I’m not saying that this exonerates her. She has to face responsibility for what she’s done, and from what I’ve read and heard, it’s not like there’s this sweet, likeable personality underneath. But it seems to me that you can take in her appearance and decide that maybe she doesn’t hate swarthy males quite as much as her column makes out. Oh, and if you haven’t seen this yet, [check it out!!](http://www.pickupanncoulter.com) It made my morning ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/171 "2002-07-19T17:20:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > \*\*don’t forget **december** \*\* Awww, how sweet. I’ve been hiking the wilds of Denali Park with no computer available. FBOFW no griz ate me, so here I am again. Many (including a well-written book review in yesterday’s NY Times) say that her off-the-wall presentation hurts her message. I disagree. Consider by comparison a book which makes many similar points, **Coloring the News: How Crusading for Diversity Has Corrupted American Journalism** by William McGowan. McGowan (who is a liberal) writes carefully and non-provocatively. His book is better than Goldberg’s **Bias** and, I assume, better than **Slander**. But, who has heard of McGowan’s book? His approach doesn’t sell. OTOH Ann has the #1 spot on the best-seller list. Coulter’s presentation was effective at getting her message widely publicized. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/172 "2002-07-19T18:17:46Z")
**december:** _I’ve been hiking the wilds of Denali Park with no computer available._ Aha, I guessed right (not the location details, the general vacation-related reason for your recent hiatus). Welcome back! _Many (including a well-written book review in yesterday’s NY Times) say that her off-the-wall presentation hurts her message. […] OTOH Ann has the #1 spot on the best-seller list. Coulter’s presentation was effective at getting her message widely publicized._ Those two notions aren’t mutually exclusive. Coulter’s mad-dog, over-the-top style of rhetoric certainly does attract publicity, but at the same time it hurts her message by making her out to be a frothing wingnut who’s a laughingstock to most liberals and an embarrassment to many conservatives. Sure, if sales volume is all that you care about, then marketing yourself very flamboyantly (as blonde sexpot, aggressive xenophobe, extremist liberal-baiter, whatever will attract attention) is a smart way to go. But if you also want to be taken seriously as a political thinker, then that sort of exploitation **does** hurt your message. I’m not closely enough acquainted with Coulter’s work to be able to figure out what her real agenda is. But if she actually cares at all about maintaining a reputation as an honest intellectual and reputable researcher (with anyone outside her core fan base of freeper-style zealots, that is), I’m afraid she’s cooked her goose. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Gui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@El\_Gui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Gui)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/173 "2002-07-20T21:11:07Z")
. . this from the “Donahue” show on MSNBC, airing July 18th. (She’s admitting to calling the editors of “The National Review” “girly-boys”): > [@](#): > > DONAHUE: That’s the first thing that you’ve acknowledged, that you did call them girly boys. > COULTER: I call a lot of people a lot of things. > DONAHUE: So you’re a name caller yourself. You acknowledge that. > COULTER: I don’t have any problem with invective. The title of my book is “Slander,” not “Invective.” When I call somebody a name, I assure you, it’s true. > DONAHUE: Yes. [MSNBC Transcript](http://www.msnbc.com/news/782948.asp?cp1=1) I see. Ann can name-call all she wants because when _she_ does it, its true. Makes perfect sense Ann.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/174 "2002-07-20T21:25:36Z")
I saw The Daily Show with her (they showed a rerun of it). I didn’t concentrate so much on what she said as on how she presented herself, and I was struck at how unsure of herself she seemed. Maybe I’m oversimplifying it a tad, but she seems to be the kind of person who talks big in print, but who is not quite so fearless when she has to support those views in person, in front of a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/175 "2002-07-21T01:44:46Z")
She trash-talks the NR staff? The only magazine worth subscribing to? Well, she still has her looks going for her… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/176 "2002-07-21T01:58:59Z")
Yep-she called them girly-boys. Then she acted shocked when they fired her. Well, d’uh, Ann! ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/177 "2002-07-21T02:38:00Z")
Coulter’s a loon, no question. That aside, why the fuck is it that all opinionated women with controversial views get slammed on their looks? There have been plenty of threads here slamming Hillary Clinton’s looks so it’s definitely not limited to only one end of the political spectrum. Women are damned if they’re attractive and damned if they’re not, as if physical appearance has ANYTHING to do with intelligence or thoughtfulness or level of political insight. Anyone feel like defending this practice? It seems pretty goddamned stupid to me… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/178 "2002-07-21T02:40:12Z")
In Ann’s case, it’s because she uses her looks to push herself forward. If she weren’t so attractive to so many, I doubt she would be as well-known as she is-she’d be just another local looney. Of course, that could just be the cynic in me talking. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Gui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@El\_Gui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Gui)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/179 "2002-07-21T03:43:16Z")
Nope, I doubt its cynicism on your end Guin.: > [@](#): > > “I am emboldened by my looks to say things Republican men wouldn’t.” > – Ann Coulter, TV Guide, August 1997 [. . and other charming “Coulterisms”.](http://www.americanpolitics.com/20020205Coulter.html) ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425/180 "2002-07-21T04:45:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stofsky \* > **Ms. Coulter is certainly not above using her looks, to the point of providing conservative cheesecake for the loonies to masturbate to while thinking of converting all non-Christians at gunpoint.** What, you mean the thought of forced conversions isn’t sufficiently chubby-rousing on its own? The new issue of _People_ has a feature on the unlovely Ms. Coulter, including one of her gleefully aiming a firearm of some kind. She seems to like them muskets. Perhaps they are the only things that ease her raging penis envy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-why/118425.md?page=10)