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Enough is enough
Oh there she goes again! We’ve all gotten used to Ann Coulter promoting her silly career as professional shit-stirrer by saying the most outrageous things (un-)imaginable. [Sullivan] sees her as a pathetic hollow figure, simply driven by hunger for notoriety. But motivations are unknowable, actions are what count. And this time is different. Her comments in her new book and on television that the widows of men who died in the World Trade Center are exploiting the deaths of their husbands and reveling in financial gain from the catastrophe go far beyond mere controversy-mongering. It’s worse than “mean spirited”. It’s immoral. It slanders innocent people and lowers the level of discussion of public matters below the gutter. Enough is enough.
Any money she makes through this scurrilous hate mongering comes at the cost of people’s reputations and all of our sensibilities. Any money that her publisher makes from her is damned. The book, Godless, is published by the Crown Forum imprint of Random House. Random House, the venerable house built by Bennett Cerf and once the publisher of writers like William Faulkner, Eugene O’Neill and James Joyce, now peddles this trash purely for profit. Certainly not because it benefits society in any way. Cerf must be spinning in his grave seeing what has become of his company, now part of the giant Bertelsmann conglomerate.
“Bertelsmann’s corporate culture is based on the belief that ownership, economic success and the nature of the media business bring with them a special responsibility to society.”
So states the Bertelsmann corporate website. There seems to be a cognitive disconnect between their corporate philosophy and the product they sell. Perhaps we need to let Jasmin Borhan, Executive Vice-President of Corporate Communications for Bertelsmann, know that they need to try a little harder. Their corporate mission can’t possibly involve making money off slanderous attacks on the families of people lost on 9/11.
She can be reached at [removed, for the reasons stated at the end of this post...]
UPDATE 6/10: There is [evidence] that bookstores are getting cold feet about having her promote this book. That will get the attention of her corporate enablers more than any amount of public denunciation…UPDATE 6/16: More on corporate responsibility and the promotion of hate speech, after the jump.UPDATE 6/19: Thoughts on the call to action and the risk of censorship. Toward the end after the jump.
Late in the week she’s back in the headlines for saying [something abominable] about former Marine Rep. John Murtha. More of the same from her, but what bothers me is that Editor & Publisher, in [a follow-up piece] asked Universal Press Syndicate (distributor of Coulter’s syndicated column) Director of Communications Kathie Kerr whether there would be repercussions for her vitriolic and slanderous statements. Kerr invoked free speech in her response that, “We’ve never felt that it is a syndicate’s job to censor commentary. It is the nature of commentary that it is to inflame.” But she lets the cat out of the bag when she also says, “Ann’s client newspapers stick with her because she has a loyal fan base of conservative readers… after all, her latest book did go to No. 1 on the best seller on Amazon within 48 hours of its publication.” Coulter is not the only one being mercenary. Universal Press and Bertelsmann/Random House are along for the ride.
Editor & Publisher takes pains to point out that cartoonist Ted Rall faced a concerted backlash when he criticized the 9/11 widows in a cartoon — subscribing newspapers received complaints and responded by pulling his feed and he lost audience. So far, Coulter has not received the same treatment.
How does maintenance of deceny interfere with free speech — and does the argument of free speech even apply in situations where people are generating profits by what they say for themselves and their corporate enablers? What responsibility, if any, do editors and publishers of hate speech have to moderate public discussion of important matters? Is it simply a matter of market dynamics — those who complain the loudest at the retail level will influence the public discourse? I know what my gut tells me — but my gut may be wrong here.
6/19: I got [taken to the woodshed] in high style by Al Barger over at Blogcritics. Made me think about the implication of censorship in the original call to let the media outlets making coin on Coulter know how offensive her statements are. It’s fair criticism. I was pissed off at her tactics and wanted pressure brought. But that kind of pressure is a slippery slope I don’t think I want to get on. I’ve removed the link to the CorpCom officer at Bertelsmann because, ultimately, they will know the reaction of the public to their business decisions at the cash register. I may not like the fact that they and Coulter are lining their pockets from irresponsible language — but I don’t feel comfortable calling for pressure to enforce responsibility. Too risky.
Posted in Blather 06/8/06 | 
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Ann Coulter is a worthless twit, whose head is claerly up her ass, otherwise she would not spout such ridiculously absurd garbage. It really is sickening to see these right wing idiots hide behind the facade of righteousness.
Comment by Chick Dishong — June 9, 2006 @ 7:50 am
Some say we should just ignore this evil demon (mAnn Coulter )and it will go away But I say Enough is Enough !
The Republicans and the media needs to be responsible for mAnn Coulter’s slander and it’s treasonous ways !
mAnn Coulter does not deserve to live in this country and any other country would not tolerate mAnn Coulter’s evil spew ! mAnn Coulter would be hung or shot in a soccer field .
Hold Republicans & the pandering media responsible ! I still have never heard Republicans denounce mAnn Coulter ? That is because mAnn Coulter is their poster child for Treason , Slander & Hate !
Comment by DailykosbannedSusan — June 9, 2006 @ 8:58 am
I find it totally ironic that the Coulter bitch is angry with the 9/11 surviving spouses because they ‘can’t be talked back to’. Have you ever tried to talk to Ann Coulter? Go to her website and see if you can find a way to email her directly or an address to write to her directly. It isn’t there folks. Let the bitch blather on. Her day is coming—-hopefully!
Comment by Mona Cain — June 9, 2006 @ 11:12 am
Coulter has a BIG, deep. dark, secret:
In actuality, she hardly sells any books–The overwhelming majority of her “sales” consist of mass-buys by rightwing sites, which GIVE AWAY her books along with yearly memberships, sometimes 2 books at a time.
When do you see Michael Moore’s, or
Al Franken’s books just given away via promotional offers?
NEVER.
Because regular customers actually BUY their books.
The pitiful fact is, even Coulter’s
most devoted “fans” don’t actually pay money for her books.
It is the book-publishing equivalent of:
“…And if you join our music CD club TODAY, you get a free double CD of Milli Vanilli’s greatest hits–That’s, FREE, folks!”
Coulter is strictly a manufactured phenomenon, fed & nurtured by the circular, self-reinforcing moneybag$
behind rightwing publishing, nothing more.
If anyone skilled at investigation pursues this, they will find this to be incontrovertibly true.
It is her Achilles heel (along with her obvious mental instability).
Let’s get the truth about Coulter out there—–
She is a fake! A total sham!!
Comment by Fact, not opinion — June 9, 2006 @ 12:11 pm
God, this Coulter nut-bar is just that, a totally off the wall, crazed nut-bar who’s attacking these woman to promote her book! How utterly shameful.
She reminds me of a disease that should be eradicated swiftly.
Comment by Chris — June 9, 2006 @ 12:30 pm
Took your suggestion and wrote Ann’s publisher and 2 of her vendors. Hope others will do the same!
See below – -
Dear Ms. Borhan -
My wife and I are English teachers at a high school of 5,500 students and we use thousands of your books by some of the world’s finest authors. We are very disturbed about your company’s publication of Ann Coulter’s latest book. Does a company of your stature need to be associated with and receive profits from such books? In fact, doesn’t your partnership with this author make you liable for her offenses to the standards and ethics of journalism.
In the past she has seemed to have some value in inciting debate and providing some comedy in the political arena. But don’t you think it goes a little to far to attack 9-11 victims with libelous slander cruelty? I read today that she already an investigated felon (voting fraud) and frankly has now come to abuse the 1st amendment right to freedom of speech. She hurts people in the same way one might if they shout “FIRE!” in a crowded building. I would equate what she has written and what you have published as political pornography. Look up the definition and think of the political version of such stuff.
I am including letters below which I have so far sent to vendors Amazon.com and Wal-Mart. I would simply ask you to consider my point of view, increase your publication standards and at least make a personal phone call to Miss Coulter (a self-proclaimed devout Catholic) and ask her “Ann, what would Jesus do?”
**letters sent June 8 –
“Dear Amazon IR Dept.
I just finished reading about Ann Coulter’s recent book where she attacks the WIDOWS of 9-11 victims. She states,” I’ve never seen people enjoying their husbands’ deaths so much” and calls them “The Witches of East Brunswick.”
I would ask you to examine the standards for the books you sell and refuse to sell? This book is beyond offensive to any American citizen and amounts to political pornography. I would hope that you have a policy of taking offensive sale items off your shelves. Would you carry a book that said similarly obscene things about victims of Hitler’s Holocaust or our Iraq soldiers’ families?
Freedom of the press is essential but all businesses make decisions as to whether they will peddle slander and obscenity. You need to seriously reconsider allowing your company to sell such filth.
I plan to communicate with other book vendors to inform them of my displeasure with the sale of this book. I would very much appreciate it if you would kindly forward this email internally to the buyers and managers of Amazon. I have stock in your company and do considerable business there. I will be hoping for and looking for a response. Sincerely, Jerrold Thompson”
Comment by Jerry Thompson — June 9, 2006 @ 1:33 pm
Here’s the thing, I don’t think she’s nuts. Far from it. If she was I wouldn’t waste a semicolon on her. I’ve read that, in person, she’s very friendly and she’s certainly well-educated. The only explanation is that she’s mercenary — she does what she does because it sells. I don’t like what she does, and the fact that people who should know better make money from what she does.
Good for you, Jerry. Her corporate enablers in the media and sales need to know how offensive her comments are.
And “DailykosbannedSusan” (gee, wonder why..), if she can get you so riled that you say hateful things then she has succeeded. Personally, I wish her no ill, I just want her to act responsibly. And, for my money, the country is plenty big enough for all of us, wingnuts included.
-SD
Comment by Sprague D — June 9, 2006 @ 3:08 pm
Coulter’s slurring of the 9/11 widows hopefully will provide the tipping point which will render her radioactive to the MSM. It would nice to see her permanently blackballed from the network talk shows and relegated to a more appropriate venue, like Aryan Brotherhood rallies.
Comment by Django — June 9, 2006 @ 3:16 pm
It is horrific what Ann Coulter has written and been spewing on the network shows. Everyone should shunn her literally everyone, isolate her, don’t buy her books and stop talking about her–freeze her out. What else can you do with someone like her? Her cruelity is mind-boggling. In the dictionary , right next to the word bitch is the definition Ann Coulter. Hope she gets sued four ways from Sunday.
Comment by Gaye Ludlow — June 9, 2006 @ 4:10 pm
How comical, the party who professes complete tolerance for diversity would try to suppress her free speech. What has she stated as being factual that is not factual? When those wives decided to endorse Kerry, they opened themselves up to political scrutiny, just as Cindy Sheehan sought o capitalize on her son’s death. Her son volunteered and as such, unless she ripped KLINTIN FOR killing 3000 Serbians, Somalians and Haitians, this wretched old hag has no business trashing Bush. Her calculated stunts denigrate the service of her son. Even a veteran of this war who lost both arms is suing another ANTI-AMERICAN LEFTIST, Michael Moore for splicing and misrepresenting his sentiments regarding the War in Iraq. YOU ROTTEN LEFTISTS DO NOT GET IT. AMERICA DOES NOT TRUST YOU AND YOUR ILK TO KEEP US SAFE FROM HARM. RAPIST BILL WAS OFFERED BIN LADEN AT LEAST 3 TIMES BUT DECIDED TO LET HIM GO AND NOT A LIBERAL EVER PISSED ABOUT THAT. YOUR ILK HAVE NO CREDIBILITY, NOT A SHRED. cOULTER DEALS IN FACTS….FOREIGN ITEMS TO THE PARTY THAT HATES AMERICA.
Comment by David Anthony — June 9, 2006 @ 11:09 pm
My email:
Ms. Borhan,
As a published author and someone who regularly works with academic publishing houses, I am CONSTANTLY chided about what my editors would refer to as ’snipes’ at particular public figures; quietly cajoled and sometimes, outright directed to R&R.
I can’t help but find it distinctly curious that you proffer screed; and only marginal at that, once again from that farce of a writer Coulter.
She seems unremarkable in conversation; and less so in print.
Are there no other ‘pot-stirrers’ waiting in the wings? Her pabulum is getting tiresome.
sincerely,
Comment by texaswreck — June 10, 2006 @ 12:02 am
Again I pose the question, ANTI-AMERICAN, aka Liberal….name a Lie told by Ms. Coulter? Name one, surely you can, right? Most Americans do not trust your ilk to keep us safe.
Keep dreaming about the November elections. She even laughed in the face of liberal “girly-men” who could not hit her with a pie from about 5 feet?
Comment by David Anthony — June 10, 2006 @ 12:34 am
bright shiny object…….
Comment by texaswreck — June 10, 2006 @ 1:19 am
But what was REALLY funny was Lou Dobbs….he accused her of being the ‘right wing’ version of Michael Moore; to which she responded:”I reject that. … I think I am the right-wing [H.L.] Mencken, the right-wing Mark Twain. I am not the right-wing Michael Moore.”
I beg to differ…..Twain could turn a phrase and use humor in such a way that AC could only dream…..Twain had wit….AC is just plain witless.
Comment by texaswreck — June 10, 2006 @ 1:24 am
Of Hyperbole & Slander… one Christian’s perspective.
Whether or not Ann Coulter’s unkind comments toward the widows of 9-11 slanders them, will be a matter for lesser courts; but her ongoing and arguably un-Christian self-promotion through hateful hyperbole, perhaps calculated for maximum fame and profit, belies the crucifix she wears around her neck, and slanders our Christ, whose love and sacrifice it represents. As Christians, we will love Ann, but must challenge her words and actions, when they are so contrary to our Lord’s example, and could threaten the inheritance of so many. For the sake of our children, who look toward our example and what we value and reward, we must stand up, and speak out.
Ann’s compassionate conservatism was contrasted by her vitriol, in recent television interviews. Regrettably, her style and manner remains consistent, buoyed no doubt by monetary reward and celebrity. Is this what we, regardless our religion or politics, hope to stand for? Is this what we choose to reward? Is this the legacy we would leave for our children?
I could not take my eyes off the beautiful cross around her neck, and wonder its effect on those who might otherwise be attracted to life through the Lord. I pray that if she is to continue to wear a cross in venues where so many can see and hear her, she would act in a way that brings more people to God, than repels them, and that she reflects peace and light in her life. For all of us who might be attracted to the attacks and divisiveness that our society now seems to crave and reward, it would be better to study the life and teachings of Christ, and pray for the wisdom and strength to pattern our lives closer to His.
We are taught to know a thing by the fruit it bears, and too much is but bitter and poisonous. None of us can be perfect, but all of us can be better than this. And when we fail, as we all do at times, nothing goes further than a sincere apology.
A.C. Johnson
Christian author
Comment by A.C. Johnson — June 10, 2006 @ 9:04 am
Still … Not One ! Republican has denounced mAnn Coulter . The horse face wench is their poster child . A poster child representing Hate , Evil , Slander , Treason and a serious lack of morals & values .
Remember mAnn Coulter’s horse face when you vote * and never forget the ” evil ” mAnn Coulter spews & the Republicans who make mAnn Coulter $$$ Rich $$$$
Comment by DailykosbannedSusan — June 10, 2006 @ 10:38 am
Bill O’Reilly [criticized] her methods, not very strongly — but this is O’Reilly we’re talking about. And [Rep. Peter King], who represents an area of New York where vicitms’ families live called her comments “disgraceful.”
Just because there isn’t a stampede of denunciations doesn’t mean she hasn’t become radioactive. This is a tough election year for Republicans and I’m getting the feeling they see her as too mercenary and self-interested to be relied upon to help the cause…
-SD
Comment by Sprague D — June 10, 2006 @ 11:20 am
While I think Ann Coulter is the most dispicable person that I can think of, I still believe in freedom of speech. She has the right as an American to write her trash. What needs to be done is to educate the idiots that buy her books.
Comment by Andria — June 10, 2006 @ 12:11 pm
I am Tina Robertson, Pat’s daughter. (For all you poor souls who don’t immediately realize what that means, it means that I talk directly to God, and She talks back, just the same way it works with my dear old Dad.)
Well, I had a chat with Her Divinity today about Miss Ann Coulter, and here’s what God had to say:
“Ann Coulter? Oops is all I can tell you, Tina. You know, the day I allowed its (I mean, her) parents to conceive it was the same day that that wicked (but, oh so entertaining) W. C. Fields convinced me that Heaven just couldn’t exist any longer without something called Jack Daniels Black Label. Well, Tina, let me tell you, after a few tumblers of that potent brew, my Divine Hind End just had to sit down for a nice, long rest!! Unfortunately, that meant I took my eye off the prize, so to speak, and some REAL bad energy (later to be named Miss Ann Coulter) flew straight from that silly Satan’s bosom right into the Holy Uterus of Miss Ann’s Mama. (That crazy Satan…..I think even he’s a little bit tired of this particular ‘devil’s spawn’!!)
So, Tina, that’s how Miss Annie C. came to be. Sorry….Auf Wiedersehen!!”
Comment by Tina Robertson — June 10, 2006 @ 12:37 pm
Stop freaking out about Ann Coulter! The only thing that gives her any power at all is your extreme reaction to her poisonous commentary. Obviously nothing is going to stop her – if somebody who looked Arabic (rather than a skinny chick who looks like she just fought her way out of a shallow grave)engaged in such a public spew of hatemongering, he or she would be whisked away to some country with even more liberal torture laws than the U.S. quicker than you could say “CIA rendition”. Stop granting her clout by squealing over her drivel.
Comment by Mark Chapman — June 10, 2006 @ 12:49 pm
In response to a previous comment, it is not anti-free speech to encourage people to not buy Ms. Coulter’s books. Obviously, if someone was to propose the government ban her books, then yes, but that was not suggested. (There are far more literate conservative writers out there to read, anyway.)
Also, her clout is derived from people who are vociferous fans, not those who speak out against her vitirol. If we are silent, her poorly written columns and books, that are riddled with inaccuracies, have a greater chance to be taken as gospel.
Americans should be offended by her remarks against all Muslims and people who are of Arabic descent (e.g., her use of the lovely word “raghead,” referring to Helen Thomas as “that old Arab.”)
While I defend Ms. Coulter’s right to speak her mind, I encourage everyone who disagrees with her to write a letter to the publisher. Ms. Coulter promotes prejudice, which I find un-American.
Comment by R. Marko — June 10, 2006 @ 3:27 pm
Ann Coulter is a spider–long-legged and poisonous. She used to be interesting in a repulsive sort of way but now she is a dagger pointed right at the heart–not of liberals, to whom she is no threat at all but of the right wing of the political spectrum. She is their worst nightmare, truly vagina dentata.
Karen
Comment by Karen — June 10, 2006 @ 4:50 pm
The only thing I can think of is that Coulter’s on the same payroll as Rush Limbaugh and all the other divisive hate mongers that spew venom across the airwaves from their self-proclaimed moral highground.
Truly good (and therefore great) people simply don’t talk like this, or act like this. Can you think of a person who you would consider truly great? Do they act like this? Do they continually point their fingers at so called “liberals”, who constitute half the population of the United States, and call them evil, godless traitors? Is that right – half the population of the United States are evil, godless traitors?
Comment by Larry — June 10, 2006 @ 11:05 pm
Ann Coulter claims to hate “the Liberal Media”. I pose this question to the good people of America, both liberal and conservative: if she hates the media so much, then why is she going on every talk and radio show available to spew her venom?
Answer: she is media whore who belives that the controversy surrounding her comments about the 9-11 widows will translate into book sales. Unfortunatly, she is right.
The worst that can happen to her is that she will ignored. Ann Coulter is like a 2 year-old who throws a tantrum to attract attention. She uses her Medusa-like tactics and so-called sex appeal to fund her botox injections, expensive hair stylist and designer suits so she can somehow fill the empty, festering hole inside of her where most of us have a conscience, peace of mind and a soul. I cannot stand this woman but by expressing my disgust, I am only making her happy and pissing myself off. Remember everyone, this is her pornography.
Comment by Kathleen — June 11, 2006 @ 12:40 am
The 4 specific 9/11 widows (NOT all 9/11 widows, generally, no matter what you silly lefties would like us to believe) whom Coulter chides have clearly opened themselves up to the kind of public scrutiny that Coulter offers. Yes, her language is a little over-the-top, but it is absolute peanuts compared to the hateful venomous language on this very page about Coulter! And why shouldn’t one be skeptical about the motives of four women who waste little time grieving over the deaths of their husbands, and waste NO time calling for vengeance against their husbands murderers, but instantly begin blaming the president and others in our government for their husband’s murders?
Comment by Eric Johnson — June 17, 2006 @ 11:18 am
Eric,
I agree, the hateful comments some people have left are as bad or worse than anything Coulter said — but people who post here have a limited reach. Coulter and the media outlets that use her have a much wider audience, hence more responsibility to raise the level of discourse. Not just chase a buck from the lowest common denominator.
SD
Comment by Sprague D — June 17, 2006 @ 2:05 pm
The best way to deal with clowns like you-know-who is to ignore them. Coulter, Michael Moore and their ilk will pass onto the dust heap of history soon enough (remember Wally George? Morton Downey? Lou Gordon? Lou who? Exactly my point)…
Comment by Jim Walsh — June 17, 2006 @ 5:20 pm
so much time wasted. mine too.
we’re dipping in the cry cry, sigh sigh river.
ring em up, ann.
there’s a gillion anti-probots behind you
Comment by JB Jones — June 18, 2006 @ 3:34 am
Eric – How can you or anyone know how much time these women spent grieving the deaths of their husbands? How do you know whether they’re still grieving? I know I can’t tell from here, but I lack your psychic power to detect evil intentions in people I don’t like.
Coulter hasn’t offered scrutiny, she has heaped contumely. And it doesn’t matter what people are saying about her. That’s a tu quoque argument (Latin: you, too). No matter what anyone says about her it in no way justifies any of her bad behavior.
Ann Coulter is a disgrace to the human race, a pathetic excuse for a human being. If people would just stop buying the venom she’s selling, then she’d have to get a real job, and that would be the best possible outcome.
I just want to say to my liberal friends, please stop with the “mAnn” Coulter garbage, the comments (all too frequent in general, but so far absent here) about her Adam’s apple, and the put-downs about her appearance. I happen to think she’s pretty nice looking, but even if you don’t, how would you react to conservatives attacking, say, Sen. Barbara Mikulski on her appearance?
Ann Coulter has done and said more than enough that is worthy of criticism, and that’s what she should be criticized for, what she does and says. Taking cheap pot shots just lowers you to her level and demeans you.
Comment by David Conrad — June 18, 2006 @ 3:54 am
The link is a detailed response to this post.
Also, check out my collection of anti-Coulter images.
Comment by Al Barger — June 19, 2006 @ 12:07 am
Ann is telling us the other side of the story. Liberal policies have ruined our Country by destroying the family and creating a society so screwed up we have 65,000 murders, most by worthless vermin over drugs. A society where it’s okay to physically stop a person from speaking at her commencement because she might say something about her religion. This by an organization that is supposed to be protecting our right to free speech. Thank God for Ann Coulter.
Comment by Steve Joca — June 19, 2006 @ 5:28 am
Yikes, Al… obsessed much?
Comment by Sprague D — June 19, 2006 @ 7:19 am
Years ago I figured out that liberals were like vampires at a formal dinner party. Always refined, erudite, intelligent sounding, patting themselves on the back for being “tolerant”, peace loving, compassionate blah blah blah.
But like the Soviets used to be, they seem that way right until you dare to speak the raw truth about them.
The truth to a liberal is like the crucifix. Pull out the crucifix at the dinner party and suddenly the well dressed guest will bare fangs and go ballistic because the liberal and the truth cannot coexist in the same space.
The calibration of how good Anne Coulter is is directly proportional to how ballistic liberals go. And the specific liberal tactic is to immediately re-label. So her statements about the activist 911 widows are spot on and the truth. Did they go ballistic with Jaime Gorelick, imposer of the specific policy that killed their husbands, on the 911 Commission?
No. Not just “why not” but “how could they not” since the “wall” Gorelick erected was the very mechanism that allowed their husbands killers to complete their mission.
The answer is simple. Liberals eat their young (abortion) and their “old” (right to die) and anyone , even their dead husbands, who thwart their narcissistic proclivities. In the case of the 911 Widows, their husbands bodies hadnt grown cold in death before they were out there demanding to be noticed, not as widows but as policy makers.
The proof of Anne Coulters rightness is further proven by the fact that not one school that has highlighted a Cindy Sheehan “performance’ has ever allowed a pro-America widow or parent in the same category, to ever address their students. So liberals only recognize widows and “grieving parents” who are Jimmy Carter Peacenics as opposed to those who have suffered the same loss but see the value of their loss as part of a greater good just as the deaths from WW2.
The use of victims was given a highlight send off with Christopher Reeves speech at the Demo convention. The proof it was a stunt was giving Al Gore a pass on his Family’s tobacco raising and all the people they “killed”, his leaking zinc mine (on his own property), his Dads aggressive opposition to the Civil Rights Act and his nanny having to eat in the car while the Gores ate in the restaraunt.
In other words liberals arent about principals, they are about props. Anne Coulter knows a prop when she sees one.
Anne Coulter has unmasked the liberals for what they are. Cynical hypocrites.
Coulters recent response to them is amazing as she quotes several statements by liberals far more evil than any interpretation of what she has made of the 911 widows. The fact that liberals never get upset about the worse things maouthed by their own reveals what I say to be true.
Take Michael Moores comment on Elian Gonzalez.
Michael Moore wrote a famous letter to Elian Gonzalez In 2000. Newsmax6/18/06
“… your mother decided to kidnap you … in Cuba, you were in jeopardy of receiving free health care whenever you needed it, an excellent education in one of the few countries that has 100 percent literacy … your mother snatched you and put you on that death boat because she simply wanted to make more money. Your mother placed you in a situation where you were certain to die [italics mine] on the open seas and that is unconscionable. It was the ultimate form of child abuse.”
Clearly what Moore said was as mean as could be. Especially when made to an eight year old. The silence of the Coulter critics to Moore says it all. Its not about prinbcipal its about props.
Comment by marvin destin — June 19, 2006 @ 11:37 am
I wish I could have ten kids with Ann.
Gee, smart, blond, skinny and unmedicated.
Ironic I got to your site from “Reason”.
Comment by Walt — June 19, 2006 @ 12:17 pm
Howdy Sprague. Quick follow-up. Note that I found this story of yours from your Blogad at Blogcritics, where I am OG.
My response to this story is now also HERE AT BLOGCRITICS. It has an open comments thread, so do feel free to jump in- the water’s fine.
Comment by Al Barger — June 19, 2006 @ 3:39 pm
‘The chief aim of wisdom is to enable one to bear with the stupidity of the ignorant.’
Comment by d-dog — June 19, 2006 @ 4:04 pm
I have no problem with Coulter or anyone else expressing their opinions, no matter how extreme they may be. Freedom of speech is a core American value that cannot be abridged and it is never more apparent when we are confronted by those as deliberately offensive as Coulter and her clones on both sides of the political aisle.
But there is such a thing as responsible journalism. We have to question what the purpose of a person’s words are, what they seek to elicit. In all her books and media appearances, Coulter is seeking to inflame, incite, insult, and most importantly, to divide. She’s not presenting her ideas in a reasonable, respectful manner to try to persuade. She cannot write or speak without frequently resorting to ad hominems. She seeks to strengthen the “Us against Them” mentality with every word she writes or speaks.
But as much as I hate the way she expresses herself, I would never deny her the right to do so.
Comment by Libertine — June 19, 2006 @ 7:09 pm
I’ve updated the post, following an exchange on Blogcritics. The rat is learning. It’s what rats do…
SD
Comment by Sprague D — June 19, 2006 @ 7:25 pm
IF YOU ARE *REALLY* LOOKING FOR A WAY TO DEAL WITH OUTBREAKS OF COULTERGEIST ACTIVITY, TRY THIS …
Just stop talking about A** C******.
Really. Stop altogether.
The best way of dealing with the phenomenon is silence and dismissal.
Don’t buy her books, don’t read her work, don’t review it, don’t discuss it, don’t discuss her. If you happen to be a professional member of the chattering classes, don’t appear with her on talk shows, don’t engage her in debate, dialogue, arguments, faces-offs or whatever. And when the subject of A** C****** comes up – disregard it. If asked about her, ignore the question calmly; wait patiently for the next question on another subject. Pressed for an opinion, yield none. Charged with being “afraid to engage” the issue, smile and wait. The best public statement on A** C****** is DEAD AIR.
Make some.
Then, move on – and leave her ranting to her choir.
More even than on the cheers of her sad supporters, the creature lives for and feeds on the outrage of the easily-baited.
And no productive purpose is served by feeding its need for that attention.
Don’t be so weak as to succumb to her provocations. You have better uses for your time and energy.
We all do.
MOVE ON.
And when others raise the question of what to do about A** C****** … say, “nothing.”
Or … just say nothing at all.
Comment by JOHN THOMAS GILLICK — June 19, 2006 @ 7:45 pm
Now, lest I allow myself to be misunderstood, let me break my own proposed rule of non-response/non-discussion to clarify (just a bit) my proposed way of dealing with the Coultergeist:
I do not propose non-response (of any kind) to A** C****** in the expectation, or even hope that she disappear from the scene.
On the contrary, I wish her a long and productive life putting herself and her fulminations right in the public eye, the public ear, the public face.
Absent engagement from opposition, to whom does she speak, on whom does she have impact, in whom does she shape new perceptions, new conclusions, new positions?
Her supporters, believers, fans, followers are long lost to reason; they look to her not for any new thought but just the comforting, reliable, re-affirmation, re-packaging and recharge of already entrenched angers, envies, resentments, prejudices, hatreds.
Left to stew in their own corrosive juices they and she will continue – as is common in “greenhouse effect” situations – to reinforce their own extremes.
Already her outbursts – no matter how nakedly cynical, no matter how obviously calculated to generate publicity, book sales, speaking engagements – have gone beyond the more structured racism and jingoism of such demagogues as Patrick Buchanan to enter the even more poisonous realm of the late unlamented anti-Semitic conspiracy-theory enabler Father Coughlin. Unopposed, to what depths wills he sink in ever more desperate efforts to gain more attention, to maintain the notoriety she courts as validation?
Unopposed, unengaged by us, she will more and more stand in the public eye as spokes-raver for the anti-democratic right in the United States. Let her.
Let her rave from every platform possible, as often as possible.
Unopposed.
Let the RIGHT find out THEY have to deal with her. And with the perception that THIS is what THEY are about – hatred, rancor, conspiracy theories, demagoguery.
Lyndon Johnson once said of a trouble-maker in his own party, “It’s probably better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in.”
That’s not always true, is it.
Let A** C****** piss up THEIR tent.
While we watch from a distance – and enjoy the spectacle as the right begins enjoy to grasp the fact that THEY are going to have to do the cleaning up.
Not OUR problem.
Comment by JOHN THOMAS GILLICK — June 19, 2006 @ 7:46 pm
Now you’re talking Brother Dawley, with that 6/19 update. Alternate strategy: debunk her. It’s harder work, but it’s the right way. Get one of her columns and parse it out. Show exactly where she’s getting off track, or being dishonest, etc. Don’t let her get away with stuff!
Comment by Al Barger — June 20, 2006 @ 3:14 am
Her new book is nothing less than great. I laugh how she makes all you libtards meltdown
Comment by bunnymud — June 24, 2006 @ 12:50 pm
You people really need to get over 9/11 and move on with your lives. Yes I feel sorry for the people that lost their loved ones and I can sympathize with them.
But good fucking god, tragedies like that happen very often. People die, war happens, famine & hunger strikes but guess what people….LIFE GOES ON!!!!
You guys talk about 9/11 like it was the worst tragedy in history. What about the Rwanda genocide? Tsunami? The Louisiana floods? The Armenian Genocide?
Yeah I guess people only care when the shit hits closer to home!!!!
Comment by getalife — June 25, 2006 @ 4:04 pm
I’m closing comments on this post. It got spread around the net pretty well and now I’m getting hit with lots of spam comments that are a pain to filter out.
I’m sure Ann will say something again that will allow people to vent their spleen at her. Until then, thanks to everyone who came by.
SD
Comment by Sprague D — June 25, 2006 @ 4:48 pm