Coulter reference to Edwards as "#*!@" gives rise to questions for media
In a March 2 speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), right-wing pundit Ann Coulter said she "can't really talk about" Democratic presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (NC) because "you have to go into rehab if you use the word '#*!@.' " The CPAC audience applauded her comment. Coulter's comments, which aired on CSPAN, were also documented by the weblog Think Progress. It was not the first time Coulter has smeared a prominent Democrat with a homophobic epithet, and it is not the first time that Coulter has ridiculed Edwards. Will the media call on Republican presidential hopefuls attending the CPAC conference to denounce her smear?
From Coulter's March 2 speech:
COULTER: Oh, and I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards. But it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word "#*!@," so I'm -- so I'm kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards. So I think I'll just conclude here and take your questions.
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." At the end of the interview, host Chris Matthews said: "Thanks for coming on. And a smart lady. Her book's called Godless. Sometimes being smart isn't enough for a civil discourse. We'd love to have her back."
Coulter previously ridiculed Edwards in a 2003 column for frequently talking about the death of his 16-year-old son, Wade:
Edwards has talked about his son's death in a 1996 car accident on "Good Morning America," in dozens of profiles and in his new book. ("It was and is the most important fact of my life." His 1998 Senate campaign ads featured film footage of Edwards at a learning lab he founded in honor of his son, titled "The Wade Edwards Learning Lab." He wears his son's Outward Bound pin on his suit lapel. He was going to wear it on his sleeve, until someone suggested that might be a little too "on the nose."
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.
As Think Progress noted, prior to Coulter's speech, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said, "I'm happy to learn also that after you hear me, you're going to from Ann Coulter. That is a good thing. Oh yeah!" Romney then referenced members of the "mainstream media" whom he said were in attendance:
ROMNEY: I'm happy to learn also that after you hear me, you're going to from Ann Coulter. That is a good thing. Oh yeah! Now, I think it's always very important to get the views of moderates. Now, I know there are a few here from the mainstream media, and they're probably surprised that we're here in these record numbers.
During her CPAC speech, Coulter apparently endorsed Romney, saying, "I think he's probably our best candidate":
AUDIENCE MEMBER: What do you think of Governor Romney's candidacy for presidency?
COULTER: What do I think of Governor Romney's candidacy for presidency? I think he's probably our best candidate. I mean, I think it is fair to say -- and this is coming from someone who supported Pete DuPont, Alan Keyes, Pat Buchanan, Steve Forbes. So, you know, it's not like I won't go for an underdog. But I think we have to be serious about this, and I think our choice is among Gingrich, Giuliani, McCain and Romney. And Giuliani is very, very liberal. When this country gets to the point -- I mean, I have a love letter to him in my current book, Godless. What he did for New York was magnificent. But when this country gets to the point where both presidential candidates support abortion, I think we can hang it up as a country.
And McCain, I think has some problems, because everyone who supports him would have to switch party registrations to vote for him. I love Gingrich. I think he's brilliant. He was crucial, the man for his time. We don't know if he's running for president, but assuming he is, I kind of think his time has passed, and I don't know, you know, it could come back again, like '80s music, but I think his time is over. And you have to say about Romney, he tricked liberals into voting for him. I like a guy -- I like a guy who hoodwinks liberals so easily. And also, the one thing that I have a very soft spot for is that I love Mormons. And the reason why I love Mormons, well, among other things, is -- you may have forgotten this -- Bill Clinton in Utah in 1992 came in third in Utah. Now, that's a fine state.
Coulter also touted Romney's position on gay rights, saying:
COULTER: And of course, if you're working for a Republican candidate, you'll meet some nice heterosexual guys. By the way, before I let that slide, I do want to point out one thing that has been driving me crazy with the media, how they keep describing Mitt Romney's position as being "pro-gays, and that's going to upset right-wingers." Well, you know, screw you, I'm not anti-gay. We're against gay marriage. I don't want gays to be discriminated against. I mean, I think we have, in addition to blacks, I don't know why all gays aren't Republicans. I think we have the pro-gay position, which is anti-crime and for tax cuts. Gays make a lot of money, and they're victims of crime. I mean, the way -- no, they are. They should be with us. But the media portrays us. If they could get away with it, they would start saying, you know, "Mitt Romney, he's pro-civil rights, and that's going to upset conservatives." No. OK. Sorry, go ahead.
The incident at CPAC suggests at least two questions:
Will the media -- including the "mainstream media" figures Romney said attended his speech -- ask Romney whether he will repudiate Coulter's apparent endorsement?
Will the media ask the other Republican presidential candidates and potential candidates participating in CPAC -- including Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, Duncan Hunter, and Mike Huckabee -- whether they will seek the votes of the CPAC attendees who cheered Coulter's smear of Edwards?
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
posted on March 3, 2007 03:25:49 PM new
Her outrageously bigoted comments are not unexpected. But this one is especially shocking and deserves the condemnation that it is now receiving.
Anyone who drags her signature line around this board is just as filthy.
posted on March 3, 2007 04:24:31 PM new
I'm surprised she didn't refer to him as 'THE ambulance chaser'.
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Right bear....always different like when they're calling our President a nazi, terrorist...etc...etc..etc.
I sure don't remember ANYONE here saying they should apoligize to the President.
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This is like when hillary got her panties in a wad because her previous supporter, who now supports obama, said what he did.
Did she DEMAND that HE apoligize????..... LOL LOL Nope....she wanted obama to do so.
They just get confused on who would be apologizing for what. And since they don't give the same COURTESY NOR have they EVER apologized for the BS they've said.....then I just laugh it off.
I have no idea WHY she'd call him that....maybe she knows something we DON'T.
posted on March 3, 2007 04:51:37 PM new
Oh now I see....LOL LOL LOL
It's old blood-vessel-busting, SCREAMING dean that wants the republican presidential candidates to denounce what coulter said.
ROFLMHO
What? They let him out of the cage they've been keeping him locked up in....so he wouldn't continue to embarrass their party.....and once he's let out all he can do is SCREAM about coulter's statement????
[b]He'd be better off cleaning up and denouncing his OWN top dem leaders from all the HATE SPEECH they've thrown towards THIS President....FIRST.
How funny. They should all denouce her RIGHT to say what she wants? Typical of them.
But their HATE SPEECH is a - okay. NOT!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
Ann Coulter
[ edited by Linda_K on Mar 3, 2007 04:54 PM ]
posted on March 3, 2007 05:03:49 PM new
"None of this is news, really. This is a movement propelled by an insatiable hunger for more slaughter and more wars. It is centrally dependent upon hatred of an Enemy, foreign or domestic -- the Terrorist, the Immigrant, the F@ggot, the R@ghead, and most of all, the Liberal. As John Dean brilliantly documented, that is the only real feature that binds the "conservative" movement at this point, the only attribute that gives it identity and purpose. It does not have any affirmative ideas, only a sense of that which it hates and wants to destroy. So to watch as the crowd wildly cheers an unapologetic hate-monger is perfectly natural and not at all surprising."
posted on March 3, 2007 05:22:07 PM new
I did read her words, above, but it's hard for me to do that without hearing over the words her nasal snorting. That aside, she's a whore for applause--even from ignorant people. ANYthing to sell her books.
_____________________
People who want to share their religious views with you almost
never want you to share yours with them.
posted on March 3, 2007 05:37:05 PM newBUT kiara didn't mention whether or not she actually agrees with what was said.
Duh, only an ignoramus trying desperately to be an Ann Coulter mini-me would ever question if I agreed.
Of course Linda_K would call AlterNet a 'rag' because it's pro-American while she is anti-American to the core.
"AlterNet is an award-winning news magazine and online community that creates original journalism and amplifies the best of dozens of other independent media sources. AlterNet's aim is to inspire citizen action and advocacy on the environment, human rights and civil liberties, social justice, media, and health care issues. Our editorial mix underscores a commitment to fairness, equity and global stewardship, and making connections across generational, ethnic and issue lines. AlterNet serves as a reliable filter, keeping hundreds of thousands of people well-informed and engaged, helping them cope with a culture of information overload and resist the constant commercial media onslaught. Our aim is to stimulate, motivate, and engage."
posted on March 3, 2007 05:56:11 PM new
I cannot find ANYWHERE in this thread where ANYONE tried to stifle free speech.
I read poster's opinions on what Coulter said....
Obviously there's a severe lack of education and reading comprehension on the part of neocon posters....
Coulter has every right to make a complete jackass of herself and does it well.....
posted on March 4, 2007 07:54:55 AM new
According to the NYT, this morning.....when the press asked Romney, McCain and Giuliani about Coulter's statement.....they criticized her for saying what she did.
Now...will the lefties here be satisfied?
I seriously doubt it. She can get them going into their hissy fits quicker than anyone. LOL
From the NYT:
Ms. Coulter, asked for a reaction to the Republican criticism, said in an e-mail message: "C'mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting that they are like John Edwards. That would be mean."
posted on March 4, 2007 08:11:50 AM new
Here's a GREAT example of Bill Maher defending the right of people to be able to say whatever they want to say.
Bill Maher Sorry the Assassination Attempt on Dick Cheney Failed
Posted by Noel Sheppard on March 3, 2007 - 10:22.
In 2002, ABC made the decision to not renew Bill Maher's contract after he made some disgraceful comments on his program "Politically Incorrect" concerning America's military response to 9/11.
After what transpired on "Real Time" Friday, the heads of HBO should be equally outraged, if not more.
As the discussion moved to the attempted assassination of Vice President Cheney last week, Maher asked his panel why it was necessary for the Huffington Post to remove comments by readers concerning their disappointment that the attempt failed.
As the conversation ensued, Maher said one of the most disgraceful and irresponsible things uttered on a major television program since Bush was elected.
In a nutshell, the host said the world would be a safer place if the assassination attempt succeeded. And, he even had the nerve to reiterate it.
Here’s the deplorable sequence of events for those that have the stomach for it (video available here courtesy of our friend Ms Underestimated):
---
Here the discussion was about the Cheney HATERS who posted on huffington's blog site about wishing the bombs hadn't MISSED killing Cheney.
Now...will the liberals find that wishing death on our VP is worst than a 'round about way' of calling someone a #*!@?
posted on March 4, 2007 08:15:30 AM new
Yes, I find it "worst"() to wish death on someone than to call them a name ....so what?
You never seem to have a POINT.
NO ONE said Annslut didn't have the right to free speech....what can't you "get" about that.....
posted on March 4, 2007 08:35:11 AM new
And there's helen, still trying to be the leader of the radicals here. But now, rather than insisting they do as SHE says...she's only 'recommending' it.
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Imo, Ann Coulter is not one bit different that the liberals Al Frankin.
They are made from the same cloth...but are on opposite sides of the political aisle.
Franken has a reputation as a comedian and sharply satirical partisan.
As does Ann.
And now franken is running for a senate seat. Maybe Ann will too, one day.
posted on March 4, 2007 08:43:01 AM new
""Maybe Ann will too, one day. ""
I would welcome it as a great way to show the world what radical neocons are all about....
Coulter as their representative....exposing their underbelly, their "truth"....
Now, time to admit NO ONE tried to stifle anniefannie's speech ....
posted on March 4, 2007 12:38:35 PM newDuring her CPAC speech, Coulter apparently endorsed Romney, saying, "I think he's probably our best candidate":
She can keep rooting for Romeny. It wont do much good because he is far behind in the polls right now.
It is nice that she can spot a looser.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
posted on March 4, 2007 12:43:06 PM newBut this one is especially shocking and deserves the condemnation that it is now receiving. Anyone who drags her signature line around this board is just as filthy.
Would you expect anything else from the Ann Coulter wannabe.
Linda thinks everyone else is vile and vulgar but yet she idolizes Ann and defends her words. What a hypocrite.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
posted on March 4, 2007 12:46:18 PM newIronic, that WHO posts that particulat story here?
Well Bear you can continue posting your untrue facts and stories. At least this was true.
Once again we do not see those on the right criticizing the words Ann used but now they are defending her. It is no wonder why those in the South are filled with hate.
One more thing Bear what is a particulat? Is that another word from your made up Canadian language?
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
Now even the Republicans are speaking out against Ann.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
posted on March 5, 2007 10:39:12 AM new
They knew what to expect when they invited her there and the clapping and laughing was heard after she made the remark.
If the Republicans don't want to be known for hate-mongering, ignorance and bigotry why have they allowed their party to be hi-jacked by the wacko far right people that represent that?
posted on March 5, 2007 10:42:25 AM new
Edwards is on the radio now...saying how much money is coming in from people who heard anniefannie's remarks and want to show their support for Edwards..
posted on March 5, 2007 12:44:29 PM new
Whenever Coulter says anything, the libs reaction is Pavlovian. They get outraged, and them get more outraged that conservatives aren't outraged.
Personally I'm hearing more support for her breaking a political correct boundary.
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.George S. Patton
His 1998 Senate campaign ads featured film footage of Edwards at a learning lab he founded in honor of his son, titled "The Wade Edwards Learning Lab." He wears his son's Outward Bound pin on his suit lapel. He was going to wear it on his sleeve, until someone suggested that might be a little too "on the nose."
Are YOU a Bunghole?