I’m no fan of Ann Coulter. She’s often needlessly offensive, even vicious.
Coulter’s remarks about those she disagrees with are frequently as venomous as some of the things current DNC chair Howard Dean and Sen. Teddy Kennedy have said.
Dean in an ’04 Democratic presidential nominee candidates' debate called President Bush “the enemy.”
And at the time of Abu Ghraib Kennedy slimed America and our military by announcing on the floor of the U. S. Senate:
"Shamefully, we now learn that Saddam's torture chambers reopened under new management: U.S. management."No doubt those fighting our troops in Iraq and the Moveon.org folks found Kennedy’s words an aid and a comfort.
I don’t read Coulter’s column. If I never see Coulter on TV or see one of her books on a shelf: fine.
But the deserved bashing she’s getting now from much of MSM reeks of hypocrisy.
We see an example of that in the Durham Herald Sun’s Weekend Editorial that includes:
By now, most folks tuned into presidential politics know that Ann Coulter, the abrasive, loud-mouthed conservative columnist and author, doesn't like presidential candidate John Edwards.Coulter and Maher’s remarks equally distasteful? I agree.
In March, during a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference, Coulter used a gay slur to refer to Edwards.
Having had a good Southern upbringing, (if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all), Edwards didn't fire back at Coulter's gay slur and used it to raise money for his presidential campaign.
The opportunity to cash in on Coulter's big mouth presented itself again this week when Coulter clearly crossed the line while appearing on Chris Matthews' show, "Hardball." Her venom-filled comment about Edwards probably made Rush Limbaugh blush. Well, maybe not.
"If I'm going to say anything about John Edwards in the future, I'll just wish he had been killed in a terrorist assassination plot," Coulter said in response to a question about the gay slur in March.
The comment was just too much for Elizabeth Edwards, who called into the show to let Coulter know that she didn't appreciate Coulter wishing death on her husband.
"It debases the political dialogue," Elizabeth Edwards said. "It drives people away from the process. We can't have a debate about issues if you're using this kind of language."
John Edwards also found his voice on Wednesday: "When these hatemongers, with their hate language, continue to speak out, we are not going to sit by quietly anymore," he said.
Some political pundits speculated that Coulter's remarks were a riff on a similar comment made by HBO's Bill Maher in March. Maher said "people wouldn't be dying needlessly" if Vice President Dick Cheney had been killed in an insurgent attack in Afghanistan.
Coulter and Maher's remarks are equally distasteful, and have no place in the nation's political discourse. …
So why didn’t the H-S editorialize when Maher made his widely quoted and disgusting remarks targeting America’s Vice President?
The H-S is right when it says Coulter is “an abrasive, loud-mouth conservative columnist and author.” And Al Franken is an abrasive, loud-mouth liberal author and talk show host.
But how many times has the H-S referred to Franken or liberals like him as abrasive and loud-mouthed?
And has the H-S ever taken to task those who call the President of the United States “Hitler?”
What the H-S gave readers with its Coulter editorial is one more example of the double standard that’s so common at MSM news organizations.
Here's the URL for the H-S editorial:
http://www.heraldsun.com/opinion/hsedits/56-861295.cfm
11 comments:
I am a fan of Anne Coulter - she is brillant, articulate and a gifted writer. Sometimes she goes a step to far - that is okay, as she is willing to take the consequencies. She can take her hits like a big girl.
I do read her articles and have read parts of some books. While I applaud your recognition of the double standard to which she is held, I honestly think you should read her stuff before forming an opinion. Her articles (not so much her books) are genuinely clever, sometimes down right funny. Given your "This made me smile" posts, you might be surprised. If not, at least you are in agreement with us on the bias of the MSM.
Some political pundits speculated...???? Get your facts straight, she prefaced her comments about Edwards after referencing Maher's statement. And to just set the record straight Chrissie Mathews ambushed Ms. Coulter with Ms. Edwards phone call. It (the call) had been arranged well in advance by his own admission. It was a campaign trick with MSNBC acting as an arm of the Edwards campaign. It was just like George Steponallus just happened to get through to Larry King's show when the first President Bush was the guest. Only later did King's staff admit that they had given GS a special direct number. I haven't seen Fox ambush any of the democratic candidates, oh, but they won't go on Fox. CNN, MSNBC, ABC (home to GS) are FAIR and BALANCED . . .
Anon @ 6:57,
I agree Coulter can “take her hits.” It’s one of the things I admire about her.
Anon @ 7:48,
You say: “I honestly think you should read her stuff before forming an opinion.”
That’s reasonable. And I’ve read her stuff and occasionally listen to some of what she says. I should have said that in the post and I apologize for not doing so.
Anon @ 11:32,
She was ambushed? I wouldn’t be surprised. Can you point me to where Matthews admits the call from Elizabeth Edwards was expected and given the green light? I may point on that.
If it was an ambush it’s a good example of Democrats in media (Matthews is a former staffer for Mass. Dem Rep. and Speaker of the House Thomas (Tip) O’Neill) working with Democrats on the campaign trail.
That’s nothing new but it’s objectionable as long as the Dems in media try to pretend they’re just “news people,” when in fact they’re spinning for their party.
To all three of you: Thank you for your thoughtful comments.
John
Coulter has, in her column, claimed it was a "hit" from Lizzie and Chrissie. Have not heard a response.
Perhaps the paper boy cannot throw the N&O far enough to make it over the security fence?
-AC
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/06/26/236484.aspx
This is a link to the Hardball website wherein the campaign admits they called the shows producer just to get the number so they could call like everyone us.
If you believe she just happened to be the first caller, then I have this bridge . . .
The editorial is dishonest and factually wrong on it's face. Ann's comments on Edwards dieing in a terrorist attack took place on Good Morning America, not Hardball. That's the factually incorrect assertion.
The dishonest portion is due to the editorial not giving the full quote. Her point on the GMA show was to point out the hyprocrisy of the media who crucify her while giving liberals a pass. And like Pavlovian dogs - the reaction to her statement proves her point. Here is her full statement on GMA - if you follow the link you can hear the audio:
http://newsbusters.org/node/13750
ANN COULTER (POLITICAL COMMENTATOR)
Though about the same time Bill Maher said - and by the way, I did not call John Edwards the F-word. I said I couldn't talk about him because you go into rehab for using that word.
CHRIS CUOMO (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) You say you were you - you were joking.
ANN COULTER (POLITICAL COMMENTATOR)
About the - oh yeah. I wouldn't, I wouldn't insult gays by comparing them to John Edwards. Now, that would be mean. But about the same time, you know, Bill Maher was not joking and saying he wished Dick Cheney had been killed in a terrorist attack. So I've learned my lesson. If I'm gonna say anything about John Edwards in the future, I'll just wish he had been killed in a terrorist assassination plot.
[Recommend story on Digg.com]
From:
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/ABC_helps_Coulter_promote_Godless_paperback_0625.html
"I wouldn't insult gays by comparing them to John Edwards," Coulter continued, "that would be mean. But about the same time, Bill Maher was not joking when he said he wished Dick Cheney had been killed in a terrorist attack."
Coulter then added, "So I've learned my lesson, if I'm gonna say anything about John Edwards in the future, I'll just wish he'd been killed in a terrorist assassination plot," but Cuomo had no reaction to Coulter's latest "threat."
I saw the clip and that is what she said in an appearance on Good Morning America a few days ago. So there was no need for political pundits to "speculate" that she was referring to Bill Maher.
The whole thing was a set up anyway. Anne Coulter was told that "Mrs. Edwards might call" as she walked in. The article makes it sound like Mrs. Edwards called spontaneously after Anne Coulter made the comment out of nowhere. The comment was made a few days before. What a crock!
This is why I do not believe anything most of the regular media say - They are liars and spinners and beyond contempt. And they think we are so stupid that we won't go look for what was actually said via the internet or Fox.
AC @ 6:37,
I don’t exactly follow your comment but then there’s a lot I miss.
Anon @ 10:09,
Regarding the link you provide and much else you say, see my “collective response “at the end of this comment.
As for that bridge you have, if it’s the one in Brooklyn I’ve already taken a look and turned it down. I want something newer and with toll booths.
Anon @ 10:14,
I appreciate your comment. See my “collective response “at the end of this comment.
Also can you give me a more specific link than Digg.com. I went there, looked around but couldn’t find the Coulter article.
Anon @ 10:33,
I appreciate your comment. See my “collective response “at the end of this comment.
There are many in MSM who are liars and spinners and deserve our contempt. The internet and Fox have been wonderful correctives.
COLLECTIVE RESPONSE to Anons @ 10:09, 10:14 and 10:33,
You and others who’ve spoken up on the thread have convinced me to take a closer look at the whole Coulter/Maher/Matthews/Edwards matter. You did that partly because what you said was fact-based; partly because you spoke civilly; and partly because you provided links so I can follow up and research.
I plan to spend a few hours on the Fourth and take a closer look at what you and others here have said. If it holds up, I'll post further on the matter.
Coulter is fortunate she has such able advocates, and I’m lucky I have such readers as you.
Thank you all for commenting.
John
Nothing like being a fan of a woman who uses the death of a child to be "funny" and to "go a step too far," but oh well, it's that darn EmmEssEmm tossing out double standards about a woman whose work is scoffed at by scholars, excoriated by researchers for it plagiarism, but as long as the Daddy's in charge are in charge, we should just hush up and do what we're told.
Remember this gem from Coulter in 2003? You probably dont, because after all, she's just being attacked because liberals and the EmmEssEmm hate America, God and kittens ...
"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."
It's amazing that when a fact-challenged harpie like Coulter is roundly and rightly criticized for her nastiness, her shrewish insults, her lack of tact and of common decency, it's all just a grand liberal conspiracy to shut down a "good American."
Next you're going to complain that white male Christians are under attack and are a put-upon minority.
Dear HB,
Nice to have you back commenting.
But don't you think you're being a little hard on ol' JinC?
I make clear in my post what I think of Coulter's commentary.
It's the double standard I take out after.
John
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