Changes

'''Ann Coulter''' (b. 1961) is a bestselling author of books that present conservative views in a polemical way.  

'''Ann Coulter''' (b. 1961) is a bestselling author of books that present conservative views in a polemical way.  

Some of her books include ''Godless: The Church of Liberalism,'' ''Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right,'' and ''Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism.''  Ann Coulter has earned a strong following among conservatives for what many believe is her patriotic stances against liberals, her hatred of all those who wish to hurt America, and her strong defense of family values against the homosexual agendas.

Some of her books include ''Godless: The Church of Liberalism,'' ''Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right,'' and ''Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism.''  Ann Coulter has earned a strong following among conservatives for what many believe is her patriotic stances against liberals, her outspokenness against all those who wish to hurt America, and her strong defense of family values against abortion and same-sex marriage.

==Edwards controversy==

==Edwards controversy==

:I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word '[slur for homosexual]'<ref>The American Heritage Dictionary lists two meanings for the word: "''Offensive Slang'' Used as a disparaging term for a homosexual man"[http://www.bartleby.com/61/11/F0011100.html] and a variant spelling of a word meaning "A bundle of twigs, sticks, or branches bound together"[http://www.bartleby.com/61/13/F0011300.html]</ref> so I'm - so, kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards."<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/04/coulter.edwards/ Coulter under fire for anti-gay slur], CNN, March 4, 2007</ref>

:I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word '[slur for homosexual]'<ref>The American Heritage Dictionary lists two meanings for the word: "''Offensive Slang'' Used as a disparaging term for a homosexual man"[http://www.bartleby.com/61/11/F0011100.html] and a variant spelling of a word meaning "A bundle of twigs, sticks, or branches bound together"[http://www.bartleby.com/61/13/F0011300.html]</ref> so I'm - so, kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards."<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/04/coulter.edwards/ Coulter under fire for anti-gay slur], CNN, March 4, 2007</ref>

Amy Ridenour, president of one of the conservative groups funding the conference, commented:

No leading conservative group criticized Ann Coulter for this remark.  A few less prominent and liberal-leaning groups did distance themselves from this statement.  Amy Ridenour, president of a [[libertarian]] group that was one of numerous supporters of the conference, commented:

:We conservatives have enough trouble overcoming the false things that are said about us without paying for a platform upon which we shoot ourselves annually in the foot."<ref>[http://www.nationalcenter.org/Z030507=ann-coulter-at-cpac.html Ann Coulter at CPAC], Amy Ridenour's comments at website of the National Center for Public Policy Research</ref>

:We conservatives have enough trouble overcoming the false things that are said about us without paying for a platform upon which we shoot ourselves annually in the foot."<ref>[http://www.nationalcenter.org/Z030507=ann-coulter-at-cpac.html Ann Coulter at CPAC], Amy Ridenour's comments at website of the National Center for Public Policy Research</ref>

Rev. Patrick Mahoney of The Christian Defense Coalition said "With so many pressing issues facing the American public, one should never resort to vicious name calling or personal attacks in an attempt to prove a political point," said Coulter had "diminished herself and her message," and said he would have preferred "to have heard Ann expose and dissect the radical agenda of Senator Edwards instead of restoring to cheap name calling."<ref>[http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/340052384.html Ann Coulter's Use of [slur] in Describing Senator Edwards Denounced by Christian Defense Coalition</ref>

A coalition of "Credentialed CPAC 2007 Bloggers," none affiliated with a major conservative group, petitioned CPAC not to extend further speaking invitations to Coulter.  Their demand to exclude Ann Coulter was rejected or ignored by leading conservative groups.<ref>[http://www.theamericanmind.com/2007/03/05/an-open-letter-to-cpac-sponsors-and-organizers-regarding-ann-coulter/ An Open Letter to CPAC Sponsors and Organizers Regarding Ann Coulter], ''The American Mind'' website</ref>  Following the incident, Verizon, Sallie Mae and NetBank were reported as saying they want their ads removed from Ann Coulter's website.[http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/05/coulter.ads/index.html]  

 

A coalition of conservative bloggers petitioned CPAC not to extend further speaking invitations to Coulter, saying it was time to "make a stand for political civility," "draws attention to herself, rather than placing the spotlight on conservative ideas," and suggesting that "the Age of Ann has passed."<ref>[http://www.theamericanmind.com/2007/03/05/an-open-letter-to-cpac-sponsors-and-organizers-regarding-ann-coulter/ An Open Letter to CPAC Sponsors and Organizers Regarding Ann Coulter], ''The American Mind'' website</ref>  Following the incident, Verizon, Sallie Mae and NetBank were reported as saying they want their ads removed from Ann Coulter's website.[http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/05/coulter.ads/index.html]  

In response to the criticism, Coulter said "C'mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting that they are like John Edwards. That would be mean."<ref>New York Times, as cited in CNN story[http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/04/coulter.edwards/]</ref> In a March 5th interview on ''Hannity & Colmes,'' an unapologetic Coulter stated that the word "isn't offensive to gays. It has nothing to do with gays. It's a schoolyard taunt, meaning wuss."<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,256949,00.html Ann Coulter Defends Edwards Comments], Fox News, March 6, 2007]</ref>

In response to the criticism, Coulter said "C'mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting that they are like John Edwards. That would be mean."<ref>New York Times, as cited in CNN story[http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/04/coulter.edwards/]</ref> In a March 5th interview on ''Hannity & Colmes,'' an unapologetic Coulter stated that the word "isn't offensive to gays. It has nothing to do with gays. It's a schoolyard taunt, meaning wuss."<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,256949,00.html Ann Coulter Defends Edwards Comments], Fox News, March 6, 2007]</ref>