Difference between revisions of "Ann Coulter"
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| − | '''Ann Coulter''' (b. 1961) is a bestselling author of books that present conservative views in a | + | '''Ann Coulter''' (b. 1961) is a bestselling author of books that present conservative views in a direct and forceful manner. |
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. | 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. | ||
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The comment was reminiscent of Newark Mayor James Sharpe calling his elite opponent Cory Booker a "faggot white boy" during their 2002 political race. "You have to learn to be an African American," Sharpe instructed Booker. "And we don't have time to train you."<ref>"Street Fighting Men; The race to succeed Newark mayor James Sharpe," 11 The Weekly Standard 28 (Apr. 10, 2006).</ref> Virtually no newspaper described Sharpe's comment as anti-homosexual, and he cruised to reelection. | The comment was reminiscent of Newark Mayor James Sharpe calling his elite opponent Cory Booker a "faggot white boy" during their 2002 political race. "You have to learn to be an African American," Sharpe instructed Booker. "And we don't have time to train you."<ref>"Street Fighting Men; The race to succeed Newark mayor James Sharpe," 11 The Weekly Standard 28 (Apr. 10, 2006).</ref> Virtually no newspaper described Sharpe's comment as anti-homosexual, and he cruised to reelection. | ||
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| + | 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> This explanation is consistent with the use of the term in American and British schools in the 20th century, and is supported by its etymology as a term applying to someone who does duties for others more senior.<ref>http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=faggot</ref> Edwards, whose public service consists of merely one term in the U.S. Senate, fits that meaning. | ||
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| + | An analogous reaction by [[liberals]] occurred in 1999 when David Howard, an aide to Washington, D.C., mayor Anthony Williams, used the word "niggardly" in a conversation with two other city employees. Liberal outrage followed this used of an "N" word and he was promptly fired. After the legitimate meaning and etymology of the word was pointed out, he was later rehired.<ref>Jan Freeman, | ||
| + | "GRAMMAR IS BLOWIN' IN THE WIND," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette H-5 (Oct. 22, 2006).</ref> | ||
No leading conservative group criticized Ann Coulter for her 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: | No leading conservative group criticized Ann Coulter for her 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: | ||
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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 "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] | ||
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==Notes and references== | ==Notes and references== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 20:03, March 11, 2007
Ann Coulter (b. 1961) is a bestselling author of books that present conservative views in a direct and forceful manner.
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
On Friday, March 2nd, 2007, speaking to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), she said:
- 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 'faggot'[1] so I'm - so, kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards."[2]
The comment was reminiscent of Newark Mayor James Sharpe calling his elite opponent Cory Booker a "faggot white boy" during their 2002 political race. "You have to learn to be an African American," Sharpe instructed Booker. "And we don't have time to train you."[3] Virtually no newspaper described Sharpe's comment as anti-homosexual, and he cruised to reelection.
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."[4] 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."[5] This explanation is consistent with the use of the term in American and British schools in the 20th century, and is supported by its etymology as a term applying to someone who does duties for others more senior.[6] Edwards, whose public service consists of merely one term in the U.S. Senate, fits that meaning.
An analogous reaction by liberals occurred in 1999 when David Howard, an aide to Washington, D.C., mayor Anthony Williams, used the word "niggardly" in a conversation with two other city employees. Liberal outrage followed this used of an "N" word and he was promptly fired. After the legitimate meaning and etymology of the word was pointed out, he was later rehired.[7]
No leading conservative group criticized Ann Coulter for her 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."[8]
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.[9] Following the incident, Verizon, Sallie Mae and NetBank were reported as saying they want their ads removed from Ann Coulter's website.[4]
Notes and references
- ↑ The American Heritage Dictionary lists two meanings for the word: "Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for a homosexual man"[1] and a variant spelling of a word meaning "A bundle of twigs, sticks, or branches bound together"[2]
- ↑ Coulter under fire for anti-gay slur, CNN, March 4, 2007
- ↑ "Street Fighting Men; The race to succeed Newark mayor James Sharpe," 11 The Weekly Standard 28 (Apr. 10, 2006).
- ↑ New York Times, as cited in CNN story[3]
- ↑ Ann Coulter Defends Edwards Comments, Fox News, March 6, 2007]
- ↑ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=faggot
- ↑ Jan Freeman, "GRAMMAR IS BLOWIN' IN THE WIND," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette H-5 (Oct. 22, 2006).
- ↑ Ann Coulter at CPAC, Amy Ridenour's comments at website of the National Center for Public Policy Research
- ↑ An Open Letter to CPAC Sponsors and Organizers Regarding Ann Coulter, The American Mind website