Coulter gets what she wanted at CU

The Daily Camera ^ | November 14, 2003 | Aimee Heckel

[EveningStar]

Coulter gets what she wanted at CU

Conservative author says she thrives on battling liberal critics

By Aimee Heckel, Camera Staff Writer
November 14, 2003

Ann Coulter knew what she was getting into when she agreed to speak at arguably the most liberal hotbed in Colorado on Thursday night.

That's why she came.

"How many normal females are going to want to stand up and be called a Nazi and a racist?" said the conservative author and columnist. "As luck would have it, I happen to enjoy it. ... It perks me up to see liberals have nothing in the arsenal."

About 2,000 people filled the University of Colorado's Macky Auditorium on Thursday night to hear Coulter criticize Democrats in light of the war in Iraq. About half hissed and booed, and the other half laughed at her prickly humor and thanked her with a standing ovation.

Some, like Kevin Cooper of Louisville, said he wanted to hear another viewpoint, even if it contradicted his own.

"You can't make a viewpoint with one side. You have to understand the other side, too," he said.

Coulter said CU was typical of most colleges she speaks at, with a little extra heckling. But one thing surprised her, she said.

"I've never seen this on a college campus before: They were applauding Saddam Hussein," she said after her speech. "I was a little taken aback."

Coulter was referring mainly to one question about when the United States will put the interests of the world before its own.

"I think removing Saddam is good for the world. That question presupposed it's not," she said.

In response, some audience members said that because they do not support the war doesn't mean they support Hussein.

Coulter criticized most of the crowd's questions, calling them not intelligent or thoughtful.

"I go to these college campuses and I'm witnessing a breakdown in cognitive thought," she said.

But criticism Thursday night was mutual. In response to Coulter's advocacy of racial profiling to weed out terrorists, some called her racist and others stomped out of the auditorium.

"It's one thing to talk about liberals or conservatives," said Kerry Kite, CU's diversity director. "There's a big difference to come out and crack jokes that have some sort of meaning. But to just defame other cultures and ethnicities is just plain ignorant."

The CU Cultural Events Board organized the event.

Contact Aimee Heckel at (303) 473-1359 or heckela@dailycamera.com.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"Does anyone here have any details of this or is this simply hyperbole by Ann?"


Do you have any details of this or is this simply hyperbole by YOU?

[sweetliberty]

"He does not even grasp the meaning of "ignorance".

No, but he DOES illustrate it...that's gotta count for something.

[huck von finn]

You gotta be kidding me. Coulter beats the stuffing at 45, of most women who are 19 to 22.

Not in Boulder, Colorado.

You should see and listen to my 20-year-old daughter, who is double majoring in English literature and history at CU (this takes a long time), and who has established plans for grad school at one of two fine universities elsewhere. There are many bright and attractive young women at CU who are more concerned with knowledge than publicity for a buck.

Anorexic, middle-aged women don't cut it here--especially those who scream for publicity.

CU is a well respected research university, especially in the sciences. I studied there (2nd graduate degree), I taught there, and I respect it.

There are professors who will inject their politics into their teaching; as far as I'm concerned, those profs need to go, no matter where and what they are teaching. If college kids are educated and raised with a sense of respect, they'll have sensible and well rounded opinions. Their politics can grow from that point. They will have those opinions, and the opinions will change with time, circumstance, and experience.

Students are not blank slates--not at the college level. They are of varying ages, backgrounds, and so forth. I have taught a basic course at CU; now I teach at a community college in the area, and I can tell you that all of my students are varied regarding upbringing, experience, race, work ethic (individually), etc. This makes the job of teaching a fascinating and time consuming one.

When I first heard about another talking head visiting CU, I wondered whether many would attend at all. People in this area of mid-northern Colorado usually have better things to do--especially since the Halloween weather has (as usual) passed. We still have the strong sun and cool breeze; there's snow on the mountains, but the sun is out here for a great hike on the rolling plains or in the mountains. Why would people opt to view a talking head?

[Robert A Cook PE]

Good picture!

It's well laid out, and very complimentary!

[NeoCaveman]

We did not "fire" Ann for what she wrote, even though it was poorly written and sloppy. We ended the relationship because she behaved with a total lack of professionalism, friendship, and loyalty.

She called them girlie men, if the dress fits wear it....

[Robert A Cook PE]

The Arabs were running slave rings since before the Romans.... The Jews had slaves, and were slaves before the Greeks had writing. Earlier, slavery existed since the Babalonians (-1 sp) and Egyptians in 3000 Bc.

Islam merely continued the trend in 700AD. They (the blacks, the Arabs) still run slavery trade cultures now in Africa.

Today's blacks have NO POWER and nothing to advance their agenda without a constant reference to slavery 150 years ago.

[DMZFrank]

"It's one thing to talk about liberals or conservatives," said Kerry Kite, CU's diversity director. "There's a big difference to come out and crack jokes that have some sort of meaning. But to just defame other cultures and ethnicities is just plain ignorant."

CU's diversity director? Is the director's office located in the Ministry of Diversity? Why is so much of this administratively mandated political correctness reminiscent of something out of 1984?

[Lancey Howard]

Ann is 41.
Do a little homework before you show up and start with the slanderous "anorexia" accusations and the rest of your worthless pap. Oh, and do let me know when your amazing daughter becomes a brilliant lawyer, a syndicated columnist, and a New York Times best-selling author.

[the_daug]

Japan, Germany, South Korea....

[Held_to_Ransom]

Japan and Germany were highly advanced countries with a long history of stable governments, and we didn't set up dictatorships in either and there was no active resistance in either while they set up their own governments. True, we wrote the Japanese constitution, but they are a relatively unique case of a extremely well organized and static society. South Korea we still occupy. Any others?

[Lazamataz]

"Bulls**t. Body counts are no way to gauge the rightousness or significance of a war."

How many Jews died at Auschwitz? Did it mean nothing?

Liberals love to switch subjects midstream. We were talking about body counts related to combat.

Do try to stay on topic.

The Germans and the Russians can be said to have fought a war for the wrong reasons, or to have fought the wrong war.

The Russians greatest efforts in World War Two were to repel the German invaders. I don't see how they can be said to have 'fought the wrong war'.

[Askel5]

Good question ...


==== In response, some audience members said that because they do not support the war doesn't mean they support Hussein.

This is probably sufficient for Ann to refer to the students as Saddam lovers.

Very similar to the way I was banned from this Forum as a "Saddam Apologist" for making what I still believe are cogent criticisms of those who play fast and loose with the Geneva Convention. As I've argued since the Battle of Afghanistan, such actions can only end up imperiling our own men. As an Army brat (whose eyes welled with tears yesterday listening to a Marine give an address on battles of the Frozen Chosin), that is absolutely unacceptable to me.


Anyway ... I chalk it up to Ann's being a chick and therefore jumping to some conclusions on an emotional basis that are not warranted objectively.

Probably explains her psychotic addiction to the abusive as well ... the boneheaded heckling "perking her up" in that it confirms those she seeks out as audiences are too stupid and mentally deficient to have any substantive criticisms of the info-tainment pot shots and hyperbole in which Ann herself excels.

Whipping kids up such that they walk out probably not the most effective tactic for sparking consciences, informing minds or winning hearts on principle .. but, hey, that's not what Ann's about.

If she feels like winning folks over (and over and over) she can always show up at CPAC in some animal print number and flash her boyish gams instead.

[sweetliberty]

"zero, unless you count when the French wanted to help the Germans win , in France."

ROTFL!

[Pharmboy]

Ann may be hyperbolic in her wise-ass answers and attacks on the libs, but I have never seen her distort facts.

[halfdome]

I'm glad she enjoys being called a Nazi and a racist, since she calls anyone who disagrees with her a traitor or a Saddam lover.

[Askel5]

In strict accordance with the FR by-laws,
section 4, paragraph 8,
which strictly states that any mention of
our beloved Ann Coulter must include her picture,
I proffer the following WARNING (ADULT CONTENT)
for those whose frail constitutions and
less than perfect physicality may render them
unable to handle what are commonly known as
the Top Ten Reactions to gazing upon Ann Coulter.

[stripes1776]

Diversity is the sacred cow of the political left. But it is really a code word for the destruction and disintegration of Western culture. These college students don't even know their own culture. It isn't part of the curriculum any more, except as something to hate and despise.

There are a lot of intellectuals in academia these days, but very little intelligence. Anne is right that there is very little thinking at colleges any more. There is mostly extreme prejudice against the great works of Western culture.

[albee]

Kerry is so ugly that even his own dog won't hump the owner's leg!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"But to just defame other cultures and ethnicities is just plain ignorant."

Or pissed off.

[Enterprise]

"I'm glad she enjoys being called a Nazi and a racist, since she calls anyone who disagrees with her a traitor or a Saddam lover."

To me, the difference is that she is called a Nazi and a racist without foundation, just as many times, conservatives are automatically labeled as Nazis and racists. The reverse is that Coulter at least has some foundation to make her statements. I have read both "Slander" and "Treason," and she provides documented sources.