Addition or subtraction?: Ann Coulter and the conservative crossroads

Townhall.com ^ | March 7, 2007 | Michael Medved

[PajamaTruthMafia]

This is politics we are talking about. Sometimes the appearance of a thing is just as important as what actually is

You couldn't be more wrong. That's because we allow the Left to define who we are and what we can say and do without fight back. That's playing their game by their rules and WE CAN'T WIN that way. The best we can hope for using that strategy is slowly bleed to death!

[Tribune7]

I wouldn't have called Edwards gay - because it's pretty clear he isn't.

That's true. He can be described as a faggot though, although I will concede that is a bit crude. "Breck Girl" is a better choice. Not that it means anything different than "faggot" though in the context in which Ann Coulter used it.

[pissant]

What a wuss medved is:

Obviously, the future of the conservative movement and of the Republic itself requires GOP recruitment of more Latinos, Blacks and gays, and anything that stands in the way of such participation fatally undermines the party’s future.

ANYTHING Michael??

Like accepting the far lefts version of Politcal Correctness, also known as an Orwellian nightmare? Like accepting a stinking LIBERAL for a presidential nominee of the "conservative" party? Like accepting the status quo of illegal aliens overrunning the border? By accepting law breaking mayors who offer these illegals "safe sancuary"? By pandering to NAACP and the Urban League and the rest of the anti-american black scumbag leftists? By spending countless hours criticizing a quip by one of the few conservatives who call these commies to the carpet, and ignoring the fact that hundreds of school districts across America are teaching schoolkids about anal sex?

Medved, you can have the GOP you want, it just won't include those of us who "push them away because they fail to measure up to our own standards of indignation and ideological purity". That's right, the same voters like me who helped steer the GOP away from Rockefeller Republicanism and into rock ribbed conservative Reaganism. Who gladly pulled the lever for GWB twice, despite his lack of "purity", and who plugged our noses and voted for his father and Bob Dole.

Take your limp wristed bullsh*t elsewhere, Michael.

[RexBeach]

I see your point.

Calling people names never works. If you call someone a bad name, most people will think that is rude and unbecoming conduct.

BTW, I admire Ms. Coulter very much, but she was wrong on this one.

[NewCenturions]

"Ann and my sense of humour is somewhat different. I wouldn't have called Edwards gay"

Ok, How about a "poofter"? I've read your stuff for years and your tagline says it all. :)

[BunnySlippers]

Terrific article!

[cicero2k]

Question:

Who are the serious spokespersons for the left? Someone to be taken seriously, who if they uttered slurs about the right would be marginalized.

I can't think of a serious leftist name. Perhaps Colmes of Hannity and Colmes? The Olbermanns, Matthews and many other cable hosts of the world slur the right all the time and are not marginalized. So why is the standard so high on the right?

That being said, I think Ann attracts enough attention without hyperbole. But it's her career risk. Both sides have their verbal risk takers. They should be treated by society is a similar manner. I think Ann is conducting a test, to compare treatment; grist for the next book perhaps.

[MadIvan]

You couldn't be more wrong. That's because we allow the Left to define who we are and what we can say and do without fight back. That's playing their game by their rules and WE CAN'T WIN that way. The best we can hope for using that strategy is slowly bleed to death!

I don't see how matters are improved by Ann calling Edwards a "faggot". As a previous posters have stated, it was a botched joke, not apparently a deliberate move forward.

Being frustrated is fine - it happens to everyone - but when one comes down from being frustrated, the reality of the situation is, there are more effective ways to lacerate the liberals. This was not some well-thought out jibe to move anything in particular along - it was a from the hip comment which has fallen flat. It shouldn't be raised to a Holy Crusade on Ann's behalf, and conservatives do need to think about gaining a wider audience.

That's all.

Ivan

[proud American in Canada]

Good article. Thanks for posting it.

[liberty or death]

We are no longer a party trying to change the hearts and minds of Americans. Once again I'll be pulling the(R)lever only to vote in the lesser of two evils and slow down the socialist march the world is on.

[crosslink]

"Imagine how naturalized Hispanic citizens, or even native-born Latinos might feel, at the suggestion that their cousins amount to an “invading army” bent on destroying America"

This is where he and President Bush are flawed. Most Latinos got here by hard work and the long process of naturalization. They see these illegals the same way we do as people breaking the law. They will vote for Republicans if they are for God,Church and the rule of law. The Rhinos would change that and cost more votes then conservatives.

[MadIvan]

It's not a joke that would have worked - Edwards has multiple children. One can certainly make jokes about him singing "I Feel Pretty" while looking in the mirror every morning, but that's not the same - plus we have the proof of him taking such an interest in his appearance that it seems true.

Regards, Ivan

[PajamaTruthMafia]

The two things are disconnected. We are supposed to operate at a higher standard than the liberals - that's one of the reasons why I signed up for conservatism - partially because they are base, venal and disgusting.

I am sick and tired of the asymmetric warfare both military and political. You can't allow your enemy to fight by his rules while you fight with mittens on and expect to win. All that does is embolden you enemies and guarantee a future defeat. We need people who will fight and rewrite the rules. It's time for reciprocity!

[daisyscarlett]

Thank you for saying what you said the way you said it!!

I am not super-intelligent nor super-educated but I got what Ann was saying when she said it. Amazes me how many think she was calling Edwards gay.

And what's with all the Repubs apologizing for her? They should have done what Obama did and say they would not apologize for something they did not say...

[pgyanke]

MadIvan,

Good article... but I do take exception from yet another conservative commentatory talking about pandering and compromise this far before the primary.

I would prefer our leaders focus on reality... Catholics make up 25% of the US population and Protestants are over 50%. Rather than focusing on pandering to minority groups, we should be having VALUES discussions regarding those issues which matter the most to more than 75% of Americans.

One of those values that needs to be highlighted over and over is abortion. The Democrat Party Platform advocates for legal abortion. The GOP Platform has an entire article on the sanctity of life. I shouldn't have had to find this out myself--this should be shouted from the rooftops! Overwhelmingly, Americans do not want abortion. The only way it polls well is when the MSM make it an issue of medicine or choice... not when it's a matter of life and death.

If we truly want to win in 2008, leave the abortion-supporters behind and hit hard at our first liberty as enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. Sound the clarion call our Founding Fathers sounded that all men are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights; "that among these are life..."--without which no other right is exercisable.

[concerned about politics]

Colter is right. The Breck girl does look and act like a faggot. He's not called the Breck girl for nothing.

Colter says what millions of Americans have been conditioned ( by political correctness, i.e., the silencing of all opposition to the left wing agenda) to be afraid to say through threats of hate speech legislation.

I'm happy to have such a great woman on our side. If she doesn't speak up for us, who will? You?

Speak up while you can, or forever hold your tongue!

[Condor51]

Go tend your sheep.

[proud American in Canada]

It is somewhat amusing how many people seem willing to step up and prove Medved's point without realising they're doing it.

LOL!

[silverleaf]

I agree. Ideas recruit people. Not agendas.

If there are Blacks Latinos and gays who do not share core conservative values -like minimal govt involvement in our lives. And wrinkling your nose in distaste and changing the subject when you don't like someone else's "joke" - instead of personal destruction of the bad joke teller, and trying to come up with reparations for the (usually perpetually) offended.

If conservatives reach out anything besides ideas and truth - then recruiting becomes "pandering" and we become the democrat lite party. And we are already witness to the social effects of that.

BTW, singing kumbaya with radical gays whose "spokesmen" are working force a social agenda on the rest of America-and who will NEVER embrace conservatives because they need an enemy to coalesce against - is probably antithetical to "recruiting" conservative-leaning Blacks and Latinos.

[MadIvan]

You're obviously angry. Sinking into the mud is not going to help anything - number one, because the Democrats are used to living there. Secondly, they have the media. I suggest we focus on how our ideas are better than theirs.

Ivan