NY Libs Vulgar, Sexist and Racist in Coulter-Maher Debate

Human Events ^ | March 10, 2008 | S. E. Cupp

[Zakeet]

In an event billed as a “distinguished speaker series” event, Ann Coulter faced off against Bill Maher last night at Radio City Music Hall in New York. In front of 6,000 hissing New York City liberals -- alternately absorbing and answering vulgar, sexist and racist insults from “comedian” Bill Maher -- Coulter battled back against audience shriekers, an unfunny Maher and “moderator” Mark Halperin of Time Magazine in a “debate” that would have been more accurately billed as a cage match and shown on Pay-per-View tv.

The tone was set at the very start. The audience was asked whether they thought President Obama was doing a great job -- or if they "agreed with Rush Limbaugh," which is of course the natural counterpoint. Not exactly a fair question, and the response was predictable.

Ann began her 15-minute opening address by acknowledging that her match up against Bill Maher was kind of like the meeting of Sid and Nancy. We all know how that worked out for Nancy.

Less than 5 minutes into Ann's short speech and the audience had already thrown all decorum out the window. Demonstrating their penchant for suppressing speech they disagree with, audience members yelled obscenities at Coulter, the mildest of which was "go to hell." One gentleman ran up the aisle yelling "We've got a real slut on our hands." This prompted an unfazed Coulter to say, "Aren't liberals polite?" Tonight, anyway, the answer was a resounding "no."

When she had concluded her opening remarks, Maher walked smugly onto the stage to a standing ovation and the kind of adoration usually reserved for feather-haired teen idols who spend weeks on the cover of Tiger Beat. He talked about how racist, greedy, hypocritical and stupid Republicans are, to uproarious laughs and multiple bursts of applause.

Then Maher and Coulter were united by Halperin in the center of the stage for what was supposed to be some rigorous intellectual debate.

It wasn't -- here's a brief recap: They argue about evolution -- Ann says she doesn't believe in it; Bill insults the world's Christians.

They talk about Sarah Palin. Ann thinks she's got a shot at the presidency eventually; Bill calls Palin "Cruella Deville," a "Spokesmodel from the car show" and "dumber [than Bush]" with boobs, only he used a four letter word of course.

They talk about stem cell research -- Ann quotes statistics from Godless; Bill calls embryos "microscopic goo."

They talk about the economy -- Ann says Barney Frank and Chris Dodd are to blame; Bill says the stimulus is "a big package, even for a black guy."

They talk about Bush -- Ann says he kept us safe; Bill says he "spent money like a pimp with a week to live."

And they talk about religion -- Ann says Christians are very tolerant (to loud boos); Bill says that Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal performed an exorcism in college. And means it.

Bill is momentarily heckled, and promptly calls the heckler a seven-letter obscenity beginning with “a” and ending in “e.”

Maher takes potshots at the American public, calling the country stupid with an adroit use of multiple and varied literary devices meant to show how much smarter than the average American he really is.

But the substance -- if you can call it that -- of the discussion took a backseat to the carnage, the uncomfortable back-and-forth between Maher and Coulter, and the infuriating uselessness of Halperin, who practically egged Maher on as he leered and patronized Ann throughout the night, condescendingly calling her "sweetness," and "my darling in the little black dress."

As Coulter fought vainly to stick to a topic, Maher would feign exhaustion over her uncanny penchant for logic and reason, calling her "dunk tank clown," and overseer of the "institute of rectum-derived statistics." At one point, forced to point out his petulance, she said, "Now see, I'm citing facts and you're calling me names," eliciting a throw-away apology and a shudder-inducing pat on the shoulder.

Adding to Maher's total disrespect for, well, everyone, and the audience's total disrespect for Ann, was the overwhelming feeling that this whole charade was rigged. Halperin would cut Ann off to move onto another searing "question," cheered on by the audience every time, but let Maher rattle off 17 off-topic jokes about Ann's genitals or Bush doing drugs.

At one point, while bickering over Obama's campaign promise to pull out of Iraq immediately, Maher successfully goads Halperin into confirming one of his points -- which Halperin does. What kind of "moderator" actually joins in the debate?

A liberal one.

In the end the result was clear: Bill got the most applause in a rigged fight, Ann held her own and liberals have no class. But we already knew that.

This thing belonged in a boxing ring in Atlantic City or Vegas with Jerry Springer as referee.

[Chunga]

You're an arrogant and contemptuous man curiosity, and your arrogance and contempt have no justification.

You fancy yourself an intellectual. I know hundreds just like you. You cannot abide enthusiasm, and it's the enthusiasm you see for Palin, Coulter and Limbaugh that's making you sick...not "cults of personality." You live for the respect of the big, moderate other and the dead-hearted critical thinkers within the ranks of conservative intellectualism. You don't want to be seen as having an ounce of passion or zeal for any conservative candidate or cultural figure who enjoys widespread popularity among the under-educated, Christian evangelicals or the citizens of Red States. It would be too embarrassing.

I'm a fan of Rush and Governor Palin. I like Rush's insight and I like Palin's stances on the issues...sentiments shared by most of the people here. I have no enthusiasm for Coulter, but I can see why some conservatives would. She treats liberals with something approaching the contempt liberals and moderates have for social conservatives. It is in human nature to appreciate one's defenders.

You need to start standing up for conservatives if you are in fact a conservative. You couldn't prove it by me.

[curiosity]

You cannot abide enthusiasm, and it's the enthusiasm you see for Palin, Coulter and Limbaugh that's making you sick...not "cults of personality."

Adoring enthusiasm for individuals is not healthy in a free republic. The left has its messiah complex with Obama. I see a similar complex developing with Palin, and I think it is potentially dangerous.

You live for the respect of the big, moderate other and the dead-hearted critical thinkers within the ranks of conservative intellectualism.

Yes, I respect people who think criticially and provide original insights into political philosophy and policy. For that I do not apologize. Whether the individual is moderate or radical makes no difference. One of the intellectuals on the right I respect most is Charles Murray, who is hardly a moderate by any standard.

The process by which an individual comes to a particular philosophical or policy stance is more important, in my book, than the actual stance he takes.

One of the reasons I respect Rush is that he is, at times, able to articulate his reasoning and logic very well.

The problem with people like Palin, G.W. Bush, Coulter, Hannity, and others is they parrot all the "right" policy positions without understanding how they got to the position.

There used to be a lot more critical thinking in the conservative movement. Today, there are elements on the right that not only ignore the its importance, but are actually repelled by it. That is not healthy.

You don't want to be seen as having an ounce of passion or zeal for any conservative candidate or cultural figure who enjoys widespread popularity among the under-educated, Christian evangelicals or the citizens of Red States. It would be too embarrassing.

Passion and zeal for any leader or cultural figure, save Jesus Christ, is not healthy. Passion for leaders is what brings into power people like Chavez, Peron, and yes, Obama. It is not the practice of a free, self-governing people.

A free people has passion and zeal for causes, ideas, and ideals, not individuals (with the exception Our Savior, of course).

I like Rush's insight

So do I.

I like Palin's stances on the issues...sentiments shared by most of the people here.

Like her view that it's okay to appoint a Planned Parenthood board member to the Supreme Court?

I have no enthusiasm for Coulter, but I can see why some conservatives would. She treats liberals with something approaching the contempt liberals and moderates have for social conservatives. It is in human nature to appreciate one's defenders.

Perhaps, but only if that defender is effective. Coulter isn't.

You need to start standing up for conservatives if you are in fact a conservative. You couldn't prove it by me.

I frequently defend conservative ideas, ideals, and policy positions on forums like Politico where there are people who actually disgagree with conservatives.

I have a strong aversion to preaching to the converted, so I don't spend much time defending cosnervative positions at a place like FR where everyone agrees with them. That's why here, I spend my much of my time debunking and critiquing aspects of the modern conservative conventional wisdom that I deem to be problematic.