Posted on 03/05/2007 12:51:58 AM PST by kristinn
It is with growing dismay and frustration that I am watching so many of my friends and acquaintances in the conservative community attack Ann Coulter for her comments pointing out that saying the word 'faggot' can get you sent to a rehabilitation clinic.
That she said it in the context of primping pretty boy Democrat presidential candidate John Edwards has sent conservatives to the fainting couch in an episode of 'why I never!' mass hysteria.
Ann Coulter has walked point for conservatives for almost a decade. She has been assaulted, threatened and stalked. She requires bodyguards for protection. Liberals believe they are justified in physically attacking Ann. I heard one say so at CPAC--not in response to her rehab joke, but because Ann 'insults people.'
Ann has been an early and loyal friend of Free Republic. She is one of the few prominent conservatives who regularly breaks bread with FReepers. Her friendship is now being repayed by FReepers who want her driven out of conservatism.
That so many conservatives want Ann banned from CPAC is a sad indicator of the state of conservatism. It is not Ann Coulter's fault that Republicans lost both houses of Congress. It is not Ann Coulter's fault that President Bush is not popular. Sacrificing Ann Coulter on the altar of political correctness will not win the elections of 2008 nor will it prevent conservatives from being sent to rehab for uttering politically incorrect words and ideas.
After Ann uttered the words that have given so many conservatives the vapors, the line for her booksigning at CPAC was just as long as usual. I know, I was standing in that line. If CPAC attendees were so outraged about Ann's remarks, it was not manifested there. I didn't learn about the controversy until I read about it online later that night.
I spent the next day at CPAC. Ann's remarks were not a hot topic. I know because the only time I heard it talked about was when I brought it up. Those I spoke with about it were not upset.
I do not wish to speak ill of my friends and acquaintances who are dumping on Ann, other than to express my disappointment. I do wish they'd reconsider and stop attacking a friend who has walked point for them. Liberals must be laughing themselves silly as they watch us take out someone they've been wanting to eliminate for years.
The big deal is we have "news" 24/7 that isn't putting out information and facts, but "sizzle." Anna Nichol is not as hot a story as it was, Al Gore being revealed (again) as a bigmouthed hypocrit isn't "sexy", but a pretty blonde calling a third-place presidential candidate a faggot, now that's something we gotta talk about!
As if NO ONE has looked at Edwards and thought the same thing...
And that's usually what gets Ann in trouble: Saying what many people think but don't have the cojones to say out loud.
Thank you for your post. I too will stand in Ann's corner. She has more smarts and b*lls then most of those who call themselves conservatives.
Ann, thank you for not cowing to the PC sensitive wussies.
Sincerely
In the first place, she's a columnist, NOT a politician. She's not running for office so who cares if some people are outraged? Did anyone cry out for Molly Ivins to say she was sorry when she wrote all her disgusting comments about Bush? Of course not.
And what's the big deal, anyway? Is it bad to be gay now? I mean, the liberals have been telling us for years that it's just a normal lifestyle, so she mentions Edwards and faggot in the same sentence, and all hell breaks loose.
And isn't this the same guy who quietly rehired those 2 Catholic-bashing bloggers after their hate-filled tirades came to light? What THEY said was 10 times worse than what Ann barely hinted at, so the Breck girl can just shove it, as far as I'm concerned!
Jim Robinson wrote: "Count me solidly in Ann's corner. Go Ann Coulter!!"
I've been a fan of hers for a long time, but I think the Edwards comment was a bit over the top. I'm a firm believer in free speech and certainly support her decision to say pretty much whatever she wants. However, I think it was a pretty nasty thing to say about anyone, even a liberal. I'm not going to quit reading her work or supporting her because of it, but I sometimes think she goes too far.
I think Ann Coulter's comment on Edwards was tasteless and inappropriate. John Edwards is not homosexual; Ann was just insulting him, and employing an epithet to do it.
That doesn't mean I want her "driven" from conservatism. I'm not going to stop reading her columns every week or burn any of the four books authored by her that I own. When I re-read my favorite passages of those books, I'm not going to enjoy them any less because Ann called Edwards a mean word.
Do you know what I think? I think Ann Coulter is one of the best voices of conservatism. I think she's incisive, witty and gutsy. I think she's brilliant. I also think she shouldn't have called John Edwards a derogatory and untruthful term like that. The views of this don't have to be extreme.
Great post. I couldn't agree more.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1794848/posts?page=26#26
Thanks for posting this rant.
Last time I checked, the Constitution which the US Armed Forces swear to uphold assures Ann Coulter, Coward Dean, backstabbing 'Rat/RINO Congresscritters and of course MY OWN First Amendment right to say whatever we wish to say.
No apologies required Ann,
OLA
Get a sense of humor. Ann was clearly only using the Breck Girl as a prop for a joke about getting sent to rehab for using the word.... uh....I mean.... the 'f' word.
Nowadays even many "conservatives" would first rather check with the freedom-hating minders of that artificial alter called Political Correctness before deciding what can and can't be said. Well, I've got news for them... If they keep falling for that, they can kiss freedom of speech goodbye.
I'm with Ann 100%. I love the things she says. Never ask a liberal whether you have permission to speak.
Irish Rose wrote: "I think Ann Coulter's comment on Edwards was tasteless and inappropriate."
Looks like we're in the minority on this one, but I agree with you.
Thanks for doing it for me.
Whether I agree or disagree with your comments is not as important as the fact that all opinion is to be celebrated, and the fact you had the guts to say what you feel flying in obvious face to thread consensus makes me happy.
You are what makes FR so special.
Best.
Eddie01
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