Ann Coulter's non-remark about John Edwards

[m1911owner]

In all the discussion I've heard about Ann Coulter's non-remark about John Edwards, what I haven't heard discussed is this: Is it in fact true?

Does anyone have any info one way or the other?

[CAnnoneer]

What is the non-remark? There are many ways to bash Slick John.

[m1911owner]

To state it to the best of my memory, she said something like this: "I'd like to talk about John Edwards, but I'm told that if you use the word '*Not nice word for gay men*' you have to go into rehab, so I have nothing to say about him."

I understand that truth is pretty much an unassailable defense against an accusation of slander.  So I'm wondering if it was in fact the truth.

[Perd Hapley]

Could you really build a slander case on that?  She never said he was a "*Not nice word for gay men*," although the implication was obvious.  And it was obviously meant in jest.  I would think Ann Coulter, of all people, would know exactly what she can get away with. 

Besides, where's the slander?  Being gay is OK, isn't it?   

[Iain]

It would pass for political comment amongst twelve year olds electing class president. Nowhere else.

Or I live in a fantasy world. Probably the latter.

[Sergeant Bob]

He has been referred to as the "Breck Girl" by some.

Its like...Oh My God! Ann Coulter said something outrageous!

[MechAg94]

I saw the video of that.  Pretty funny IMO.  Seriously, that is typical of Ann Coulter.  She uses a lot of that type of humor in her column.  Pulls no punches.  Not everyone likes it, but quite a few do.

[wingnutx]

Coulter is a clown who does no end of harm to conservatism in general.

[roo_ster]

Coulter doesn't call Pony Boy a *Not nice word for gay men*: sound & fury, lotsa coverage in MSM, calls for repudiation.

Mahr says her wishes VP Cheney had eaten it in the terrorist attack: <sound of crickets from MSM>

-----------

FWIW, I am kinda cool towards Coulter, but I am not going to get all riled up over such a comment.  There is already too much "Isn't it wonderful*" sensitivity toward and toleration of what ought to be discouraged** on (public & private) health grounds alone.


* "Isn't it wonderful Bob/Jane/whomever is gay and that we are such tolerant and wonderful people, too?"  They ought to rent out their self-satisfied sanctimony by the hour  They'd be monied and sactimonious then.

**By means of moral suasion, reference to data, etc.  Trying to legislate people from killing themselves has a poor track record. 

[Perd Hapley]

Coulter doesn't call Pony Boy a *Not nice word for gay men*: sound & fury, lotsa coverage in MSM, calls for repudiation.

Mahr says her wishes VP Cheney had eaten it in the terrorist attack: <sound of crickets from MSM>

Yeah.  Mahr was agreeing with what people wrote into Huffington's blog, wishing for the death of Cheney and such-lilke.  And this right after all the hatred directed toward Zumbo.  And we're supposed to be all ashamed that people said mean things about Zumbo.  Come on.  This is the internet.  People say that kind of crap on the internet.  No story there, really.  A guy like Mahr saying it on TV, though.  That's a little different.   

[CAnnoneer]

Mahr says her wishes VP Cheney had eaten it in the terrorist attack: <sound of crickets from MSM>

Their silent agreement is thunderous. Still, I thought Mahr had at least slightly more self-respect than that. Ah-well.

[SteveS]

Mahr says her wishes VP Cheney had eaten it in the terrorist attack: <sound of crickets from MSM>

-----------

Bill Maher???  I saw the bit and didn't exactly say that he wished the VP died, he just thought a joke about it was funny.  Not nice, but not the same as wishing him dead. 

I used to like Coulter.  While some of the stuff she has to say is funny, she seems to offer nothing in terms of intelligent discussion.  I don't see why she gets invited to speak at public events or on TV shows.  I guess it might help ratings.

[Manedwolf]

Mahr says her wishes VP Cheney had eaten it in the terrorist attack: <sound of crickets from MSM>

-----------

Bill Maher???  I saw the bit and didn't exactly say that he wished the VP died, he just thought a joke about it was funny.  Not nice, but not the same as wishing him dead. 

I used to like Coulter.  While some of the stuff she has to say is funny, she seems to offer nothing in terms of intelligent discussion.  I don't see why she gets invited to speak at public events or on TV shows.  I guess it might help ratings.

The same reason why studio execs continue to believe that an orangutang wearing human clothes and doing raspberries is something to feature in a movie because it's somehow "funny".

Coulter is their on-cue equivalent of someone with Tourette's. They put the increasingly-more-unstable and foulmouthed person on because they know they'll say something shocking and cause controversy, which boosts ratings.

[gunsmith]

it was over the top, even for her.

Yet I forgive her because she is intelligent and beautiful and funny.

[HankB]

Maybe Ann Coulter's comment was inspired by the video that was bouncing around the internet showing Edwards holding what looks like a lady's compact and primping and applying makeup before a TV interview . . . there may be a good explanation (TV makeup and all) but anyone watching the video will not think "manly man" when watching Edwards fard.

[Dannyboy]

The biggest problem with Coulter's remarks isn't what she said but where she said them.  That being CPAC and not some college or some place where her remarks would be taken as the joke that they probably were.  Unfortunately for her, CPAC is a bit more mature than that and most of the Republican Presidential candidates were in attendance.  Excepting McCain, who, obviously, had more pressing matters to which he needed to attend.

[The Rabbi]

I'd do her.

[Standing Wolf]

Where's the obligatory picture of Ann Coulter?

[Ron]

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Ann Coulter proves yet again that she knows exactly how to bait leftists and manipulate the mainstream media.

You'd think they would learn.  Eventually.  Maybe.

[Standing Wolf]

You'd think they would learn.  Eventually.  Maybe.

Why would I think such a silly thing as that?

[CAnnoneer]

What is she aiming at in the picture? Kerry's integrity?

[Perd Hapley]

Mahr says her wishes VP Cheney had eaten it in the terrorist attack: <sound of crickets from MSM>

Bill Maher???  I saw the bit and didn't exactly say that he wished the VP died, he just thought a joke about it was funny.  Not nice, but not the same as wishing him dead. 

He said more than that.  The following is a partial transcript, with controversial comments in bold:


Maher: What about the people who got onto the Huffington Post  and these werent even the bloggers, these were just the comments section  who said they, they expressed regret that the attack on Dick Cheney failed.

Joe Scarborough: Right

Maher: Now&

John Ridley: More than regret.

Maher: Well, what did they say?

Ridley: They said We wish he would die. I mean, it was (?) hate language.

Barney Frank: They said the bomb was wasted. (laughter and applause)

Maher: Thats a funny joke. But, seriously, if this isnt China, shouldnt you be able to say that? Why did Arianna Huffington, my girlfriend, I love her, but why did she take that off right away?

After some discussion about why Huffington should or shouldnt have taken these comments down, the following occurred:

Ridley: Its one thing to say you hate Dick Cheney, which applies to his politics. Its another thing to say, Im sorry he didnt die in an explosion." And I think, you know&

Maher: But you should be able to say it. And by the way...

Frank: Excuse me, Bill, but can I ask you a question? Do you decide what the topics are for this show?

Maher: Yeah, I decide the topics, they dont go there.

Frank: But you exercise control over the show the way that she does over her blog.

Maher: But I have zero doubt that if Dick Cheney was not in power, people wouldnt be dying needlessly tomorrow. (applause)
Scarborough: If someone on this panel said that they wished that Dick Cheney had been blown up, and you didnt say&

Frank: I think he did.

Scarborough: Okay. Did you say&

Maher: No, no. I quoted that.

Frank: You dont believe that?

Maher: Im just saying if he did die, other people, more people would live. Thats a fact.

http://newsbusters.org/stories/maher_sorry_cheney_assasination_attempt_failed.html

That's not quite the same as wishing his death.  But this sort of thing would ruin just about any conservative who dared to say it. 

[crt360]

What is she aiming at in the picture?

I'm not sure, but guessing by her malnourished appearance I'd say she hadn't hit one yet. 

[Car Knocker]

What is she aiming at in the picture? Kerry's integrity?

She had better aim small, in that case.