Wheel Column: Shut Up, Ann!

How the Wicked Witch of the Right Hurts Conservatives

Ann Coulter has always been controversial. She loves to make contentious statements that help rally the conservative base and, more importantly, help her sell books. Even though Democrats and many moderates routinely attack Coulter for her remarks, until now most conservatives have defended Coulter as one who has stood up for the right.

But Coulter's latest remarks have elicited criticism from both sides of the aisle. Coulter finally crossed the line in a speech she gave last Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C. She was the keynote speaker and was giving her thoughts of various Democratic presidential candidates.

"I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards," Coulter said, "but it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I'm - so, kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards, so I think I'll just conclude here and take your questions."

Using a homophobic slur to describe a candidate is unacceptable. I will defend Coulter's right to free speech until the end, but with freedom of speech comes a responsibility. Spewing hate and insluts is not responsible.

As expected, most Democrats immediately attacked Coulter for her remarks. John Edwards' campaign sent out an e-mail asking supporters to help raise $100,000 in "Coulter Cash" to combat her bigoted remarks. They easily raised this amount.

But Republicans also found themselves attacking Coulter. Each of the three GOP presidential frontrunners denounced the remarks. John McCain's spokesman said, "The comments were wildly inappropriate." Rudy Giuliani said, "The comments were completely inappropriate and there should be no place for such name-calling in political debate." And Mitt Romney's spokesman said, "It was an offensive remark."

Other conservatives, especially conservative bloggers, were also critical of Coulter's remarks. Michelle Malkin, a conservative blogger, wrote, "Her 'faggot' joke was not just a distraction from all the good that was highlighted and represented at the conference. It was the equivalent of a rhetorical fragging - an intentionally-tossed verbal grenade that exploded in her own fellow ideological soldiers' tent."

Many conservatives are realizing that Coulter hurts their cause. She is distracting and offensive, driving moderates away. Conservatives do not want to defend and be associated with her stupid and hateful remarks. Last year it was calling the 9/11 widows "witches," now it's using a slur to describe a candidate. Who knows who she will offend next?

Ann Coulter is a media whore who will say anything to get in the spotlight. She is a cancer on the American body politic. Responding to her remarks on Edwards, she said, "C'mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting that they are like John Edwards. That would be mean."

She just doesn't get it. Her remarks are hateful and set back useful political discourse. Conservatives should disown Coulter as a traitor, hurtful to their cause. The American people should hope she just disappears.

I wouldn't count on it. She'll be back with another offensive verbal barrage sooner than you think.

Benjamin Van der Horst is a College sophomore from Cincinnati. He is executive director of the nonpartisan political organization CSAmerica and the managing editor of the Emory Political Review.

This ran on 3/9/07.