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Anatomy of an Impropriety, or Ann Coulter Vs. Bill Maher
Warner Todd Huston
March 5, 2007
The double standard of Leftists who are ignoring the outrage of Bill
Maher -- who alluded to his wish that Vice President Dick Cheney was
assassinated - while at the same time are wildly fanning themselves in mock
outrage as if they had the vapors over Ann Coulter -- for calling Democrat
John Edwards a bad name -- was on full display in the MSM over the weekend.
If you are a conservative who stays up on the "happenings" in conservative
news, you'd have by now heard that firebrand Columnist Ann Coulter called
Democratic Candidate John Edwards a "faggot" at the CPAC convention the
other day. You are also probably aware of all the lefty types wading into
the waters of high dudgeon over her typically button-pushing remark and
you'll have seen Democrats and their supporters coming out of the woodwork
to claim astonishment at Coulter's comment, demanding that conservatives
distance themselves from her.
You'll also have noticed that every upstanding Conservative and GOP
candidate was falling all over themselves in compliance to denounce
Coulter's remarks.
Now, right here I'll probably get myself in trouble with some conservatives
who are in a permanent mode of "fed-up" and who always get a thrill out of
Coulter's work. I'll get tsk, tsked by them because, well, I just don't like
her. Whenever I see her on TV, I stop paying attention, whenever I hear her
on the radio I change stations, and I have long since stopped reading her
columns. In fact, I see little difference between her and any of the
hatemongers on the left like, for instance, a Bill Maher.
Of course, I am sympathetic to her core message of conservative values, but
in my opinion she is no longer an effective conservative columnist having
long ago diluted her message by a career that has advanced to the stage of
"personality" instead of pundit. She is the H.L. Mencken of our times...
minus the intellect.
Sadly, she obviously feels she has to say increasingly outrageous things to
stay at the top of the news. In fact, at this point she isn't much different
than Whitney Houston, Paris Hilton, or Britney Spears all of whom seem to
feel a need to continuously up the ante of crazy behavior to keep getting
noticed.
In other words, Coulter no longer does much to aid the cause because her own
fame -- or more properly her infamy -- has become her driving force, the
cause having been eclipsed by her need to stay in the news. I feel, at this
point, that she is hurting us on the right more than helping us.
Alright, that being said -- and start the hate mail now -- it just cannot
escape notice how the two infamies, Coulter's and Maher's, are being treated
by the MSM.
First of all let's rate the relative outrages. Coulter called Edwards a
derogatory name equating him to a man that likes homosexual sex, a name that
is tinged with the cultural meaning of not being a "real" man, being an
effete, and a weakling. OK, inappropriate in serious policy discussion,
sure. But is it a hanging offense? Hardly.
Bill Maher, on the other hand, basically called for the assassination of a
sitting American vice president! Of the two Maher's comments are by far the
more egregious.
Coulter's comment is intemperate, childish, lowbrow, even frat house-like
for its part, but it was just a derogatory name in the end. Maher wants
people KILLED, for Heaven's sake. But is the left cranking up the
water-works and crying for his head on a platter? The big question is, where
are all the MSM talking heads calling for Democrats to immediately distance
themselves from his immoral behavior? In fact, where have they ever been for
denouncing Maher's ignorance? Since the 2000 election Maher has been just as
caught up in the need for notice that Coulter is in the grips of with his
every appearance seemingly geared to showcase an ever increasing
intemperance, a wild eyed shrillness, and is filled with unstable verbiage.
If he isn't infected with BDS (Bush derangement syndrome), no one is.
Now, let's take a perusal of some of the gnashing of teeth and rending of
clothes that the MSM has indulged in with Coulter over the last few days,
shall we?
Reuters
Outspoken U.S. conservative columnist Ann Coulter is drawing fire from
Republicans and Democrats alike after publicly using a derogatory gay slur
in reference to Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards.
Dallas Morning News
Ann Coulter outdoes herself - Conservative firebrand uses anti-gay slur
against John Edwards
CNN
Coulter under fire for anti-gay slur
A blog on the Houston chronicle's site has this:
She's a charmer, isn't she? Here's what's I find funny: conservative
friends will tell me that nobody really looks at Coulter as a serious
person. With her calls for assassinations of public officials, general
name-calling, and highly casual relationship with anything resembling facts,
she's the court jester, a source of entertainment whom nobody really thinks
of as one of the grown-ups.
The Nation had this:
So Ann Coulter called John Edwards a "faggot." All this proves is that the
woman's gaydar is seriously on the fritz. Last year she diagnosed Bill
Clinton as a "latent homosexual" whose "promiscuity" is "reminiscent of a
bathhouse." Then on Hardball she called Al Gore a "total fag." Meanwhile,
Ted Haggard and Mark Foley stage 120 Days of Sodom right under her nose, and
all she can say when confronted with the goods is "who knew Congressman
Foley was a closeted Democrat?"
The New York Times joined the fray, too.
These conferences (CPAC) have historically been known for displaying what
its own organizers would describe as over-the-top behavior, and one of the
regular speakers - Ann Coulter - offered an example of it when she used an
anti-gay epithet on Friday to describe John Edwards, the former senator from
North Carolina and Democratic presidential contender.
And Editor and Publisher quoted Dana Milbank:
The Post's Dana Milbank, in a column for the Saturday paper, observed:
"Ann Coulter used an anti-gay slur to describe John Edwards (the line drew
applause) and asked: 'Did Al Gore actually swallow Michael Moore?' When a
questioner asked Coulter why she praises marriage but broke off so many
engagements, she responded by calling the questioner ugly."
The Minnesota Daily, a University Paper, even tried their hand at the story:
The remark is so filled with bigotry it's surprising anyone would have the
gall to say it in public, even if they believe it in private.
And that was the coverage by just a few news sources this weekend. There is
a lot more where those came from. Imagine what it will be as the early part
of the week rolls on and the "real" MSM pundits get a crack at this story
from their weekend off work.
Naturally Democrat party spokesmen were all over the comment, too.
DNC Chairman, Howard Dean immediately released this statement: "There is no
place in political discourse for this kind of hate-filled and bigoted
comments. While Democrats and Republicans may disagree on the issues, we
should all be able to agree that this kind of vile rhetoric is out of
bounds. The American people want a serious, thoughtful debate of the issues.
Republicans--including the Republican presidential candidates who shared the
podium with Ann Coulter today--should denounce her hateful remarks."
Naturally, the man the comment was aimed at, John Edwards, had plenty to
say, as well. Edward's campaign manager David Bonior said in an e-mail
message: "John was singled out for a personal attack because the Republican
establishment knows he poses the greatest threat to their power. Since they
have nothing real to use against him, Coulter's resorting to the classic
right-wing strategy of riling up hate to smear a progressive champion."
Even Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese got into the act with the
following: "To interject this word into American political discourse is a
vile and disgusting way to sink the debate to a new, all-time low. Make no
doubt about it, these remarks go directly against what our Founding Fathers
intended and have no place on the schoolyard, much less our country's
political arena."
Solmonese went on to say, "It is clear that some in the Republican Party
plan to run in 2008 the same way they did in 2004, by using discrimination
to divide the country and rally their base. But, 2008 is not 2004, and this
time the politics of fear and smear will not work. The American people are
tired of those who would rather divide than unite."
(Those last three comments can be seen here: Ann Coulter's Done It Again)
OK, we get it. Ann was a nitwit and said something inappropriate. How can
anyone even be surprised any more?
Now, for the Right's part, there isn't anyone with any standing in the
conservative community who is seen to be supporting Coulter's nonsense. All
the GOP presidential candidates denounced her remark almost immediately (as
can be seen in any of the linked stories above). Sean Hannity tried to
gently distance himself from the kind of comments Coulter made and the
right's favorite blogger, Michelle Malkin has also denounced the blond
bomb...uh, shell.
Well, there is all the mess over Ann. It's got everyone abuzz, for sure.
Now, let's turn to Bill Maher's most recent comment.
As reported here on Newsbusters, on his HBO program "Real Time", Maher
thought a "funny joke" was offered by Congressman Barney Frank who said that
the bomb that recently missed vice president Cheney on an overseas visit was
"wasted" because it didn't kill him (to audience laughter and applause, I
might add).
The exchange went on:
Maher: But I have zero doubt that if Dick Cheney was not in power, people
wouldn't be dying needlessly tomorrow. (applause)
Scarborough: If someone on this panel said that they wished that Dick
Cheney had been blown up, and you didn't say.
Frank: I think he did.
Scarborough: Okay. Did you say.
Maher: No, no. I quoted that.
Frank: You don't believe that?
Maher: I'm just saying if he did die, other people, more people would
live. That's a fact.
Now, here is a definitive listing of all the outrage exhibited over Bill
Maher in the MSM and by GOP sources:
Newsmax
Bill Maher: Better If Cheney Is Dead
NewsBusters (as noted above)
Noel Sheppard's blog Bill Maher is Sorry the Assassination Attempt on Dick
Cheney Failed
There you have it.
Two sources.
No Republicans finger wagging over Maher's comments. No Democrats rushing to
the microphones to denounce Maher's constant over the top rhetoric. No MSM
reports of Maher wishing the VP were assassinated.
Zip.
Nadda.
Nuthin'.
And, this isn't a lone comment by Bill Maher, either. His wasn't the kind
that might make people want to give him a pass because it was so unusual.
Maher has been outrageous with his over the top rhetoric for some time, even
losing a job over it when ABC decided not to renew his TV contract for his
old show, "Politically Incorrect". He's called America a stupid country with
stupid people, said that torture is worse in Iraq now than it was under
Saddam, said that Bush couldn't find his ass with two hands, was heard
telling Christians to "go screw", called RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman "gay",
said that Laura Bush is like Hitler's dog... well, I could go on and on and
on.
Now, for her part, Coulter has said that her Edwards comment was "just a
joke". I am sure Maher would have the same retort when his outrageous
comments were pointed out.
But, the more salient point by contrasting these two people and their
"jokes" is the way that the MSM treats them.
They ignore Maher.
They constantly and instantly pounce on Coulter.
NEITHER personality can be considered too serious a commentator on political
or societal events, but only Coulter is focused upon by the MSM.
Predictably, a hatemonger from the left gets a pass by the MSM, yet one
coming from the right is made infamous by the very same people.
Interesting, wouldn't you say?
http://newsbusters.org/node/11193
Warner Todd Huston
March 5, 2007
The double standard of Leftists who are ignoring the outrage of Bill
Maher -- who alluded to his wish that Vice President Dick Cheney was
assassinated - while at the same time are wildly fanning themselves in mock
outrage as if they had the vapors over Ann Coulter -- for calling Democrat
John Edwards a bad name -- was on full display in the MSM over the weekend.
If you are a conservative who stays up on the "happenings" in conservative
news, you'd have by now heard that firebrand Columnist Ann Coulter called
Democratic Candidate John Edwards a "faggot" at the CPAC convention the
other day. You are also probably aware of all the lefty types wading into
the waters of high dudgeon over her typically button-pushing remark and
you'll have seen Democrats and their supporters coming out of the woodwork
to claim astonishment at Coulter's comment, demanding that conservatives
distance themselves from her.
You'll also have noticed that every upstanding Conservative and GOP
candidate was falling all over themselves in compliance to denounce
Coulter's remarks.
Now, right here I'll probably get myself in trouble with some conservatives
who are in a permanent mode of "fed-up" and who always get a thrill out of
Coulter's work. I'll get tsk, tsked by them because, well, I just don't like
her. Whenever I see her on TV, I stop paying attention, whenever I hear her
on the radio I change stations, and I have long since stopped reading her
columns. In fact, I see little difference between her and any of the
hatemongers on the left like, for instance, a Bill Maher.
Of course, I am sympathetic to her core message of conservative values, but
in my opinion she is no longer an effective conservative columnist having
long ago diluted her message by a career that has advanced to the stage of
"personality" instead of pundit. She is the H.L. Mencken of our times...
minus the intellect.
Sadly, she obviously feels she has to say increasingly outrageous things to
stay at the top of the news. In fact, at this point she isn't much different
than Whitney Houston, Paris Hilton, or Britney Spears all of whom seem to
feel a need to continuously up the ante of crazy behavior to keep getting
noticed.
In other words, Coulter no longer does much to aid the cause because her own
fame -- or more properly her infamy -- has become her driving force, the
cause having been eclipsed by her need to stay in the news. I feel, at this
point, that she is hurting us on the right more than helping us.
Alright, that being said -- and start the hate mail now -- it just cannot
escape notice how the two infamies, Coulter's and Maher's, are being treated
by the MSM.
First of all let's rate the relative outrages. Coulter called Edwards a
derogatory name equating him to a man that likes homosexual sex, a name that
is tinged with the cultural meaning of not being a "real" man, being an
effete, and a weakling. OK, inappropriate in serious policy discussion,
sure. But is it a hanging offense? Hardly.
Bill Maher, on the other hand, basically called for the assassination of a
sitting American vice president! Of the two Maher's comments are by far the
more egregious.
Coulter's comment is intemperate, childish, lowbrow, even frat house-like
for its part, but it was just a derogatory name in the end. Maher wants
people KILLED, for Heaven's sake. But is the left cranking up the
water-works and crying for his head on a platter? The big question is, where
are all the MSM talking heads calling for Democrats to immediately distance
themselves from his immoral behavior? In fact, where have they ever been for
denouncing Maher's ignorance? Since the 2000 election Maher has been just as
caught up in the need for notice that Coulter is in the grips of with his
every appearance seemingly geared to showcase an ever increasing
intemperance, a wild eyed shrillness, and is filled with unstable verbiage.
If he isn't infected with BDS (Bush derangement syndrome), no one is.
Now, let's take a perusal of some of the gnashing of teeth and rending of
clothes that the MSM has indulged in with Coulter over the last few days,
shall we?
Reuters
Outspoken U.S. conservative columnist Ann Coulter is drawing fire from
Republicans and Democrats alike after publicly using a derogatory gay slur
in reference to Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards.
Dallas Morning News
Ann Coulter outdoes herself - Conservative firebrand uses anti-gay slur
against John Edwards
CNN
Coulter under fire for anti-gay slur
A blog on the Houston chronicle's site has this:
She's a charmer, isn't she? Here's what's I find funny: conservative
friends will tell me that nobody really looks at Coulter as a serious
person. With her calls for assassinations of public officials, general
name-calling, and highly casual relationship with anything resembling facts,
she's the court jester, a source of entertainment whom nobody really thinks
of as one of the grown-ups.
The Nation had this:
So Ann Coulter called John Edwards a "faggot." All this proves is that the
woman's gaydar is seriously on the fritz. Last year she diagnosed Bill
Clinton as a "latent homosexual" whose "promiscuity" is "reminiscent of a
bathhouse." Then on Hardball she called Al Gore a "total fag." Meanwhile,
Ted Haggard and Mark Foley stage 120 Days of Sodom right under her nose, and
all she can say when confronted with the goods is "who knew Congressman
Foley was a closeted Democrat?"
The New York Times joined the fray, too.
These conferences (CPAC) have historically been known for displaying what
its own organizers would describe as over-the-top behavior, and one of the
regular speakers - Ann Coulter - offered an example of it when she used an
anti-gay epithet on Friday to describe John Edwards, the former senator from
North Carolina and Democratic presidential contender.
And Editor and Publisher quoted Dana Milbank:
The Post's Dana Milbank, in a column for the Saturday paper, observed:
"Ann Coulter used an anti-gay slur to describe John Edwards (the line drew
applause) and asked: 'Did Al Gore actually swallow Michael Moore?' When a
questioner asked Coulter why she praises marriage but broke off so many
engagements, she responded by calling the questioner ugly."
The Minnesota Daily, a University Paper, even tried their hand at the story:
The remark is so filled with bigotry it's surprising anyone would have the
gall to say it in public, even if they believe it in private.
And that was the coverage by just a few news sources this weekend. There is
a lot more where those came from. Imagine what it will be as the early part
of the week rolls on and the "real" MSM pundits get a crack at this story
from their weekend off work.
Naturally Democrat party spokesmen were all over the comment, too.
DNC Chairman, Howard Dean immediately released this statement: "There is no
place in political discourse for this kind of hate-filled and bigoted
comments. While Democrats and Republicans may disagree on the issues, we
should all be able to agree that this kind of vile rhetoric is out of
bounds. The American people want a serious, thoughtful debate of the issues.
Republicans--including the Republican presidential candidates who shared the
podium with Ann Coulter today--should denounce her hateful remarks."
Naturally, the man the comment was aimed at, John Edwards, had plenty to
say, as well. Edward's campaign manager David Bonior said in an e-mail
message: "John was singled out for a personal attack because the Republican
establishment knows he poses the greatest threat to their power. Since they
have nothing real to use against him, Coulter's resorting to the classic
right-wing strategy of riling up hate to smear a progressive champion."
Even Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese got into the act with the
following: "To interject this word into American political discourse is a
vile and disgusting way to sink the debate to a new, all-time low. Make no
doubt about it, these remarks go directly against what our Founding Fathers
intended and have no place on the schoolyard, much less our country's
political arena."
Solmonese went on to say, "It is clear that some in the Republican Party
plan to run in 2008 the same way they did in 2004, by using discrimination
to divide the country and rally their base. But, 2008 is not 2004, and this
time the politics of fear and smear will not work. The American people are
tired of those who would rather divide than unite."
(Those last three comments can be seen here: Ann Coulter's Done It Again)
OK, we get it. Ann was a nitwit and said something inappropriate. How can
anyone even be surprised any more?
Now, for the Right's part, there isn't anyone with any standing in the
conservative community who is seen to be supporting Coulter's nonsense. All
the GOP presidential candidates denounced her remark almost immediately (as
can be seen in any of the linked stories above). Sean Hannity tried to
gently distance himself from the kind of comments Coulter made and the
right's favorite blogger, Michelle Malkin has also denounced the blond
bomb...uh, shell.
Well, there is all the mess over Ann. It's got everyone abuzz, for sure.
Now, let's turn to Bill Maher's most recent comment.
As reported here on Newsbusters, on his HBO program "Real Time", Maher
thought a "funny joke" was offered by Congressman Barney Frank who said that
the bomb that recently missed vice president Cheney on an overseas visit was
"wasted" because it didn't kill him (to audience laughter and applause, I
might add).
The exchange went on:
Maher: But I have zero doubt that if Dick Cheney was not in power, people
wouldn't be dying needlessly tomorrow. (applause)
Scarborough: If someone on this panel said that they wished that Dick
Cheney had been blown up, and you didn't say.
Frank: I think he did.
Scarborough: Okay. Did you say.
Maher: No, no. I quoted that.
Frank: You don't believe that?
Maher: I'm just saying if he did die, other people, more people would
live. That's a fact.
Now, here is a definitive listing of all the outrage exhibited over Bill
Maher in the MSM and by GOP sources:
Newsmax
Bill Maher: Better If Cheney Is Dead
NewsBusters (as noted above)
Noel Sheppard's blog Bill Maher is Sorry the Assassination Attempt on Dick
Cheney Failed
There you have it.
Two sources.
No Republicans finger wagging over Maher's comments. No Democrats rushing to
the microphones to denounce Maher's constant over the top rhetoric. No MSM
reports of Maher wishing the VP were assassinated.
Zip.
Nadda.
Nuthin'.
And, this isn't a lone comment by Bill Maher, either. His wasn't the kind
that might make people want to give him a pass because it was so unusual.
Maher has been outrageous with his over the top rhetoric for some time, even
losing a job over it when ABC decided not to renew his TV contract for his
old show, "Politically Incorrect". He's called America a stupid country with
stupid people, said that torture is worse in Iraq now than it was under
Saddam, said that Bush couldn't find his ass with two hands, was heard
telling Christians to "go screw", called RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman "gay",
said that Laura Bush is like Hitler's dog... well, I could go on and on and
on.
Now, for her part, Coulter has said that her Edwards comment was "just a
joke". I am sure Maher would have the same retort when his outrageous
comments were pointed out.
But, the more salient point by contrasting these two people and their
"jokes" is the way that the MSM treats them.
They ignore Maher.
They constantly and instantly pounce on Coulter.
NEITHER personality can be considered too serious a commentator on political
or societal events, but only Coulter is focused upon by the MSM.
Predictably, a hatemonger from the left gets a pass by the MSM, yet one
coming from the right is made infamous by the very same people.
Interesting, wouldn't you say?
http://newsbusters.org/node/11193
