June 09, 2006
The Ann Coulter "Godless" Flap
Ann Coulter has the hounds nipping at her heels. And, after some of you read this, you may be nipping at mine.
In her new book Godless: The Church of Liberalism, Ann Coulter takes on the Jersey Girls in her usual, take-no-prisoners style:
A group of New Jersey 9/11 widows - Kleinberg, Kristin Breitweiser, Patty Casazza and Lorie Van Auken - created headlines by pushing for a wide examination of intelligence and security failures that eventually led to the creation of the 9/11 commission.
In 2004, they endorsed Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, fiercely denounced President Bush and participated in political ads using images from the attacks - actions that prompted Coulter's attack.
"These self-obsessed women seemed genuinely unaware that 9/11 was an attack on our nation and acted as if the terrorist attacks happened only to them. The whole nation was wounded, all our lives reduced. But they believed the entire country was required to marinate in their exquisite personal agony," Coulter said.
"These broads are millionaires, lionized on TV and in articles about them, reveling in their status as celebrities and stalked by grief-arazzis."
Coulter accused the four widows of "trying to convert their personal tragedy into a weapon to dictate national policy."
And then she got personal.
"And by the way, how do we know their husbands weren't planning to divorce these harpies? Now that their shelf life is dwindling, they'd better hurry up and appear in Playboy," Coulter said.
Coulter usually riles a few people with her writings, but this really raised the roof. Not only are those on the left decrying her comments, but there are plenty of those on the right who disagree with her as well. Coulter is receiving equal opportunity condemnation.
Naturally, she is unapologetic. She always stands behind what she says and writes. But is she truly wrong? Writing for World Net Daily, Kevin McCullough thinks not.
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The reason they are is not because Ann has broken some sacred respect that one should have for a grieving mother, wife or relative. Rather, the reason they are so outraged by this is because it stabs through the heart the strategy of hiding behind spokespeople who "can't be criticized."
[...]
In recent years, liberal spokespeople have grown infamous for self-destruction when they are put into arenas where free debate, give-and-take response and actual dialogue take place. As Ann argues rather convincingly in her new book, this sets up the structure of "liberal infallibility." In other words, liberals' use of victims of tragedies would never be criticized, so the plan is to find as many victims to become the mouthpieces for the left as possible.
An interesting point: When the GOP invited widows of 9-11 to participate in their national convention, charges went up from the left of "pure political posturing." Yet any observer of those who participated would be hard-pressed to know of a single critical thing they said about the president's opponents. The presentation they made dealt with the need for America to remain strong in its stand against terrorism. Kerry's name was never even invoked, and their involvement in the public debate ended that night.
The Jersey Girls, on the other hand, have consistently spoken out and advocated on behalf of leftist interests through the 9-11 commission's findings to the operation of the global War on Terror, the elections of 2004, etc. In other words, they chose, or the liberal Democratic Party chose for them, to enter the fray, to don the gloves and to mix it up.
They have, using their victim status, become shills for the Democratic Party. And that in and of itself is not questioned in the same way the widows who appeared at the Republican Convention was. Why?
When one chooses to become part of the public arena, particularly in politics, one had better be ready for some real mudslinging. I am sure these women truly mourn their husbands. But if their deaths are the reason for the Jersey Girls to get involved in politics, then they shouldn't be surprised when that reasoning comes into question.
More from McCullough:
Ann's criticism is legitimate. If liberals in America wish truly to have a debate on the issues that we all have strong emotions about, then stand and make the point, but don't hide behind those who are ineffective, unskilled and often wrong in their views, simply because they're victims.
For the last few weeks, Rep. Jack Murtha has been crisscrossing the television pundit circuit criticizing the brave Marines who fell under attack via an improvised explosive device, after which some women and children tragically ended up dead. The Marines claimed that they were fired upon and that those firing upon them did so from behind women and children being used as human shields. The jury is still out, but thus far Murtha has yet to present evidence that contradicts the Marines' account.
Liberals are using the exact same tactics today – firing upon people of faith who believe in God, who believe God's model for marriage is what society should promote, but they do so from behind victims against whom, they believe, no one would fire back. People like the Jersey Girls, Joe Wilson, Cindy Sheehan and Jack Murtha. They do so knowing that they would lose in substantive, equitable fair debates.
Exactly. What I also find interesting is that when someone like Coulter makes inflammatory comments, she is expected to apologize...and even if she did, it wouldn't be enough. Yet when Randi Rhodes aired a "shooting" of President Bush skit on Air America, or when NY State Comptroller Alan Hevesi says Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) would shoot President Bush "between the eyes" if he could at a college commencement, it's a flash in the pan as far as the media is concerned. A quick apology and it's on to the next scandal.
Jack Murtha served in the Marines. Because his views correspond with the current leftist view of Iraq, criticizing him is off-limits. The same was true of John Kerry. But John McCain's status as a soldier and POW during Vietnam didn't earn him the same pass when he supported the war in Iraq. Nice double standard, that.
Coulter's remarks may be tactless, but they have become an important part of debate. Using victims as shields is cowardly, both in real life and in politics. It takes comments like those from Coulter to remind us of that.
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Found a well thought-out post on this subject here: http://takeastandagainstliberals.blogspot.com/2006/06/ann-coulter-vs-jersey-girls.html
posted by
Gary at June 9, 2006 12:44 PM
Coulter' exactly right on her point. The latest "infallible" victim - Michael Berg (case and point all day yesterday).
The use of the word "enjoyed" is what has got everyone up in a tizzy. "Exploited" might have been a better choice, but I'm sure that the ads these clowns cut for John Kerry blaming the 9-11 attacks on Bush didn't include hysterical crying and wailing.
If the Jersey Girls have enough fortitude to become de-facto spokespeople for Bush-bashing left-wing ranting (its not like these talking points aren't espoused by every left-wing nut in the nation every day), they consequently need the fortitude to accept criticism for what they say and cut in Democrat political ads.
The end. Grow up, libs. Learn to debate without hiding behind a greif-stricken victim. All of this hubaloo is proving Coulter's point.
posted by
Good Lt at June 9, 2006 03:24 PM
"Exploited" might have been a better choice, but I'm sure that the ads these clowns cut for John Kerry blaming the 9-11 attacks on Bush didn't include hysterical crying and wailing."
Gary, would that be the same as exploiting a brain-damaged woman simply because she's the latest media darling? Republicans have an extremely short memory, I see. You people have exploited 9/11 and used it to justify some pretty disgusting actions and statements. Now, those tactics are being used against you and you want to scream "faul". You people are hilarious hypocrites...
posted by
Ayana at June 12, 2006 11:02 AM
There's a very vocal minority that believes they "own" 9/11. This stuff didn't happen after the Pearl Harbor attack.
posted by
John Ruberry at June 12, 2006 10:40 PM
Like Hitler, who hated the Jews more than he loved Germany, the Liberals hate George Bush more than they love the United States.
Ann Coulter has exposed the Libs' subtle strategy of parading, so-called, "untouchable" victims to advance their own agenda.
Nice job Ann!
posted by
Charles at June 13, 2006 08:46 AM
Ms. Coulter just said what most people are thinking.
posted by
Mandy at June 16, 2006 01:07 PM
We have Ann Coulter's Book, "Godless." I not only agre with Ann but would go a little farther. I think some of the liberals have gone so far over the line as to be labeled unpatriotic and in some cases, traiterous. Some may even have been instrumental in the deaths of some of our military in Iraq.
posted by
Dick Mann at June 26, 2006 08:47 AM
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Found a well thought-out post on this subject here: http://takeastandagainstliberals.blogspot.com/2006/06/ann-coulter-vs-jersey-girls.html
Coulter' exactly right on her point. The latest "infallible" victim - Michael Berg (case and point all day yesterday).
The use of the word "enjoyed" is what has got everyone up in a tizzy. "Exploited" might have been a better choice, but I'm sure that the ads these clowns cut for John Kerry blaming the 9-11 attacks on Bush didn't include hysterical crying and wailing.
If the Jersey Girls have enough fortitude to become de-facto spokespeople for Bush-bashing left-wing ranting (its not like these talking points aren't espoused by every left-wing nut in the nation every day), they consequently need the fortitude to accept criticism for what they say and cut in Democrat political ads.
The end. Grow up, libs. Learn to debate without hiding behind a greif-stricken victim. All of this hubaloo is proving Coulter's point.
"Exploited" might have been a better choice, but I'm sure that the ads these clowns cut for John Kerry blaming the 9-11 attacks on Bush didn't include hysterical crying and wailing."
Gary, would that be the same as exploiting a brain-damaged woman simply because she's the latest media darling? Republicans have an extremely short memory, I see. You people have exploited 9/11 and used it to justify some pretty disgusting actions and statements. Now, those tactics are being used against you and you want to scream "faul". You people are hilarious hypocrites...
There's a very vocal minority that believes they "own" 9/11. This stuff didn't happen after the Pearl Harbor attack.
Like Hitler, who hated the Jews more than he loved Germany, the Liberals hate George Bush more than they love the United States.
Ann Coulter has exposed the Libs' subtle strategy of parading, so-called, "untouchable" victims to advance their own agenda.
Nice job Ann!
Ms. Coulter just said what most people are thinking.
We have Ann Coulter's Book, "Godless." I not only agre with Ann but would go a little farther. I think some of the liberals have gone so far over the line as to be labeled unpatriotic and in some cases, traiterous. Some may even have been instrumental in the deaths of some of our military in Iraq.
