Ann Coulter is predictably absurd here, but listen to the applause of the CPAP audience after this exchange.
Coulter’s comments came during a response to a question from a woman in the audience. The woman initially asked Coulter why she and other Republicans had championed free elections in Iraq but were warning about them in Egypt.
“You don’t go around disturbing countries where you have a loyal ally,” Coulter responded.
“What is more important though to American values–being friends with israel still or knowing there are jailed dissidents and journalists [in Egypt]?” the woman asked.
“What do you mean knowing that there are jailed journalists?” Coulter said. “I think there should be more jailed journalists.” This prompted a huge round of applause from the crowd.
She's been irrelevant too long in the shadow of the wacko queen from Alaska; time for her inanity to take center stage yet again.
Why isn't she still on the lecture tour with her hit, "If you disagree with the elected president, then you are a traitor" speech?
Ann Coulter is a perfect illustration of the dichotomy that separates "liberals" from "conservatives."
At the risk of overgeneralizing, let me say this:
The people who identify with the former group, instinctively root for the little guy against the bullies of the world.
In contrast, the latter group, the Coulters of the world, worship power; it's why they will always follow the Alpha Dogs. They respect power and fear it, regardless of the brutality of the tyrant who wields it. They instinctively root for the muscle-bound bully with his boot on the throat of the little guy.
It's why these people have such a deep-seated hatred of "people power" uprisings like the ones in Tunisia and Egypt; and why they gravitate to highly stratified, top-down institutions such as the military and big corporations.
Of course, it's hard to discern the sincerity of Coulter's words. Like Sarah Palin, Coulter is a bratty media whore who will say anything for attention.
MikeFitz17, I disagree that she'll say anything. I used to think that until the first time I saw her not on one of the Fox prayer meetings where everyone nods in agreement. She's the worst kind – a fanatic. Witness the times when she's gotten pushed off script by interviewers that think (I recall a segment on The View that Media Matters caught): she degenerates quickly to shrill bluster and if you can believe it, her vitriol gets even more absurd. She really does believe the crap she puts out. So much that she doesn't see her own hypocrisy. And she gets scary audiences to listen in rapture. I doubt she'll be visiting Jon Stewart any time soon.
Jim: Neither of us can peer into Coulter's mind (which would be a frightening thing if we could), so we really can't measure her level of sincerity.
I do know she's made a very comfortable living cranking out books and giving speeches that feed the beliefs of her rightwing audiences. They want to feel good about themselves while demonizing their enemies, and Coulter is more than happy to oblige in return for their money.
I also believe Coulter's more of a performer than a political partisan, her schtick being the sexy conservative chick in the short cocktail dress who likes to show lots of leg. She's found a lucrative niche, and she's hellbent on hanging on to it.
Based on what I've seen of her on TV and read about her, I remain convinced she is a little more than an opportunist whose colors are neither red nor blue, but green — as in the color of money.
Responding via phone app has its limits. "I think" should be the universal qualifier, because as you point out, we can't know. I do feel she is a performer and her polish is very good – when she controls the situation. But when I've seen her shaken and backed up against a wall, she loses all composure and that veneer is stripped. As I said, I think she really believes what she says. Sure she's a opportunist. And yes, it's about money. But I do not think she would jump ship if the media right were miraculously exposed (and such exposure accepted) as a fraud. It's not partisanship – it's true ideology and I think she thinks she's right.
Surely Ann Coulter's color is that of red. She panders to the blood lust of the most ridiculous far-right in the republican party. Of course she will say anything for money, but she says those things that she know are the most ridiculous, and that speak to the narcissism, hatred, and prejudice of her audience which, unfortunately, is a significant percentage of this country's electorate.
The fact that anyone listens and accepts her views is appalling, but it speaks to the essential problem of this political divide and the problems we face in this country.