I haven’t read the context of Ann Coulter’s remarks; her book won’t be released until tomorrow. So all I have seen so far are the excerpts in the Associated Press.
According to the AP, Coulter’s new book has some pretty nasty things to say about a certain group of liberal-leaning 9-11 widows. The AP contains the following description of Coulter’s remarks:
Coulter writes in a new book, “Godless: The Church of Liberalism,” that a group of New Jersey widows whose husbands perished in the World Trade Center act “as if the terrorist attacks happened only to them.”She also wrote, “I’ve never seen people enjoying their husbands’ deaths so much” (source).
Like I said, I don’t have the context, but I don’t think it matters. I can’t imagine a context in which it would be appropriate to say, “I’ve never seen people enjoying their husbands’ deaths so much.” As far as I am concerned, that remark is completely out of bounds.
Coulter should repent of the statement. Then she should apologize to the wives for her callous and inhumane remarks. Then she should apologize to the country for injecting unneeded and unwanted vitriol into the public discourse.
Yes, it’s true that this particular group of 9-11 widows used their influence to have the 9-11 commission formed and that they insinuated that President Bush was somehow responsible for the 9-11 attacks. It is also true that they campaigned for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential campaign. But it matters not how wrong the widows’ politics are. They don’t deserve this kind of treatment from Coulter or anyone else.
I know that some of my conservative friends are going to give me wallop for this post, but, nevertheless, I think it’s important to call a spade a spade. And Ann Coulter is just plain wrong in saying what she said.
Denny Burk 
Ann Coulter is the very definition of tasteless. Praising McCarthy was bad, but this is even worse. Tacky and pointless. Even most of my right wing friends can’t stand her.
Also in the offensive remarks category, however: “Yes, it’s true that this particular group of 9-11 widows used their influence to have the 9-11 commission formed and that they insinuated that President Bush was somehow responsible for the 9-11 attacks. It is also true that they campaigned for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential campaign. But it matters not how wrong the widows’ politics are. They don’t deserve this kind of treatment from Coulter or anyone else.”
1) The 9/11 commission wasn’t a bad thing, and there’s probably still more to sift through. And Bush’s stonewalling of that commission should be a red flag to us all.
2) That said, the idea that Bush and Co. would have been involved is more than likely ludicrous.
3) They campaigned for John Kerry. So what?
4) Lefty politics aren’t wrong by a long shot, my man. I am R-E-A-L-L-Y biting my tongue on this one.
Have a wonderful day,
Paul
Tasteless and irresponsible…She makes conservatives look like jerks.
Peace,
Nate
I am not a “lefty politics” type of guy, but some of the conservative pundits tend to be a bit, uhm, over the top sometimes. And crass. Ann Coulter is a perfect example of this. I saw her talking about this very quote on “The Today Show” earlier this week, and she refused to nuance or clarify her statements at all. Matt Lauer had a field day, which always bugs me.
I think we conservatives need to get off of the Ann Coulter bandwagon. She’s a loose canon and she tends to confirm negative stereotypes about conservatives. She’s smart and makes good points but when she does this kind of thing I don’t want her name associated with my point of view.
Anne Coulter, as much as I tend to agree with much of what she says (the widow thing excluded), I tend to think that this is just a job for her. She’s known as a crass individual and gets paid for it! Should we be surprised by this? Our society fosters this type of behaviour, and as p.o’d as we get over outlandish statements, there is a part of us that likes it. But isn’t this wrong?
Before passing judgment, I would recommend at least reading this.
John (in #6),
Okay, I’ll read it. . .
Just finished reading it. I haven’t changed my mind.
Denny
Coulter’s a mess, no doubt, but nothing all that wrong with McCarthy. A drunk, but a drunk on the right path.
Politics tends to unScripturally join believers and unbelievers under the guise of worldly titles such as liberals and conservatives. Whatever happened to “overcome evil with good” and “bless your enemies”? O yea, they are in the Bible which takes a back seat to politics.
Denny,
If you keep this up, I’m going to shift you to my Emerging group of blogs I read on my Sidebar!
Granted, Ann Coulter’s comments were out of place and offensive. But while not endorsing the method of her attack on the 9/11 widows, I think there is something to be said about the behaviour of those widows in the aftermath of Sept. 11. It was equally disrepectful and offensive for those widows to blame 9/11 on President Bush. The point stands: while I am sure the widows are not rejoicing over their husbands’ deaths, they may be using that as an inappropriate political advantage – equally unbcoming and offensive. I think that Ann Coulter was pointing that out.
I agree that Ann Coulter should make a public apology for the way she portayed the widows and that she should change the statements in the book to be less offensive. However, I would recommend her leaving the general comments in the book – the fact that they took advantage of the situation for the pursuit of their own political ideals, another evidence of the “religious” practices of liberalism.
Denny,
Go to my new website and blog – http://www.lukebritt.com
Note: there are two Barrys here, apparantly, and the one in #4 is not Joslin.
Coulter makes millions off of these books, and yes, she is over the top. Even Laura Ingram took her to task on a couple of points this morning in a radio interview.
She’s over the top like Rush (“I will make it fair and fight with half my brain tied behind my back”) Limbaugh, and both are raking in the cash because of it. Of course she is not going to back down on the “Today Show.” That’s why she went on there – to stir things up. She knew what she was walking into, since she has been on before. The result? Another NY Times bestseller.
Barry
In KY
Oops. Ingraham.
Also, I hear the chapter on abortion was great.
Did Hannity comment on it, or just the good news out of Iraq?
Barry
KY
Scot (in #10),
At the risk of being moved into your “emerging” column, let me just say that I feel the same way almost every time Bill O’Reilly opens his mouth. Believe it or not, I rank O’Reilly even lower than Coulter.
I know it sells books to say things like they say, but it doesn’t win hearts and minds. It only alienates people and distracts them from hearing the many good arguments that conservatives have to make.
Denny
What is sad is that it sells soooooo well.
Clearly, Scot McKnight is unaware that Denny is already emergent. Despite the “doctored” picture of him on this blog, Denny really has a soul-patch and a tatoo. He has already admitted to listening to Derrick Webb. Plus, Barry Joslin told me Denny is into incense, icons, and prayer labyrinths. Denny was emergent back when it was still emerging.
quoting Andrew here…”The point stands: while I am sure the widows are not rejoicing over their husbands’ deaths, they may be using that as an inappropriate political advantage – equally unbcoming and offensive. I think that Ann Coulter was pointing that out.”
And the right hasn’t used 9/11 for IT’S political advantage? Max Cleland anyone? Please! Don’t throw stones in glass houses.
What makes me sad is the lockstep nature of the “religious right.” It’s bad enough that the Republicans have convinced Evangelicals that Republicans = the party of Christians. Especially because their views outside of a couple of hot-button puppet string issues have nothing to do with Christianity time after time.
And in that sense, Coulter is the perfect Republican. Hone in on one small point, blow it out of proportion, sweep up in November. It’s the same thing that Rove does, and it’s the same thing that O’Reilly (and all of the Fox news cast) does, and people fall for it every time. Coulter may be a wretched human being, but at least she has the guts not to flinch.
Denny,
I agree with you, Coulter’s comments are not acceptable. What I really agree with you about even more in your reply(#15) is O’Reilly. His “messiah” mentality and humanistic doctrine is uncomfortable to listen to.
He and Oprah are high in ratings and making more money than anyone………I wonder why? 🙂
Denny…Oh I am so sorry did we hurt your feelings, or did Ann hurt your feelings! One area in which I find myself not a southerner at all. Enough of the narcissistic babel…..maybe you need to read the post on Gender you wrote. Do you need to go see your psychologist now?
BTW I dont think they themselves should be too surprised. You enter a war… you get shot at many times.
Rob
Rob,
What are you talking about? I am not following you.
Denny
Dr. Burk, you concede yourself that you don’t know the context that statement was spoken in. How then can you fault her for saying something wrong, if you don’t even know the full explanation or context of why she said it?
Off the top of my head, I can think of a context where a statement like that would be appropriate. But I normally give Coulter the benefit of the doubt.
My only point is that you say yourself that you don’t know the context. Don’t we get aggrivated when critics of Christianity rip from context words of Scripture and attempt to fault the Bible with those words?
I mean doesn’t the Bible say, ‘happy is he who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rocks (Psa 137:9)’??
awaiting the hope,
Adam
Adam,
You are too biased to comment on this. Only people who don’t want to marry Ann Coulter can have an objective opinion on this matter. 🙂
Luf,
Denny
Adam,
you don’t want to marry Ann Coulter. Look closely. She’s got an Adam’s Apple. Now look closely at your mom. She probably doesn’t.
Just a thought.
Paul
Nathan Finn,
I’ll only buy Denny as emerging when I see he covers his belt with an oxford and colored crew neck t-shirt, baggy blue jeans, and a cigar cutter in his pocket.
And I’ll count him as emergent when I see his name on Emergentvillage.com in blue letters!
Denny,
But you do admit to watching O’Reilly?
And Joel Willitts passed his PhD oral exam at Cambridge, just in case you didn’t hear. Good for him (and for us, too).
Scot,
No, I don’t watch O’Reilly. I used to watch Hardball regularly, but now the only talking head show I watch is “Meet the Press.”
Yes, I did receive word from Joel. I sent him my congratulations. I was very excited for Dr. Willitts. He is da mang!
Luf,
Denny
Ok ok, I can’t stand it anymore. No more mouthing my crush. I am leaving now. I will back out of this argument. 😉
Well, I completely agree that what Ann said here is very, very wrong and that she should apologize for it. That aside, she does bring a lot of truth with her a lot of the time. Still, the problem here with your Ann Coulters and Bill O’Reillys is that they’re coming from a conservative side that is just as unGodly as your left-wing liberals. None of these folks know Jesus, as least they don’t live it. The left is just a little wackier, ok, maybe a lot more. But, we keep voting for and listening to the same lost people. Some just have a conservative name tag which we think makes them not as lost as the other side. Look at Hannity and Rush. They bring up some good points and great ideas but none of it is for the cause of Christ. I guess in our case a half truth isn’t a whole lie anymore. I’m not jumping on this “Down with Ann Coulter” band wagon because she is wrong for what she said, and she is! I think it would be wrong of me to look up to her just for the simple fact that she isn’t doing any of this for the right reasons in the first place.
Wade,
“Still, the problem here with your Ann Coulters and Bill O’Reillys is that they’re coming from a conservative side that is just as unGodly as your left-wing liberals.”
Look at Jim Wallis and tell him he’s un-Godly. While you’re at it, do the same for Michael Phlaeger, Martin Luther King, Jr or many of the parishoners of my church.
Please stop equating the left wing with absolute God-lessness. Yes, that contingent does exist, but at least they don’t try to align themselves with the religious right in order to convince the moralists that ending the estate tax is somehow Biblical.
Offended once again,
Paul