Ann Coulter 205522 225753920 2008-07-15T06:43:37Z Kevin 392462 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/Rikid|Rikid]] ([[User talk:Rikid|talk]]) to last version by Eaolson {{pp-semi-protected|small=yes}} {{Infobox_Celebrity | name = Ann Coulter | | image = Ann Coulter2.jpg | | caption = Ann Coulter | | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|12|8}} | | birth_place = [[New York City]], [[United States of America|USA]] | | death_date = | | death_place = | | occupation = [[author]], [[columnist]], political commentator | | salary = | | networth = | | website = http://www.anncoulter.com | }} '''Ann Hart Coulter''' (born [[December 8]], [[1961]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] [[political commentator]], [[syndicated columnist]], and best-selling [[author]]. She frequently appears on television, radio and as a speaker at public and private events. Known for her controversial and confrontational style, Coulter has described herself as a [[polemicist]] who likes to "stir up the pot" and, unlike broadcasters, does not "pretend to be impartial or balanced." <ref>[http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/April06/coulter.pre.dea.html Conservative pundit Ann Coulter '84 to speak May 7]</ref> == Early life== Ann Hart Coulter was born to John Vincent Coulter, an [[Attorney]] for [[Phelps Dodge]] ([[Albany, New York|Albany]], [[New York]], [[May 5]], [[1926]] - [[New Canaan]], [[Connecticut]], [[January 4]], [[2008]]) and wife (married at [[Stuyvesant, New York|Stuyvesant]], [[New York]], [[September 30]], [[1953]]) Nell Husbands Martin ([[Paducah, Kentucky|Paducah]], [[Kentucky]], [[February 23]], [[1928]] -).<ref>[http://www.wargs.com/other/coulter.html Ancestry of Ann Coulter<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> After her birth in [[New York City]], [[New York]], the family moved to [[New Canaan, Connecticut]], where Coulter and her two older brothers, James and John, were raised.<ref name="coulter_imdb">"[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1326010/bio Biography for Ann Coulter]." ''[[IMDB]].'' Retrieved on [[March 4]], [[2008]].</ref> She has described her family as "[[upper middle class]]" and has termed her attorney father a "[[union buster]]".<ref name ="JVC memoriam">[http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=23790BB2-C77C-4CA1-A4B8-AD9494B75E66 «John Vincent Coulter»] by Ann Coulter, ''[[FrontPage Magazine]]'', January 11, 2008</ref><ref name="timemag">Cloud, John. "[http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1050304,00.html Ms. Right]". ''Time Magazine.'' [[April 25]], [[2005]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref><ref name=appmagic>Freedland, Jonathan "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,956452,00.html An appalling magic]". ''[[The Guardian]]'', [[May 17]] [[2003]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> He was a nine-year [[FBI]] agent who worked on the [[William Remington]] [[espionage]] case and, later as a labor lawyer was involved in defeating a 1983-1985 [[strike]] by the United Steelworkers against the [[Phelps Dodge]] copper company that ended with 30 locals being decertified.<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24379 John Vincent Coulter - HUMAN EVENTS<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/studentprojects/morenci/timeline.html Morenci Mine Strike of 1983<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> As an undergraduate at [[Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences|Cornell University]], Coulter helped found ''[[Cornell Review|The Cornell Review]]'',<ref name="horowitz">Horowitz, David. "[http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=1038 Ann Coulter at Cornell]". ''[[FrontPageMag.com]]''. [[May 21]] [[2001]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> and was a member of the [[Delta Gamma]] national [[Sorority|women's fraternity]].<ref name="deltagamma">{{cite news | title = From the pens of Delta Gammas | publisher = Anchora of Delta Gamma | date = Summer 2005 | url = http://www.deltagamma.org/anchora/summer_05_anchora.pdf | format = [[PDF]]|page = 29 (16 in PDF)| accessdate = 2006-07-11 }}</ref> She graduated ''[[cum laude]]'' from Cornell in 1984, and received her [[Juris Doctor|law degree]] from the [[University of Michigan Law School]], where she achieved membership in the [[Order of the Coif]] and was an editor of the ''[[Michigan Law Review]]''.<ref>"[http://premierespeakers.com/2718/index.cfm Ann Coulter: bestselling author and political commentator] (Profile)". ''[http://www.premierespeakers.com/ premierespeakers.com]''. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]]. See also ''Michigan Law Review'' vol. 86 No. 5 (April 1988), where Ann Coulter "of Connecticut" is listed on the masthead as an articles editor.</ref> At Michigan, Coulter founded a local chapter of the [[Federalist Society]] and was trained at the National Journalism Center.<ref>Hallow, Ralph. "[http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060221-122951-2550r.htm A lifelong voice for conservatives]". ''[[The Washington Times]]''. [[February 21]] [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> After law school, Coulter served as a [[law clerk]], in [[Kansas City]], for [[Pasco Bowman II]] of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit]].<ref>See {{cite news |title=Liberals, conservatives duke it out on paper |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20031005/ai_n11424888 |last=Lythgoe |first=Dennis |date=2003-10-05|publisher=[[Deseret Morning News]] |page=E1}}; {{cite news |title=Op-Ed: Congress Goes Fishing |last=Hentoff |first=Nat |date=1998-12-05|publisher=[[Washington Post]] |page=A23}}; Coulter herself says it was Bowman. See [http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/content.cgi?name=bio her online bio]; see also {{cite news |title=ABA's ratings no more |last=Coulter |first=Ann |date=2001-05-03|publisher=[[Washington Times]] |page=A15}}</ref> After a short time working in New York City in private practice, where she specialized in [[corporate law]], Coulter left to work for the United States [[Senate Judiciary Committee]] after the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] [[Republican Revolution|took control of Congress]] in 1994. She handled crime and immigration issues for Senator [[Spencer Abraham]] of Michigan, and helped craft legislation designed to expedite the [[deportation]] of aliens convicted of [[felony|felonies]].<ref name=Daley1999>Daley, David. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=HC&p_theme=hc&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=ann%20AND%20coulter%20AND%20shining&s_dispstring=ann%20coulter%20shining%20AND%20date(1999)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=1999&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no "Ann Coulter: light's all shining on her"]. ''Hartford Courant''. [[June 25]] [[1999]]. [$2.50 charge required to view article]</ref> She later became a litigator with the [[Center for Individual Rights]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Conservative Coulter sounds off in her latest book; ''Treason'' aims to change views on McCarthy |last=Moore |first=Frazier |date=2003-10-05|publisher=[[Telegraph Herald]] |page=e2}}</ref> == Personal life == Coulter has been engaged several times, but never married.<ref name="pickfights"/> She has dated ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' founder and publisher [[Bob Guccione, Jr.]],<ref name = "arm candy"/> and conservative writer [[Dinesh D'Souza]].<ref name = "Coultergeist"/> In October 2007, she began dating [[Andrew Stein]], the former president of the [[New York City Council]], a liberal Democrat. When asked about the relationship, Stein told the paper, "She's attacked a lot of my friends, but what can I say, opposites attract!"<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/seven/10102007/gossip/pagesix/andy_and_ann__.htm ANDY AND ANN?!]</ref> On [[January 7]], [[2008]], however, Stein told the [[New York Post]] that the relationship was over, citing irreconcilable differences.<ref name="Post_jan2008">Froelich, Paula; Hoffman, Bill; Steindler, Corynne; Garvey, Marianne. "[http://www.nypost.com/seven/01072008/gossip/pagesix/over_already_676492.htm Over Already]." ''[[New York Post]].'' [[January 7]], [[2008]]. Retrieved on [[March 4]], [[2008]].</ref> Coulter owns both a [[condominium]] in [[Manhattan]] and a house, bought in 2005, in [[Palm Beach, Florida]]. Although she says that usually she lives in New York, she votes in Palm Beach and is not [[voter registration|registered]] to do so in New York.<ref>Lisberg, Adam. "[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2006/06/08/2006-06-08_her_disputed_elex_ballot_sparks_probe_in.html Her disputed elex ballot sparks probe in Florida]". ''[[New York Daily News]]''. [[June 8]] [[2006]]. Retrieved [[August 21]] [[2007]]</ref> She is a fan of the [[Grateful Dead]],<ref>Bowman, David. "[http://dir.salon.com/story/books/int/2003/07/25/bowman/index.html Ann Coulter, woman]". ''[[Salon.com]]''. [[July 25]] [[2003]]. Retrieved on [[July 11]] [[2006]].</ref><ref>Hill, Taylor. [http://www.jambands.com/Features/content_2006_06_23.06.phtml "'Deadheads Are What Liberals Claim to Be But Aren't': An Interview with Ann Coulter"]. ''[[jambands.com]]''. [[June 23]] [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[October 7]] [[2007]].</ref> and some of her favorite books include [[The Bible]], ''[[Wuthering Heights]]'', ''[[Anna Karenina]]'', [[True crime (genre)|true crime]] stories about [[serial killer]]s, and anything by [[Dave Barry]].<ref>Glazov, Jamie. "[http://www.frontpagemag.com/articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=11689 Frontpage interview: Ann Coulter]". ''Frontpage Magazine''. [[January 12]] [[2004]]. Retrieved on [[July 19]] [[2006]].</ref> Coulter's column on [[January 9]], [[2008]] was about the recent death of her father, John Vincent Coulter.<ref name = "JVC memoriam"/> == Media career == Known for her polemical style,<ref>Schmidt Tracey. "[http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1203281,00.html What Would Ann Coulter Do?]" ''[[Time Magazine]]''.</ref> Coulter has been described by ''[[The Observer]]'' as "the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Michael Moore]]" and "[[Rush Limbaugh]] in a miniskirt".<ref>Wood, Gaby. "[http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,1794552,00.html Lethally blonde]" ''[[The Observer]]''. [[June 11]] [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 11]] [[2006]].</ref> === Television and radio=== Coulter made her first national media appearance in 1996 after she was hired by [[MSNBC]] as a legal correspondent. [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']] said this about her tenure there: <blockquote>The network dismissed her at least twice: first in February 1997, after she insulted the late [[Pamela Harriman]], the U.S. Ambassador to [[France]], even as the network was covering her somber memorial service.... Even so, the network missed Coulter's jousting and quickly rehired her. Eight months later, Coulter's relationship with MSNBC ended permanently after she tangled with a disabled [[Vietnam war|Vietnam]] veteran on the air. [[Bobby Muller|Robert Muller]], co-founder of the [[International Campaign to Ban Landmines]], asserted that "in 90 percent of the cases that U.S. soldiers got blown up [in Vietnam] — Ann, are you listening? &mdash; they were our own mines." (Muller was misquoting a 1969 [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] report that found that 90 percent of the components used in enemy mines came from U.S. duds and refuse). Coulter averted her eyes and responded sarcastically: "No wonder you guys lost." The ''[[Washington Post]]'' and others misquoted Coulter saying: "People like you caused us to lose that war." After MSNBC, she began appearing on [[CNN]] and the [[Fox News Channel]].<ref name="timemag"/></blockquote> [[Howard Kurtz]] of the ''Washington Post'' made a point to respond to the ''Time'' article to explain that his widely quoted reporting of Coulter's reply to the veteran in an article he wrote had its origin in Coulter's own later recollection of the incident. Describing his previous story, Kurtz added, "I did note that, according to Coulter, the vet was appearing by [[satellite]], and she didn't know he was disabled."<ref> "Kurtz, Howard. "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A208-2005Apr19?language=printer The conservative pin-up girl]". ''[[Washington Post]]''. [[April 19]] [[2005]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]]. </ref> Coulter has made frequent guest appearances on many television and radio [[talk show]]s, including ''[[Today (NBC program)|The Today Show]]'', ''[[Hannity and Colmes]]'', ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]'', ''[[American Morning]]'', ''[[Crossfire (television)|Crossfire]]'', ''[[Real Time with Bill Maher]]'', ''[[Politically Incorrect]]'', ''[[The Fifth Estate]]'', ''[[The Sean Hannity Show]]'', ''[[The Rush Limbaugh Show]]'', and [[Mike Gallagher]]. In 2005, Coulter appeared as one of a three-person judging panel in ''[[The Greatest American]]'', a four-part interactive television program for the [[Discovery Channel]] hosted by [[Matt Lauer]].<ref>"[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463820/ Greatest American (2005) (mini)]". ''[[Internet Movie Database]]''. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> Starting with 100 nominees, each week interactive viewer voting eliminated candidates. === Films === In 2004, Coulter appeared in three films. The first was ''Feeding the Beast'', a made-for-television documentary on the "24-Hour News Revolution".<ref>"[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412709 Feeding the Beast: The 24-Hour News Revolution (2004) (TV)]". ''Internet Movie Database''. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> The other two films were ''[[FahrenHYPE 9/11]]'', a [[direct to video]] documentary intended to rebut [[Michael Moore]]'s ''[[Fahrenheit 911]]'', and ''Is It True What They Say About Ann?'', a documentary on Coulter containing clips of interviews and speeches.<ref>"[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0431153/ Is It True What They Say About Ann? (2004)]" ''Internet Movie Database.'' Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> In 2006, Coulter refused permission to include a scene featuring herself and [[Al Franken]] in a debate in Connecticut in Franken's film, ''[[Al Franken: God Spoke]]''.<ref>Faraci, Devin. [http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=news&id=7505 "Is Ann Coulter sabotaging Al Franken's film?"] CHUD.com. [[August 29]] [[2006]]. Retrieved [[September 29]] [[2006]].</ref> === Books === {{see also cat|Books by Ann Coulter}} [[Image:Ann Coulter AC.jpg|right|thumb|Ann Coulter.]] Coulter is the author of six books, all of which have appeared on [[New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' Best Seller list]]. Coulter's first book, ''[[High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Case Against Bill Clinton]]'' (ISBN 0-89526-113-8), was published by [[Regnery Publishing]] in 1998. The book details Coulter's case for the [[Clinton impeachment|impeachment]] of President [[Bill Clinton]]. Coulter's second book, ''[[Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right]]'' (ISBN 1-4000-4661-0), published by [[Crown Publishing Group|Crown Forum]] in 2002, remained number one on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list for seven weeks. In ''Slander'', Coulter argues that President [[George W. Bush]] was given unfair negative media coverage. In Coulter's third book, ''[[Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism]]'' (ISBN 1-4000-5030-8), also published by Crown Forum, Coulter reexamines the 60-year history of the [[Cold War]] — including the career of Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]], the [[Whittaker Chambers]]–[[Alger Hiss]] affair, and [[Ronald Reagan]]’s challenge to [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] to "tear down this wall" — and argues that liberals were wrong in their Cold War political analyses and policy decisions, and that McCarthy was correct about Soviet agents working for the U.S. government. She also argues that the correct identification of [[Annie Lee Moss]], among others, as [[Communist]]s was misreported by that liberal media. ''Treason'' was published in 2003, and spent 13 weeks on the Best Seller list.<ref>Guthmann, Edward. "[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/12/02/DDG4F3DPKR1.DTL An outbreak of partisan warfare on the best-seller list is encouraging authors to stoke the fires of readers hungry for political squabbles -- and the Bay Area is fertile ground for Bush-whackers]". ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]''. [[December 2]] [[2003]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]]</ref> Crown Forum published a collection of Coulter's columns in 2004 as her fourth book, ''[[How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)|How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must): The World According to Ann Coulter]]'' (ISBN 1-4000-5418-4). Coulter's fifth book, published by Crown Forum in 2006, is ''[[Godless: The Church of Liberalism]]'' (ISBN 1-4000-5420-6). Coulter argues, first, that [[liberalism]] rejects the idea of God and reviles people of faith, and second, that it bears all the attributes of a religion itself. ''Godless'' debuted at number one on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list.<ref>"[http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/25/books/bestseller/0625besthardnonfiction.html&OQ=_rQ3D1&OP=24069db9Q2F-Q3CuQ7D-akYs0kk,E-EHHj-Hj-Eb-Q7DkkQ20s-Q7Dus,suOOu0-HjEbQ7Dus,Q51R0aIkIFQ5DY,Q5DkIMQ51,dO ''New York Times'' bestseller list: hardcover nonfiction]". ''[[New York Times]]''. [[June 25]] [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]]. [Registration required to view article]</ref> Coulter's most recent book, ''[[If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans]]'', was published in October, 2007.<ref>[http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780739327388 ''Randomhouse.com'']</ref><ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21089969/ Brief excerpt of "If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans"]</ref> === Columns === In the late 1990s, Coulter's weekly (biweekly from 1999-2000) [[Print syndication|syndicated]] column for [[Universal Press Syndicate]] began appearing. Her column is featured on six conservative websites: ''[[Human Events|Human Events Online]]'', [[WorldNetDaily]], [[Townhall.com]], [[FrontPageMag]], ''[[Jewish World Review]]'' and her own website. Her syndicator says, "Ann's client newspapers stick with her because she has a loyal fan base of conservative readers who look forward to reading her columns in their local newspapers."<ref name="astormitchell">Astor, Dave; Mitchell, Greg. "[http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002689746# Newspaper clients, and syndicate, stick with Coulter]". ''[[Editor & Publisher]]''. [[June 16]] [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> Her column on her personal website, anncoulter.com, is also permanently linked to by the [[Drudge Report]] web page.<ref>[[Matt Drudge|Drudge, Matt]]. [http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2001/11/18/20011118_010140.htm "11/18/2001 edition of Drudge Report"] DrudgeReportArchives.com. [[November 18]] [[2001]]. Retrieved on [[October 25]] [[2006]]</ref> In 1999, Coulter worked as a regular [[columnist]] for ''[[George (magazine)|George]]'' magazine.<ref>Coulter, Ann. "[http://www.uexpress.com/anncoulter/index.html?uc_full_date=19990728 A Republican tribute to John]", www.uexpress.com, [[July 28]] [[1999]]. Retrieved on [[October 22]] [[2006]].</ref><ref name="arm candy"/> Coulter also wrote exclusive weekly columns between 1998 and 2003 and with occasional columns thereafter for the conservative magazine ''[[Human Events]]''. In her columns for the magazine, she discusses judicial rulings, [[Constitution]]al issues, and legal matters affecting Congress and the [[executive branch]]. Overall, Coulter's columns are highly critical of liberals and Democrats. In one, she wrote: <blockquote>This year's Democratic plan for the future is another inane sound bite designed to trick American voters into trusting them with [[national security]]. To wit, they're claiming there is no connection between the [[war on terror]] and the [[Iraq War|war in Iraq]], and while they're all for the war against terror — absolutely in favor of that war — they are adamantly opposed to the Iraq war. You know, the war where the U.S. military is killing thousands upon thousands of [[terrorist]]s (described in the media as "Iraqi civilians", even if they are from [[Jordan]], like the now-dead leader of [[al-Qaida in Iraq]], [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]]). That war.<ref name= Ann>Ann Coulter, "[http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/article.cgi?article=144 What part of the war on terrorism do they support?]" [[August 23]] [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[August 31]] [[2006]].</ref></blockquote> ==== Reactions from publishers ==== In 2001, as a contributing editor and syndicated columnist for ''[[National Review Online]]'' (NRO), Coulter was asked by editors to make changes to a piece written after the [[September 11 attacks]]. On the national television show ''[[Politically Incorrect]]'', Coulter accused ''NRO'' of [[censorship]] and said that she was paid $5 per article. NRO dropped her column and terminated her editorship. [[Jonah Goldberg]], editor-at-large of ''NRO'', said, "We did not 'fire' Ann for what she wrote... we ended the relationship because she behaved with a total lack of professionalism, friendship, and loyalty [concerning the editing disagreement]."<ref name="13laffaire">Goldberg, Jonah. "[http://www.nationalreview.com/nr_comment/nr_comment100301.shtml L’affaire Coulter]". ''[[National Review]]''. [[October 3]],[[2001]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> Coulter contracted with ''[[USA Today]]'' to cover the [[2004 Democratic National Convention]]. She wrote one article that began, "Here at the Spawn of [[Satan]] convention in [[Boston]]..." and referred to some unspecified female attendees as "[[corn-fed]], no make-up, natural fiber, no-bra needing, sandal-wearing, hirsute, somewhat fragrant [[hippie]] chick pie wagons." The newspaper declined to print the article citing an editing dispute over "basic weaknesses in clarity and readability that we found unacceptable." An explanatory article by the paper went on to say "Coulter told the online edition of ''[[Editor & Publisher]]'' magazine that '''USA Today'' doesn't like my "tone", humor, sarcasm, etc., which raises the intriguing question of why they hired me to write for them.'" ''USA Today'' replaced Coulter with Goldberg, and Coulter published it instead on her website.<ref>Coulter, Ann. "[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=39644 Put the speakers in a cage]". ''[[WorldNetDaily]]''. [[July 26]] [[2004]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref><ref>Staff Writer. "[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/07/26/politics/main631949.shtml ''USA Today'' drops Ann Coulter]." ''[[CBS News]].'' [[July 26]], [[2004]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref><ref>Memmott, Mark. "[http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2004-07-26-coulter-column_x.htm Coulter column canceled after editing dispute]". ''[[USA Today]]''. [[July 26]] [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 11]] [[2006]].</ref> In August 2005, the ''[[Arizona Daily Star]]'' dropped Coulter's syndicated column citing reader complaints that "Many readers find her shrill, bombastic and mean-spirited. And those are the words used by readers who identified themselves as conservatives."<ref>Stoeffler, David. "[http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/opinion/90500.php Opinion pages get a makeover]". ''[[Arizona Daily Star]]''. [[August 28]] [[2005]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> In July 2006, some newspapers replaced Coulter's column with those of other conservative columnists<ref>E&P Staff. "[http://editorandpublisher.com/eandp/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002912730 Another Newspaper Decides to Drop Ann Coulter's Column]" ''[[Editor & Publisher]]'' [[July 26]] [[2006]] Retrieved on [[July 28]] [[2006]]</ref> following the publication of her fourth book, ''[[Godless: The Church of Liberalism]].'' After the ''[[Augusta Chronicle]]'' dropped her column, newspaper editor Michael Ryan explained that "it came to the point where she was the issue rather than what she was writing about."<ref name="Augusta Editor">Astor, Dave; Mitchell, Greg. "[http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002878146 Augusta Editor Explains Why He Dropped Coulter Column]" ''[[Editor & Publisher]]'' [[July 24]], [[2006]] Retrieved [[July 26]] [[2006]];</ref> Ryan also stated that "Pulling Ann Coulter's column hurts; she's one of the clearest thinkers around." === Public appearances === Coulter is a frequent public speaker, particularly on [[college]] [[campus]]es, receiving both praise and protest. During an appearance at the [[University of Arizona]], a [[Pieing|pie was thrown at her]].<ref name="pieing">Staff Writer. "[http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1022042coulter1.html 'Al Pieda' targets Ann Coulter]." ''[[The Smoking Gun]].'' [[October 22]], [[2004]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]], [[2006]].</ref><ref>Wells, Holly. "[http://wc.arizona.edu/papers/98/236/01_4.html Former student enters plea in 2004 Coulter pie assault]." ''[[Arizona Daily Wildcat]].'' [[January 12]], [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]], [[2006]].</ref><ref>"[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155550,00.html The pie-proof Ann Coulter on hecklers]." ''[[Fox News]].'' [[May 4]], [[2005]]. Retrieved on [[July 13]], [[2006]].</ref>Coulter has, on occasion, responded with insulting remarks towards hecklers and protestors who attend her speeches.<ref>[http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/article.cgi?article=50 AnnCoulter.com - Archived Article: IT'S ONLY FUNNY UNTIL SOMEONE LOSES A PIE<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>Wong, Shelly K. "[http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1384190 Hecklers cause Coulter to cut UConn speech]." ''[[Associated Press]].'', [[December 7]], [[2005]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]], [[2006]].</ref><ref> Guidi, David. [http://media.www.usforacle.com/media/storage/paper880/news/2006/10/20/News/Controversial.Conservative.Pundit.Elicits.Praise.And.Protest.Thursday-2379854.shtml?sourcedomain=www.usforacle.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com "Controversial conservative pundit elicits praise and protest Thursday"]. [University of South Florida] ''The Oracle''. [[October 20]], [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[November 9]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name="pickfights">Staff Writer. "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/07/19/wmed19.xml I love to pick fights with liberals]" ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' [[July 7]] [[2002]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> == Religious views == Coulter says that she holds [[Christian]] beliefs, but has not declared her membership in any particular [[Christian denomination|denomination]]; she has mentioned that her father was [[Catholic]] while her mother was not.<ref name = "JVC memoriam"/> At one public lecture she said: "I don't care about anything else: [[Christ]] died for my [[sin]]s and nothing else matters."<ref>Olasky, Marvin. "[http://www.worldmag.com/articles/10919 South Park vs. Ann Coulter]". ''[[World (magazine)|World]]''. [[August 13]] [[2005]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> In a 2004 column,<ref name="passion">[http://www.townhall.com/columnists/AnnCoulter/2004/03/04/the_passion_of_the_liberal The passion of the liberal], ''townhall.com'', [[March 4]] [[2004]]</ref> she summarized her view of Christianity: "Jesus' distinctive message was: People are sinful and need to be redeemed, and this is your lucky day because I'm here to redeem you even though you don't deserve it, and I have to get the crap kicked out of me to do it." She then mocked "the message of Jesus ... according to liberals," summarising it as "...something along the lines of 'be nice to people'," which, in turn, she said "is, in fact, one of the ''incidental'' tenets of Christianity". Confronting some critics' views that her content and style of writing is un-Christian,<ref>Norman, Tony. "[http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0610-23.htm If Ann Coulter's a Christian, I'll be damned]". Commondreams.org. [[June 10]] [[2006]]. Retrieved [[July 31]],[[2006]].</ref><ref>Thoreau, Jackson. "[http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_jackson__060609_liberal_and_proud_3a_l.htm U.S. founders and Christ were liberals: we cannot let right-wingers like Coulter define liberalism]". OpEdNews.com. [[June 9]] [[2006]]. Retrieved [[July 31]], [[2006]].</ref> Coulter has stated that "I'm a Christian first and a mean-spirited, bigoted conservative second, and don't you ever forget it."<ref name ="E&P">E&P Staff. "Coulter: Press Either 'Incompetent' or Full of 'Left-Wing Bias'". ''Editor and Publisher''. [[July 31]] [[2006]].[http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/search/search_results_taxo.jsp?startDate=07/31/2006&endDate=07/31/2006&cf=&ct=&cu=&rpp=10&sb=REFERENCE_DATE&so=DESC&ti=2&tp=vnuTaxoPool&numRet=200&src=&showAbs=true&srchMeta=true&shwTotal=true&metaSrchNum=250&numMeta=20&pi=&pubList=Editor%20and%20Publisher&kw=coulter+mean-spirited&au=&mt=&mv=&esindct=false](subscription required)[http://www.allbusiness.com/services/business-services-miscellaneous-business/4699951-1.html](free)</ref> She has also said: "... Christianity fuels everything I write. Being a Christian means that I am called upon to do battle against lies, injustice, cruelty, hypocrisy &mdash; you know, all the virtues in the church of liberalism."<ref name="depasquale">De Pasquale, Lisa. [http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=15363 Exclusive interview: Coulter says book examines 'mental disorder' of Liberalism]". ''[[Human Events]]''. [[June 6]] [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> In ''[[Godless: The Church of Liberalism]]'', as well as in personal appearances, Coulter characterized the theory of [[evolution]] as "bogus science",<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/1400054206 Godless: The Church of Liberalism Book Description] on [[Amazon.com]]</ref><ref>[http://www.hebookservice.com/products/BookPage.asp?prod_cd=c6918 Book Review] by [[Human Events]]</ref> and contrasting her beliefs to what she called the left's "obsession with [[Darwinism]] and the Darwinian view of the world, which replaces sanctification of life with sanctification of sex and death."<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/items/200606080002 Media Matters - Coulter continued attacks on liberals, families of 9-11 victims: "[D&#93;o I have to kill my mother so I can be a victim, too?"<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> On [[October 8]], [[2007]], Coulter ignited yet more controversy when she was quoted as saying that [[Jew]]s should be "perfected" into Christians. She was talking about Republicans with [[Donny Deutsch]], a [[Jewish]] [[CNBC]] talk-show host, and implied that she considered Christianity a virtue. Deutsch asked her, "It would be better if we were all Christian?", to which Coulter replied "Yes". Deutsch asked her, "We should all be Christian?", and got the same response, with an invitation to come to church. Later on, Coulter said, "we just want Jews to be perfected, as they say", saying that this was what Christianity was, and she compared the '[[New Testament]] to [[Federal Express]]. Further, Coulter said that Christians considered themselves to be perfected Jews. Deutsch implied that this was an [[anti-Semitic]] remark, but Coulter said she didn't consider it to be a hateful comment.<ref>E&P Staff. "[http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003657196 Ann Coulter on CNBC Show: Jews Need 'Perfecting']". ''Editor and Publisher''. [[October 11]] [[2007]].</ref> == Political activities == [[Image:Jimmy Wales photo of Ann Coulter crop.jpg|right|thumb|Ann Coulter.]] Coulter's political activities have included advising a plaintiff suing President Bill Clinton and considering a run for Congress. === The Paula Jones – Bill Clinton case === Coulter debuted as a public figure shortly before becoming an unpaid legal advisor for the attorneys representing [[Paula Jones]] in her [[sexual harassment]] suit against President Bill Clinton. Coulter's friend George Conway had been asked to assist Jones' attorneys, and shortly afterward Coulter, who wrote a column about the Paula Jones case for ''Human Events'', was also asked to help; she began writing legal briefs for the case. Coulter later stated that she would come to mistrust the motives of Jones' head lawyer, Joseph Cammaratta, who by [[August 1997|August]] or September 1997 was advising Jones that her case was weak and to [[legal settlement|settle]], if a favorable settlement could be negotiated.<ref name=Daley1999 /><ref name=conason/> From the onset, Jones had sought an apology from Clinton at least as eagerly as she sought a settlement.<ref>Barak, Daphne. "[http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1998/09/23/fhead.htm Jones would have been happy with an apology]". ''[[Irish Examiner]]''. [[September 23]] [[1998]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> However, in a later interview Coulter recounted that she herself had believed that the case was strong, and that a settlement would give the impression that Jones was merely interested in [[extortion|extorting]] money from the President.<ref name=Daley1999 /> David Daley, who wrote the interview piece for the ''[[Hartford Courant]]'' recounted what followed: <blockquote>Coulter played one particularly key role in keeping the Jones case alive. In ''[[Newsweek]]'' reporter [[Michael Isikoff]]'s new book ''Uncovering Clinton: A Reporter's Story'', Coulter is unmasked as the one who leaked word of Clinton's "distinguishing characteristic" — his reportedly bent [[penis]] that Jones said she could recognize and describe — to the news media. Her hope was to foster mistrust between the Clinton and Jones camps and forestall a settlement... :"I thought if I leaked the distinguishing characteristic it would show bad faith in negotiations. [Clinton lawyer] [[Bob Bennett]] would think Jones had leaked it. Cammaratta would know he himself hadn't leaked it and would get mad at Bennett. It might stall negotiations enough for me to get through to [Jones adviser] [[Susan Carpenter-McMillan]] to tell her that I thought settling would hurt Paula, that this would ruin her reputation, and that there were other lawyers working for her. Then 36 hours later, she returned my phone call. :"I just wanted to help Paula. I really think Paula Jones is a hero. I don't think I could have taken the abuse she came under. She's this poor little country girl and she has the most powerful man she's ever met hitting on her sexually, then denying it and smearing her as president. And she never did anything tacky. It's not like she was going on TV or trying to make a buck out of it."<ref name=Daley1999 /></blockquote> Coulter also told Isikoff: "We were terrified that Jones would settle. It was contrary to our purpose of bringing down the President."<ref name=conason>Conason, Joe; Lyons, Gene. "[http://archive.salon.com/news/feature/2000/03/04/willey/print.html Impeachment's little elves]". ''[[Salon.com]]''. [[March 4]] [[2000]]. Retrieved [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> The case went to court after Jones broke with Coulter and her original legal team, and it was dismissed via [[summary judgment]]. The judge ruled that even if her allegations proved true, Jones did not show that she had suffered any damages, stating "...plaintiff has not demonstrated any tangible job detriment or adverse employment action for her refusal to submit to the governor's alleged advances. The president is therefore entitled to summary judgment on plaintiff's claim of [[quid pro quo]] sexual harassment". The ruling was [[appeal]]ed by Jones' lawyers. During the pendency of the appeal, Clinton settled with Jones for $850,000 ($151,000 after legal fees) in November 1998, in exchange for Jones' dismissal of the appeal. By then, the Jones lawsuit had led to the [[Lewinsky scandal|Monica Lewinsky sex scandal]]. In October 2000, Jones revealed that she would pose for nude pictures in an adult magazine, saying she wanted to use the money to pay taxes and support her children, in particular saying, "I'm wanting to put them through college and maybe set up a college fund."<ref name=larryking>Jones, Paula. "[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0010/24/lkl.00.html Paula Jones describes why she's posing for ''Penthouse'']". ''Larry King Live''. ''CNN''. [[October 24]] [[2000]]. Retrieved on [[October 24]], [[2000]]</ref> Coulter publicly denounced Jones, calling her "the trailer-park trash they said she was," (Coulter had earlier chastened Clinton supporters for calling Jones this name<ref>Ann Coulter "[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_199801/ai_n8803510 "'Trailer park trash' strikes back]". ''Human Events''. [[January 30]] [[1998]]. Retrieved on [[November 18]], [[2006]]</ref> after Clinton's former campaign strategist [[James Carville]] had made the widely-reported remark, "Drag a $100 bill through a trailer park, and you'll never know what you'll find" and called Jones a "[[fraud]], at least to the extent of pretending to be an honorable and moral person."<ref name=larryking/> Coulter wrote: "Paula surely was given more than a million dollars in free legal assistance from an array of legal talent she will never again encounter in her life, much less have busily working on her behalf. Some of those lawyers never asked for or received a dime for hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal work performed at great professional, financial and personal cost to themselves. Others got partial payments out of the settlement. But at least they got her reputation back. And now she's thrown it away."<ref>Coulter, Ann. "[http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter103000.asp Clinton sure can pick 'em]". ''Jewish World Review''. [[October 30]] [[2000]]. Retrieved [[July 11]] [[2006]].</ref> Jones claimed not to have been offered any help with a book deal of her own or any other additional financial help after the lawsuit.<ref name = larryking/> === Aborted congressional candidacy === In 1999 and 2000, Coulter considered running for [[United States House of Representatives|Congress]] from [[Connecticut]] on the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]] ticket to serve as a [[Spoiler effect|spoiler]] in order to throw the seat to the Democratic candidate and see that Republican Congressman [[Christopher Shays]] failed to gain re-election, as a punishment for Shays' vote against Clinton's [[impeachment]]. The leadership of the [[Libertarian Party of Connecticut]], after meeting with Coulter, declined to endorse her. As a result, her self-described "total sham, media-intensive, third-party [[Jesse Ventura]] campaign" did not take place.<ref name = "arm candy">Lehman, Susan. "[http://www.salon.com/media/lehm/1999/03/04lehm.html Conservative pinup battles "arm candy" canard]". ''[[Salon.com]]''. [[March 4]] [[1999]]. Retrieved [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref><ref>Browne, Harry. "[http://harrybrowne.org/articles/Coulter.htm We're more ambitious than the Republicans are]". ''[[Harry Browne]]''. [[September 22]] [[2000]]. Retrieved [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> === 2008 presidential campaign === In a June 2007 interview, Coulter named [[Duncan Hunter]] as her choice for the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination, saying "my favorite candidate is [Rep.] Duncan Hunter [R-[[California|CA]]], and he is magnificent. The problem is most people say, "Who's Duncan Hunter?" He's a genuine war hero. He has one son, I think, in Iraq, one in [[Afghanistan]]. He is good on every single issue. He has been out front on building a wall. He did build a wall at [[San Diego]]. He's very good on—on the life issue. He's good on everything."<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/items/200706260001 Media Matters - Good Morning America 's Chris Cuomo interviews Coulter, promotes Godless]</ref> After Hunter dropped out of the race, Coulter named Governor [[Mitt Romney]] as her choice for the 2008 Republican nomination, saying he is "manifestly the best candidate."<ref>Ann Coulter: [http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/article.cgi?article=230 The Elephant In The Room] January 16, 2008</ref> Romney suspended his campaign in the race in early February 2008. By contrast, Coulter has been critical of the presumptive Republican nominee [[John McCain]]. On the [[January 31]], [[2008]] broadcast of ''[[Hannity and Colmes]]'', Coulter claimed that, if McCain won the Republican nomination for president, she would support and campaign for [[Hillary Clinton]], stating, "[Clinton] is more conservative than McCain."<ref name=Foxnews>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuTqgqhxVMc YouTube - Coulter: I'll campaign for Hillary if McCain is the nominee]</ref> Clinton withdrew from the race in early June. Coulter has also been harshly critical of [[Barack Obama]]. For example, in an [[April 2]], [[2008]] column, she characterized Obama's book ''[[Dreams From My Father]]'' as a "Dimestore ''[[Mein Kampf]]''", a reference to [[Adolf Hitler]]'s book. Coulter writes, "He says the reason black people keep to themselves is that it's 'easier than spending all your time mad or trying to guess whatever it was that white folks were thinking about you.' Here's a little inside scoop about white people: We're not thinking about you. Especially [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestant|WASPs]]. We think everybody is inferior, and we are perfectly charming about it."<ref name=MeinKampfObama>[http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/printer_friendly.cgi?article=243 AnnCoulter.com - Printer Friendly Article: OBAMA'S DIMESTORE 'MEIN KAMPF']</ref> Coulter has repeatedly brought up the subject of Obama's father being raised a [[Muslim]] in interviews and has frequently refered to him as "B. Hussein Obama"<ref>[http://www.anncoulter.com </ref> == Legal and professional disputes == === Irregularities in public registration === In September 2002, ''[[Washington Post]]'' columnist [[Lloyd Grove]] wrote a column titled, "Mystery of the Ages", raising questions about Coulter's actual date of birth.<ref name=Grove>Grove, Lloyd. "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A43120-2002Sep5?language= Mystery of the ages]", ''[[The Washington Post]]'', [[September 6]] [[2002]]. Retrieved on [[July 24]] [[2006]].</ref> At the time, Coulter was insisting that she was not yet 40, despite media reports to the contrary. Attempting to resolve the discrepancy, Grove noted that Coulter had given her date of birth as [[December 8]], [[1961]] when she first registered to vote in 1980 (the year of the [[United States presidential election, 1980|Reagan-vs-Carter presidential election]]), in New Canaan, Connecticut, where the legal voting age is 18. He said that Coulter's [[Connecticut]] driver's license also listed her birth date as December 1961, but pointed out that a driver's license issued to her years later in [[Washington, D.C.]], gave her date of birth as December 1963. In her emailed reply to Grove's inquiry, Coulter maintained that she was 38 years old. In April 2005, ''Time'''s cover story on Coulter reported, "Coulter says she won't confirm the date 'for privacy reasons' — she's had several [[stalking|stalkers]]. 'And I'm a girl,' she adds."<ref name="timemag"/> === Factual inaccuracies, actual and alleged === Comedian, author and political commentator [[Al Franken]] has questioned the factual accuracy of her books, and also accuses her of citing passages out of context.<ref name="frankenbook">{{cite book|author = Franken, Al|title=Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them|Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right|publisher = Dutton Books|year = 2003|id = ISBN 0-525-94764-7}}</ref> Others have investigated these charges, and have also raised questions about the books' accuracy and presentation of facts.<ref>Scherer, Michael; Secules, Sarah. "[http://cjr.org/issues/2002/6/slander-scherer.asp Books: how slippery is ''Slander''?]" ''[[Columbia Journalism Review]].'' 2002. Retrieved on [[July 11]], [[2006]].</ref><ref>[http://www.spinsanity.org/columns/20020713.html "Throwing the book at her"], ''Spinsanity''. [[July 13]], [[2002]]. Retrieved [[September 30]], [[2007]].</ref><ref>[http://www.spinsanity.com/columns/20030630.html "Screed: With Treason, Ann Coulter once again defines a new low in America's political debate"], ''Spinsanity''. [[June 30]], [[2003]]. Retrieved [[September 30]], [[2007]].</ref> Coulter responded to these and similar criticisms in a column called "Answering My Critics",<ref name=answering>Coulter, Ann. "[http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter100903.asp Answering my critics]." ''[http://www.jewishworldreview.com/ Jewish World Review].'' [[October 9]], [[2003]]. Retrieved on [[July 11]], [[2006]].</ref> where she claims "the most devastating examples of my alleged 'lies' keep changing" and that some accusations of her factual inaccuracy are either outright wrong or really just "trivial" factual errors (e.g. referring to "endnotes" as "footnotes", or incorrectly identifying [[Evan Thomas]]' grandfather, [[Socialist Party of America|Socialist Party]] presidential candidate [[Norman Thomas]], as his father). ====New York Times' NASCAR coverage==== In the first edition of ''Slander'', Coulter alleged that ''[[The New York Times]]'' did not cover [[NASCAR]] driver [[Dale Earnhardt]]'s death until two days after he died: <blockquote>The day after seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt died in a race at the [[Daytona 500]], almost every newspaper in America carried the story on the front page. Stock-car racing had been the nation's fastest-growing sport for a decade, and NASCAR the second-most-watched sport behind the [[NFL]]. More Americans recognize the name Dale Earnhardt than, say, [[Maureen Dowd]]. ([[Manhattan]] liberals are dumbly blinking at that last sentence.) It took ''The New York Times'' two days to deem Earnhardt's death sufficiently important to mention it on the first page. Demonstrating the left's renowned [[populism|populist]] touch, the article began, 'His death brought a silence to the [[Wal-Mart]].' The ''Times'' went on to report that in vast swaths of the country people watch stock-car racing. Tacky people were mourning Dale Earnhardt all over the South!<ref name="slander">Coulter, Ann. ''Slander.'' 2006, Crown Forum Publishing. ISBN 1-4000-4661-0</ref></blockquote> ''The New York Times'' did, in fact, cover Earnhardt's death the same day that he died: sportswriter [[Robert Lipsyte]] authored an article for the front page that was published on [[February 18]], [[2001]]. Another front page article appeared in the ''Times'' on the following day. Coulter cited an article indeed written two days after Earnhardt's death—[[Rick Bragg]], a [[Pulitzer Prize]] winner who grew up in the South, wrote a personal piece on Earnhardt and his passing—bringing the total to three days in a row in which the ''Times'' covered Earnhardt's death on its front page.<ref name="frankenbook"/> (The paper also ran a prominent story about Earnhardt before his death.) Coulter responded to this widely-publicized error by pointing out errors made by the paper seven decades earlier in its coverage of the [[Soviet Union]]: <blockquote>In my three best-selling books—making the case for a president's impeachment, accusing liberals of systematic lying and [[propaganda|propagandizing]], arguing that Joe McCarthy was a great American patriot, and detailing 50 years of treachery by the Democratic Party—this is the only vaguely substantive error the Ann Coulter hysterics have been able to produce, corrected soon after publication. CONGRATULATIONS, LIBERALS!!! At least I didn't miss the [[Ukrainian famine]] (cf., Pulitzer Prize-winning ''New York Times'' reporter [[Walter Duranty]]).<ref name="answering"/></blockquote> Coulter had corrected the error in the paperback edition of her book.<ref>Coulter, Ann: "Slander" (paperback), page 261. Three Rivers Press, 2003</ref> ====Canadian troops in Vietnam==== Coulter has been criticized for a statement she made on ''[[the fifth estate]]'', an [[investigative journalism]] program produced by [[CBC television]]. During an interview by host [[Bob McKeown]], Coulter said, "[[Canada]] used to be...one of our most...most loyal friends, and vice versa. I mean, Canada sent troops to Vietnam. Was Vietnam less containable and more of a threat than [[Saddam Hussein]]?" McKeown contradicted her with, "No, actually Canada did not send troops to Vietnam."<ref name="fifth estate"> {{cite web | url = http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/sticksandstones.html | title = "Sticks and Stones" | accessdate = 2007-12-05 | author = the fifth estate (television program) | date = aired [[January 26]], [[2005]] | publisher = CBC News | language = English | quote = "For the record, like Iraq, Canada did not send troops to Vietnam"(voiceover, @33:20 of ''Sticks and Stones'')}}</ref> On the [[February 18]], [[2005]] edition of ''[[Washington Journal]]'', Coulter justified her statement by referring to the thousands of Canadians who served in the American armed forces during the Vietnam era, either because they volunteered or because they were living in the USA during the war years and got [[conscription|drafted]]. (Between 5,000 and 20,000 Canadians fought in Vietnam itself, including approximately 80 who were killed.).<ref name="vvic">{{cite web |date=2005-06-10, 11 September 2005 updated|url = http://www.vvic.org/canadians.htm|title = Canadians in Vietnam|format = HTML |publisher = Vietnam Veterans In Canada| accessdate = 2007-11-24 | last= |quote=}}</ref> John Cloud of ''Time'', writing a few months later, suggested that Coulter may have been right, on the basis that "Canada [sent] noncombat troops to [[Indochina]] in the 1950s and again to Vietnam in 1972".<ref>See Cloud, John. "[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1050304-10,00.html Ms. Right p. 10]". ''Time Magazine.'' [[April 25]], [[2005]]. Retrieved [[2001-02-11]]. Cloud refers the soldiers Canada contributed to the [[International Control Commission|ICC]] and the [[International Commission of Control and Supervision|ICCS]], the international commissions which oversaw, respectively, the cease-fire at the end of the [[First Indochina War]], in 1954, and the cease-fire which interrupted the Vietnam War in 1973. For further information on Canada's involvement in the Vietnam War, see [[Canada and the Vietnam War]].</ref> However, Coulter's initial assertion was that Canada sent troops into Vietnam in support of the American position; in this connection, [[Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting|FAIR]] countered that Cloud made "quite a stretch to prove that Coulter was correct."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2496 |title=Time Covers Coulter: Action Alert |accessdate=2007-02-11 |author=Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting |date=[[2005-04-21]]}}</ref> ====New York Times Christians/Nazis controversy==== In her book ''Slander'', Coulter also stated that the ''[[New York Times]]'' made several statements comparing Christians to [[Nazi]]s. As examples, she cites a headline reading "Did the Nazi Crimes Draw On Christian Tradition?" and a quote, "The church was co-responsible for the [[Holocaust]]." She does not mention that the first quote was from a book review in which the reviewer disagreed with the [[thesis]] that the Nazi crimes drew on Christian tradition. The second quote was from a discussion printed in the ''Times'', in which a historian also states that [[Pope Pius XII]] was responsible for saving 750,000 Jews.<ref>C., Scott: "World O'Crap", http://blogs.salon.com/0002874/2003/10/09.html</ref> == Controversies and criticism == While she is in constant demand on the US lecture circuit,<ref name=appmagic/> Coulter's [[polemics]] - she has described herself as a "[[polemicist]]" who likes to "stir up the pot" and doesn't "pretend to be impartial or balanced, as broadcasters do"<ref name="polemicist">Aloi, Daniel. "[http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/April06/coulter.pre.dea.html Conservative pundit Ann Coulter '84 to speak May 7]". ''[[Cornell University|Cornell University Chronicle]]''. [[April 17]] [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]] [[2006]].</ref> - sometimes start firestorms of [[controversy]], ranging from rowdy uprisings at many of the colleges where she speaks to protracted discussions in the media. === The 9/11 "Jersey Girls" === In ''Godless'', Coulter criticized the four 9/11 widows known as the "[[Jersey Girls]]", writing: <blockquote>These broads are millionaires, lionized on TV and in articles about them, reveling in their status as celebrities and stalked by grief-arazzis. 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. ... I've never seen people enjoying their husbands' deaths so much ... the Democrat ratpack gals endorsed [[John Kerry]] for president ... cutting campaign commercials... how do we know their husbands weren't planning to [[divorce]] these [[Harpy|harpies]]? Now that their shelf life is dwindling, they'd better hurry up and appear in ''[[Playboy]]''.<ref>Coulter, Ann. ''[[Godless: The Church of Liberalism]]''. 2006, ''[http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/forum.html Crown Forum Publishing].'' pp. 100-112.</ref></blockquote> These statements received national attention after an interview on ''[[Today (NBC program)|The Today Show]]'', and were widely criticized.<ref>Grimaldi, Christine. "[http://nbs.gmnews.com/news/2006/0615/Front_Page/036.html Writer's claims disturb families of 9/11 victims: Ann Coulter referred to group as the 'Witches of East Brunswick']." ''North Brunswick Sentinel''. [[July 16]], [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[November 10]], [[2006]] </ref><ref name="attack911">[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/07/entertainment/main1690954.shtml "Ann Coulter attacks 9/11 widows."] ''[[CBS News]].'' [[June 7]], [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]], [[2006]].</ref><ref>Staff Writer. "[http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/07/coulter.911.widows.ap/ Clinton slams Coulter's 'vicious' put-down of some 9/11 widows]." ''[[CNN]].'' [[June 7]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name="lathemalgar">Lathem, Niles; Algar, Selim. "[http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/67195.htm Give-'em-hill Fury vs. Coulter]." ''[[New York Post]].'' [[June 8]], [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]], [[2006]].</ref>{{Dead link|date=February 2008}}<ref>Staff Writer. "[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50585 9-11 commish lashes Coulter]." ''[[WorldNetDaily]].'' [[June 9]], [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]], [[2006]].</ref><ref>Elliot, Philip. "[http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2058973 9/11 Commissioner criticizes Coulter]." ''[[ABC News]].'' [[June 9]], [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 10]], [[2006]].</ref> Coulter refused to apologize, and responded, "I feel sorry for all the widows of 9/11...[but] I do not believe that sanctifies their political message....They have attacked Bush, they have attacked [[Condoleezza Rice]], they're cutting campaign commercials for Kerry. But we can't respond because their husbands died . . . I think it's one of the ugliest things 'the left' has done...this idea that you need some sort of personal authenticity in order to make a political point..."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198718,00.html | title = Ann Coulter Fires Back at Critics | accessdate = 2007-12-04 | date = 2006-06-08 | publisher = Fox News }}</ref><ref name="newsmax">From the NewsMax.com staff, "[http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/6/8/101032.shtml NBC News Slanders Ann Coulter]." ''[[Newsmax]]'', Thursday, [[June 8]], [[2006]].</ref> === Comments about the ''New York Times'' === Coulter has a long-running animosity toward the ''New York Times''. Her book ''Slander'' accuses the news media of unfairly criticizing conservatives, and cites the ''Times'' as a prime example.<ref>Coulter, Ann. [http://books.google.com/books?id=0ULoAAAACAAJ&dq=slander "Google Books Database: Slander"]. Google Books. Retrieved on [[July 16]], [[2007]]. </ref> In an interview with George Gurley of the ''[[New York Observer]]'' shortly after the publication of ''Slander'', it was mentioned that Coulter actually had friends and acquaintances who worked for the ''Times'', namely restaurant critic Frank Bruni and correspondent [[David E. Sanger]]. Later in the interview, she expressed amusement at her recollections of the ''Times'' publishing two photos of [[George H. W. Bush]] throwing up at a diplomatic meeting in [[Japan]], then said: "Is your tape recorder running? Turn it on! I got something to say...My only regret with [[Timothy McVeigh]] is he did not go to the ''New York Times'' Building." Gurley told her to be careful, to which she responded "You’re right, after 9/11 I shouldn’t say that".<ref name="Coultergeist"> Gurley, George. [http://www.observer.com/node/37827 "Coultergeist"]. ''New York Observer''. [[August 26]], [[2002]]. Retrieved on [[October 8]], [[2007]].</ref> By way of context, during an interview earlier in June 2002 with [[Katie Couric]] to promote the same book, Coulter expressed frustration about "constant mischaracterization" through being misquoted. "The idea that someone can go out and find one quote that will suddenly, you know, portray me — just dismiss her ideas, read no more, read no further, this person is crazy...is precisely what liberals do all the time".<ref> Coulter, Ann. [http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2002/06/27/20020627_075636_flash.htm "Interview with Katie Couric on ''Slander'']. NBC. ''Today''. [[June 26]], [[2002]]. Reprinted at Drudge Report Archive. Retrieved on [[October 7]], [[2006]]. </ref> When asked by John Hawkins, the web manager of a right-wing [[blog]], through a pre-written set of interview questions if she regretted the statement, Coulter replied by saying: "Of course I regret it. I should have added, 'after everyone had left the building except the editors and reporters.'"<ref>Hawkins, John. "[http://rightwingnews.com/interviews/anncoulter.php An interview with Ann Coulter]". Retrieved on [[July 11]], [[2006]].</ref><ref>Transcript. "[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0306/30/cf.00.html Interview with Ann Coulter]." ''[[CNN]] (Crossfire).'' [[June 30]], [[2003]]. Retrieved on [[July 11]], [[2006]].</ref> Lee Salem, the president of [[Universal Press Syndicate]], which distributes Coulter's column, later defended Coulter by characterizing her comments as [[satire]].<ref>Salem, Lee. "[http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002763918 Universal Executive Responds to 'E&P' Column on Ann Coulter]." ''[[Editor & Publisher]].'' [[June 28]], [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 11]], [[2006]].</ref> The subject came up again when Coulter appeared on the [[Fox News]] program ''[[Hannity & Colmes]]''. [[Alan Colmes]] mentioned Salem's claim, and said to her that remarks like saying "Timothy McVeigh should have bombed ''The New York Times'' building" were "laughable happy satires, right?" He then said that Coulter was "actually a ''liberal'' who is doing this to mock and parody the way conservatives think." She replied, "Well, it's not working very well if that were my goal. No, I think the Timothy McVeigh line was merely prescient after ''The New York Times'' has leaped beyond — beyond nonsense straight into [[treason]], last week". She was referring to a ''Times'' report that revealed [[classified information]] about an [[anti-terrorism]] program of the U.S. government involving [[surveillance]] of international financial transactions of persons suspected of having [[Al-Qaida]] links. Colmes continued in vein when he responded, calling her remarks "great humor", and that it "belongs on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. It belongs on ''[[The Daily Show]]''."<ref>"Hannity and Colmes." ''Fox News Channel''. [[June 29]] [[2006]]</ref><ref name="snl">E&P Staff. "[http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002765267 Coulter Affirms Previous Statement About Bombing 'NYT' Office]" ''[[Editor & Publisher]]'' [[June 30]] [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 11]] [[2006]].</ref> === Comments on Islam, Arabs and terrorism === On [[September 14]], [[2001]], three days after the [[9-11]] attacks (in which her friend [[Barbara Olson]] had been killed), Coulter wrote in her column: <blockquote>Airports scrupulously apply the same laughably ineffective airport harassment to [[Suzy Chaffee|Suzy Chapstick]] as to [[Muslim]] [[Aircraft hijacking|hijackers]]. It is preposterous to assume every passenger is a potential crazed homicidal maniac. We know who the homicidal maniacs are. They are the ones cheering and dancing right now.</blockquote><blockquote>We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. We weren't punctilious about locating and punishing only [[Hitler]] and his top officers. We [[carpet bombing|carpet-bombed]] [[Germany|German]] cities; we killed civilians. That's war. And this is war.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20010914225811/http://www.nationalreview.com/coulter/coulter091301.shtml This Is War]</ref></blockquote> Responding to this comment, Ibrahim Hooper of the [[Council on American-Islamic Relations]] remarked in the ''[[Chicago Sun Times]]'' that before September 11, Coulter "would have faced swift repudiation from her colleagues", but "now it's accepted as legitimate commentary."<ref>Jim Ritter, "Muslims see a growing media bias", Chicago Sun Times, [[September 4]] [[2006]]</ref> [[David Horowitz]], however, saw Coulter's words as irony: <blockquote>I began running Coulter columns on Frontpagemag.com shortly after she came up with her most infamous line, which urged America to put [[jihad]]ists to the sword and convert them to Christianity. Liberals were horrified; I was not. I thought to myself, this is a perfect send-up of what our [[Islamo-fascism|Islamo-fascist]] enemies believe – that as infidels we should be put to the sword and converted to Islam. I regarded Coulter’s [[philippic|phillipic]] (sic) as a [[Swiftian]] commentary on liberal illusions of multi-cultural outreach to people who want to rip out our hearts.<ref>[http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=%7B85013A39-1679-49EF-9799-DE762C337F95%7D The Trouble with “Treason”], by [[David Horowitz]], ''[[FrontPage Magazine]]'', July 08, 2003</ref></blockquote> One day after the attacks (before the culprits had been identified and when death toll estimates were higher than they later became), Coulter asserted that only Muslims could have been behind the attacks: <blockquote>Not all Muslims may be terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims -- at least all terrorists capable of assembling a murderous plot against America that leaves 7,000 people dead in under two hours.<ref name="Future widows">{{citeweb |url=http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter092801.asp |author=Coulter, Ann |title= Future widows of America: Write your congressman |work=Jewish World Review |accessdate=2007-04-16 |date=2001-09-28}}</ref></blockquote> Coulter has been highly critical of the [[U.S. Department of Transportation]] and especially its then-secretary [[Norman Mineta]]. Her many criticisms include their refusal to use [[racial profiling]] as a component of airport screening.<ref>Coulter, Ann. "[http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter022802.asp Mineta's Bataan death march]", ''Jewish World Review.'' [[February 28]] [[2002]]. Retrieved on [[July 11]] [[2006]].</ref> After a group of Muslims were expelled from a [[US Airways]] flight when other passengers expressed worries, sparking a call for Muslims to boycott the airline because of the [[Flying Imams controversy|ejection from a flight of six imams]], Coulter wrote: <blockquote>If only we could get Muslims to boycott all airlines, we could dispense with airport security altogether.<ref>{{citeweb |url=http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/printer_friendly.cgi?article=158 |title=What can I do to make your flight more uncomfortable? |author= Coulter, Ann |date=2006-11-22 |accessdate=2007-04-17 |work=AnnCoulter.com}}</ref></blockquote> Coulter also cited the 2002 Senate testimony of FBI whistleblower [[Coleen Rowley]], who was acclaimed for condemning her superiors for refusing to authorize a [[search warrant]] for 9-11 conspirator [[Zacarias Moussaoui]] when he refused to consent to a search of his computer. They knew that he was a Muslim in flight school who had overstayed his visa, and the [[French Intelligence Service]] had confirmed his affiliations with radical fundamentalist Islamic groups. Coulter said she agreed that [[probable cause]] existed in the case, but that refusing consent, being in flight school and overstaying a visa shouldn't constitute grounds for a search. Citing a poll which found that 98 percent of Muslims between the ages of 20 to 45 said they would not fight for Britain in the war in [[Afghanistan]], and that 48 percent said they would fight for [[Osama bin Laden]],<ref> Coulter says the poll was "by the "[[Daily Telegraph]]", actually it was by Sunrise, an "Asian"(i.e., Indian subcontinent-oriented) radio station, canvassing the opinions of 500 Muslims in Greater London (not Britain as a whole), mainly of Pakistani origin and aged between 20 and 45. {{cite web | last = Smith | first = Michael | coauthors = Amit Roy | title = Britons who join Taliban to face trial | publisher = Telegraph | date= 2001-10-30 | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/10/30/nmus30.xml | accessdate = 2007-11-30 }}</ref> she asserted "any Muslim who has attended a [[mosque]] in [[Europe]] -- certainly in [[England]], where Moussaoui lived -- has had 'affiliations with radical fundamentalist Islamic groups'", so that she parsed Rowley's position as meaning that "'probable cause' existed to search Moussaoui's computer because he was a Muslim who had lived in England." Because "FBI headquarters...refused to engage in racial profiling" they failed to uncover the 9-11 plot, Coulter asserted. "The FBI allowed thousands of Americans to be slaughtered on the altar of [[political correctness]]. What more do liberals want?"<ref>Coulter, Ann. "[http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter061302.asp This whistle-blower they like]", ''Jewish World Review'' [[June 13]] [[2002]]. Retrieved on [[October 1]], [[2006]].</ref> Coulter wrote in another column that she had reviewed the [[civil rights]] lawsuits against certain airlines to determine which airlines had subjected [[Arab]]s to the most "egregious discrimination" so that she could fly only that airline. She also said that the airline should be bragging instead of denying any of the charges of discrimination brought against them.<ref>Coulter, Ann. "[http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter043004.asp Arab hijackers now eligible for pre-boarding]" ''Jewish World Review'' [[April 29]] [[2004]]. Retrieved on [[July 11]] [[2006]].</ref> In an interview with the ''The Guardian'' she quipped, "I think airlines ought to start advertising: 'We have the most [[civil rights]] lawsuits brought against us by Arabs.'" When the interviewer replied by asking what Muslims would do for travel, she responded, "They could use [[flying carpet]]s."<ref name=appmagic/> One comment that drew criticism from the [[blogosphere]], as well as fellow conservatives,<ref>Gossett, Sherrie. "[http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=\Culture\archive\200602\CUL20060213b.html Ann Coulter 'Raghead' comments spark blogger blacklash]" ''[[Cybercast News Service]]'' [[February 13]] [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 11]] [[2006]].</ref> was made during a speech at the [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] in February 2006, where she said, referring to the prospect of a nuclear-equipped [[Iran]], "What if they start having one of these [[Bipolar disorder|bipolar]] episodes with [[nuclear weapon]]s? I think our motto should be, post-9-11: raghead talks tough, raghead faces consequences."<ref>Kurtz, Howard. "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2006/02/14/BL2006021400549_pf.html Monumental misfire]" ''[[Washington Post]]'' [[February 14]] [[2006]]. Retrieved on [[July 11]] [[2006]].</ref> Coulter had previously written a nearly identical passage in her syndicated column: "...I believe our motto should be after 9/11: [[Jihad]] monkey talks tough; jihad monkey takes the consequences. Sorry, I realize that's offensive. How about '[[List of ethnic slurs#C|camel jockey]]'? What? Now what'd I say? Boy, you tent merchants sure are touchy. Grow up, would you?"<ref>Coulter, Ann. [http://www.townhall.com/columnists/AnnCoulter/2006/02/15/muslim_bites_dog Muslim bites dog]. [[February 15]] [[2006]]</ref> In October 2007, Coulter made more controversial remarks about Arabs, in this case Iraqis, when she stated, in an interview with the ''[[New York Observer]]'' <blockquote>We’ve killed about 20,000 of them, of terrorists, of militants, of Al Qaeda members, and they’ve gotten a little over 3,000 of ours. That is where the war is being fought, in Iraq, that is where we are fighting Al Qaeda. Sorry we have to use your country, Iraqis, but you let Saddam come to power, ''ha-ha'', and we ''are'' going to instill [[democracy]] in your country.<ref>[http://www.observer.com/2007/tea-miss-coulter Tea With Miss Coulter]</ref></blockquote> In a May 2007 article looking back at the life of the recently deceased evangelical Reverend [[Jerry Falwell]], Coulter commented on Falwell's statement after the 9/11 attacks that "[[pagans]]", [[abortion]]ists, [[feminist]]s, and [[Gay (term)|gays]] and [[lesbian]]s, among others, helped make the attacks happen. In her article, Coulter stated that she disagreed with Falwell's statement, "because Falwell neglected to specifically include [[Ted Kennedy|Teddy Kennedy]] and 'the Reverend' [[Barry W. Lynn|Barry Lynn]]."<ref>Coulter, Ann. "[http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/printer_friendly.cgi?article=183 Jerry Falwell -- Say Hello to Ronald Reagan]" ''AnnCoulter.com'' [[May 16]] [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[May 23]] [[2007]].</ref> In October 2007, Coulter participated in [[David Horowitz]]' "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week", remarking in a speech at the [[University of Southern California]], "The fact of Islamo-Fascism is indisputable," she said. "I find it tedious to detail the savagery of the enemy . . . I want to kill them. Why don't Democrats?"<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/religion/la-me-islamo25oct25,0,7812911.story | title = Coulter's appearance at USC prompts ovations, protests | accessdate = 2007-12-04 | last = Trounson | first = Rebecca | date = 2007-10-25 | publisher = Los Angeles Times }}</ref> === 2007 John Edwards controversy === The next year, Coulter drew criticism for statements she made at the 2007 [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] about presidential candidate [[John Edwards]].<ref name="">TAHMAN BRADLEY "[http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2924630&page=1 Controversial columnist draws fire for gay slur]." ''[[ABC News]].'' [[March 5]], [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[December 24]], [[2008]].</ref><ref>[http://lifeandstylemag.hollywood.com/2007/01/life_style_exclusive_isaiah_wa.php Isaiah Washington Enters Treatment Facility!]</ref> Coulter said: <blockquote>I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, 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.<ref name="coulter_edwards_slur"> "[http://www.metacafe.com/watch/460871/ann_coulter_uses_slur_to_describe_john_edwards_cpac/ Ann Coulter uses slur to describe John Edwards @ CPAC]." [[March 2]] [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[March 6]], [[2007]].</ref><ref>https://johnedwards.com/action/contribute/coulter Flash video on Edwards' website</ref><ref name="coulter slur">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/04/coulter.edwards/index.html|title=Coulter under fire for anti-gay slur|accessdate=2007-04-05|publisher=Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company.|year=[[2007-03-04]]|work=CNN.com: Politics}}</ref></blockquote> This was an allusion to ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'' star [[Isaiah Washington]]'s use of the epithet and his subsequent mandatory "psychological assessment" imposed by [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] executives.<ref name="greysanatomy">Lopez, Kathryn Jean. "[http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTI2ZDNiNGZmMTlhZjk4YmVhMDk5NmQ1NThjMjZhNzQ= Breaking News: Ann Coulter Was Ann Coulter at CPAC]." ''[[National Review]].'' [[March 3]], [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[March 6]], [[2007]].</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,256949,00.html Ann Coulter Defends Edwards Comments] FoxNews.com, March 6, 2007</ref> This comment was widely interpreted as meaning that Coulter had called Edwards a "faggot",<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/items/200703030002 Media Matters - Coulter reference to Edwards as "faggot" gives rise to questions for media<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> but Coulter has argued on a couple of occasions that she didn't actually do so, while simultaneously indicating she would not have been wrong to say it.<ref>http://mediamatters.org/items/200706260001 "...I did not call John Edwards the 'F' word. I said I couldn't talk about him because you go into rehab for using that word."</ref><ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21016080/ incl. video excerpt of MSNBC ''Hardball'' June 26, 2007 "...I didn't say anything about him [Edwards], actually, either time".</ref> The audience laughed, but Edwards responded on his website by characterizing Coulter's words as "un-American and indefensible" and asking readers to help him "raise $100,000 in 'Coulter Cash' this week to keep this campaign charging ahead and fight back against the politics of bigotry."<ref name="edwards_response">Staff Writer. "[http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/04/coulter.edwards/ Coulter under fire for anti-gay slur]" ''[[CNN]]'' [[March 4]] [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[March 6]] [[2007]].</ref> Coulter's words also drew condemnation from many prominent Republicans, Democrats, and Libertarians, as well as groups such as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ([[GLAAD]]).<ref name="edwards_response"/><ref name="nyt_gop_response">Nagourney, Adam. "[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/us/politics/04coulter.html?_r=1&em&ex=1173157200&en=01c86fe9521cf152&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin G.O.P. Candidates Criticize Slur by Conservative Author]" ''[[New York Times]]'' [[March 4]] [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[March 6]] [[2007]].</ref><ref name="open_letter">Peak, Alexander S. "[http://tiger.towson.edu/~apeak1/writtenwork/thoughtpieces/anopenlettertoanncoulter.html An Open Letter to Ann Coulter]" [[March 3]] [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[March 6]] [[2007]].</ref><ref name="e&p">E&P Staff. "[http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003553226 Edwards Campaign Responds to Coulter Calling Him 'Faggot']" ''[[Editor & Publisher]]'' [[March 3]] [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[March 6]] [[2007]].</ref> Coulter responded in an e-mail to the ''New York Times'': "C’mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting that they are like John Edwards. That would be mean."<ref name="nyt_gop_response"/> She also posted a response on her website: "I'm so ashamed, I can't stop laughing!"<ref name="cbs_coulter">Staff Writer. "[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/04/eveningnews/main2534792.shtml Coulter Under Fire For Anti-Gay Slur]" ''[[CBS News]]'' [[March 4]] [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[March 6]] [[2007]].</ref> On [[March 5]], [[2007]], Coulter appeared on ''Hannity and Colmes'' and said, "[f]aggot isn't offensive to gays; it has nothing to do with gays. It's a schoolyard taunt meaning 'wuss'".<ref name="foxnews">Staff Writer. "[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,256860,00.html Ann Coulter Fires Back at Critics Over John Edwards 'Faggot' Barb]" ''[[Fox News]]'' [[March 6]] [[2007]]. Includes Flash video of exchange. Retrieved on [[March 6]], [[2007]].</ref> In response to this issue, three advertisers ([[Verizon]], [[Sallie Mae]] and [[Netbank]]) pulled their advertisements from Coulter's website,<ref name="pull_ads">Hamby, Peter. "[http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/05/coulter.ads/index.html Companies to pull ads from Coulter's Web site]" ''[[CNN]]'' [[March 5]] [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[March 6]] [[2007]].</ref> and several [[newspaper]]s dropped Coulter's column.<ref>Astor, Dave. "[http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003554574 Two More Newspapers Drop Ann Coulter's Column]" ''[[Editor & Publisher]]'' [[March 7]] [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[March 7]] [[2007]].</ref><ref>Staff report. "[http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003555954 Statement by Shreveport Editor Today on Dropping Ann Coulter]" ''[[Editor & Publisher]]'' [[March 8]] [[2007]]. Retrieved on [[March 8]] [[2007]].</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Staff Writer | date=[[March 11]] [[2007]] | title=Has Ann Coulter Hit Her Tipping Point? | url=http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=254652&GT1=7703 | publisher=[[MSN]] |accessdate=2007-03-11}}</ref> Responding to the controversy, Coulter said:<blockquote>Just for the record, I've never attempted to revise, or extend, nor have I apologized and the attempts to silence me have made me even more money…Those newspapers pay me about 25 cents per month, but I picked up a LOT of speeches...Attempts to censor me have really backfired.<ref>Hannity and Colmes</ref>{{Fact|date=October 2007}}</blockquote> She also said, "I wasn't saying it on TV. I was saying it at a right-wing political convention with 7,000 college Republicans. I didn't put it on TV." The CPAC convention was, in fact, broadcast on [[C-SPAN]]. In an interview with [[Glenn Beck]], she said, "[[Sarah Silverman]] uses the word, and, oh, liberals don't mind it when she uses it."<ref>{{cite web | date=[[June 28]] [[2007]] | title=Coulter defended CPAC comment about Edwards: "I wasn't saying it on TV" | url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200706280009 | publisher=[[Media Matters For America]] |accessdate=2008-01-12}}</ref> This controversy revived an earlier dispute originating from a 2003 column where Coulter disparaged Democratic Presidential candidates who mention family tragedies in their campaign speeches — including Edwards, who, she stated, talks frequently about the death of his son Wade in a traffic accident.<ref>[http://www.uexpress.com/anncoulter/index.html?uc_full_date=20031119 Coulter, Ann; "The Party of Ideas"; uexpress.com; [[November 19]], [[2003]].]</ref> In a [[June 25]], [[2007]] appearance on ''[[Good Morning America]]'', Coulter said: "But about the same time, you know, [[Bill Maher]] was not joking and saying he wished [[Dick Cheney]] had been killed in a terrorist attack -- so I've learned my lesson: If I'm going to say anything about John Edwards in the future, I'll just wish he had been killed in a terrorist assassination plot."<ref name=RCP-no-lady>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/06/that_was_no_lady_that_was_my_h.html That Was No Lady -- That Was My Husband]</ref> The next day, on [[MSNBC]]’s ''[[Hardball with Chris Matthews]]'', Coulter received a phone call from [[Elizabeth Edwards]], John Edwards’ wife, asking her to stop the personal attacks and to stick to discussing the issues. Coulter responded, saying that the Edwards campaign was “raising money off it” and denied "saying anything about him [Edwards], actually, either time". Mrs. Edwards also confronted Coulter for writing that they had a bumper sticker on their car saying "Ask me about my dead son" in reference to the death of their son Wade. Coulter responded by characterizing Edwards' call as an attempt to silence her and by attacking Edwards for his activities as a trial lawyer.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xYcUQiJ3sk Elizabeth Edwards confronts Ann Coulter]</ref><ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21016080/ John Edwards' better half?]</ref> Coulter refused to apologize, and explained her response to Mrs. Edwards in a subsequent column: "Edwards is...the trial lawyer who pretended in court to channel the spirit of a handicapped [[fetus]] in front of illiterate jurors to scam tens of millions of dollars off of innocent doctors...Apparently every time Edwards began a story about his dead son with 'I've never told anyone this before,' everyone on the campaign could lip-sync the story with him... If you want points for not using your son's death politically, don't you have to take down all those 'Ask me about my son's death in a horrific car accident' bumper stickers? Edwards is like a politician who keeps announcing that he will not use his opponent's criminal record for partisan political advantage... As a commentator, I bring facts like these to the attention of the American people in a lively way."<ref name=RCP-no-lady/> John Edwards responded by calling her a "she-devil." He immediately added, "I should not have name-called. But the truth is - forget the names - people like Ann Coulter, they engage in hateful language."<ref>[http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/08/edwards-calls-c.html Edwards Calls Coulter 'She-Devil']</ref> === Voting in wrong precinct controversy === Beginning in February 2006, Coulter was investigated for, but not charged, with [[voting fraud]] for registering with the address of her real estate agent and consequently voting in the wrong precinct, a third-degree felony in [[Florida]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ann Coulter says she won't cooperate in voting probe|publisher=Associated Press|url=http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003346999|date=2006-11-01}}</ref> In May 2007 Palm Beach County authorities declined to prosecute, citing 'insubstantial evidence' of deliberate wrongdoing. Jim Fitzgerald, an FBI profiler, had told the investigating detective that Coulter had reason to fear a stalker.<ref>[http://tallahassee.com/legacy/special/blogs/2007/05/conservative-columnist-ann-coulter.html Conservative columnist Ann Coulter cleared in elections investigation], ''Tallahassee Democrat'', Friday, May 11, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/05/11/fbi_profiler_reportedly_helps_ann_coulter/9764/ "FBI profiler reportedly helps Ann Coulter"], ''[[United Press International]]'', May 11, 2007</ref> Three months later it was revealed that the Florida Elections Commission had assigned an investigator to further pursue the question.<ref>{{cite news|title=It's not over for Coulter|publisher=Palm Beach Post |url=http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:9QpO-sdY8nUJ:g2.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2007/08/01/a2a_jose_0801.html|date=2007-08-01|first=Jose|last=Lambiet}}</ref> In December 2007, Florida Elections Commission investigators found no probable cause to believe that Coulter willfully violated the law in this matter.<ref name="votefraudcleared">{{cite news | last =Lambiet| first =Jose| title =Coulter Beats The Clock| publisher =[[Palm Beach Post]]| date =2007-12-07| url =http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2007/12/07/a2a_josecol_1207.html| accessdate = 2007-12-08 }}</ref> === Disenfranchisement of women === ''Time'' magazine's John Cloud observes that Coulter "likes to shock reporters by wondering aloud whether America might be better off if women lost the right to vote."<ref name="timemag"/> For example, in a May 2003 interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'', Coulter said:<ref name=appmagic/> {{quote|...It would be a much better country if women did not vote. That is simply a fact. In fact, in every presidential election since 1950—except [[Barry Goldwater|Goldwater]] in '64—the Republican would have won, if only the men had voted.}}<ref>Democrats would also have won in 1976 (Jimmy Carter) and 1992 (Bill Clinton), had only male votes been counted.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}</ref> {{wikinews|Ann Coulter: Take away women's votes because "women are voting so stupidly"}} Again, in an October 2007 interview with the ''[[New York Observer]],'' Coulter said:<ref>Gurley, George ([[October 2]], [[2007]]) [http://www.observer.com/2007/coulter-culture "Coulter Culture"] ''The New York Observer'' retrieved [[5 October]] [[2007]]</ref> {{quote|If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democrat president. It's kind of a pipe dream, it's a personal fantasy of mine, but I don't think it's going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly, at least single women.}} {{quote|It also makes the point, it is kind of embarrassing, the Democratic Party ought to be hanging its head in shame, that it has so much difficulty getting men to vote for it. I mean, you do see it's the party of women and 'We'll pay for health care and tuition and day care—and here, what else can we give you, soccer moms?'}} ===Comments about Jews on ''The Big Idea''=== During an interview with [[Donny Deutsch]] on his [[CNBC]] program ''[[The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch|The Big Idea]]'' ([[October 8]], [[2007]]), Coulter stated that the United States is a Christian nation and suggested Christians viewed themselves as "perfected Jews".<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/11/national/main3358373.shtml?source=mostpop_story « Coulter: We Want Jews To Be "Perfected" »], [[CBS News]] website, October 11, 2007</ref> Deutsch, a practicing Jew, told Coulter he found the comments personally offensive and [[anti-semitic]]; Coulter replied that she could not understand his reaction. <blockquote>DEUTSCH: You said—your exact words were, "Jews need to be perfected." Those are the words out of your mouth.<ref>Actually Coulter's ''exact'' words were "we just want Jews to be perfected", although the CBS article that contains the transcript showing that nonetheless leads off by saying "...Ann Coulter... said during an interview yesterday that Jews need to be 'perfected' into Christians."[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/12/national/main3361954.shtml] and Fox News also created a fake "quote", declaring "Columnist Ann Coulter Shocks Cable TV Show, Declaring 'Jews Need to Be Perfected by Becoming Christians'".[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,301216,00.html] ''Media Matters'', which had supplied a transcript later deemed problematic by CBS but which had quoted Coulter correctly on this point responded to her later comment "'...as I say in my current book, if the things I say are so outrageous, why won't they quote me accurately? I am never quoted accurately and, once again, I'm not being quoted accurately here.'" with "Coulter did not offer any purported evidence of her 'not being quoted accurately.'" The transcript ''Media Matters'' provides shows host [[Michael Medved]] immediately doing it for her.[http://mediamatters.org/items/200710160009]</ref><br> COULTER: No, I'm saying that's what a Christian is.<br> DEUTSCH: But that's what you said—don't you see how hateful, how anti-Semitic—<br> COULTER: No!<br> DEUTSCH: How do you not see? You're an educated woman. How do you not see that?<br> COULTER: That isn't hateful at all.<br> DEUTSCH: But that's even a scarier thought. OK—<br> COULTER: No, no, no, no, no. I don't want you being offended by this. This is what Christians consider themselves, because our testament is the continuation of your testament. You know that. So we think Jews go to heaven. I mean (Jerry) Falwell himself said that, but you have to follow laws. Ours is "Christ died for our sins." We consider ourselves perfected Christians. For me to say that for you to become a Christian is to become a perfected Christian(sic) is not offensive at all.</blockquote> In an interview published in ''[[Adweek]]'' three days after the interview, Deutsch noted that when he challenged her comments, Coulter appeared "to back off" and "seemed a little upset", adding, "I think she got frightened that maybe she had crossed a line, that this was maybe a faux pas of great proportions. I mean, did it show ignorance? Anti-Semitism? It wasn't just one of those silly things."<ref>[http://www.adweek.com/aw/national/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003657345 « Deutsch on Coulter's 'Big Idea' Comments »], ''[[Adweek]]'', October 11, 2007</ref> [[Dennis Prager]], a conservative talk show host, commented that although, as a practicing Jew, he obviously did not agree with Coulter's comments, they were not anti-semitic.<ref>[http://dennisprager.townhall.com/talkradio/transcripts/default.aspx Denis Prager Show] 12 October 2007.</ref> He noted that: "There is nothing in what Ann Coulter said to a Jewish interviewer on [[CNBC]] that indicates she hates Jews or wishes them ill, or does damage to the Jewish people or the [[Israel|Jewish state]]. And if none of those criteria is present, how can someone be labeled anti-Semitic?"<ref>[http://www.townhall.com/columnists/DennisPrager/2007/10/16/ann_coulter_wants_jews_to_become_christian_--_so_what Ann Coulter Wants Jews to Become Christian -- So What?] by [[Dennis Prager]] ([[October 16]], [[2007]])</ref> Conservative activist [[David Horowitz]]'s reaction was similar: "If you don't accompany this belief by burning Jews who refuse to become perfected at the stake why would any Jew have a problem?... Why do some Jews think that Christians should not really believe what they believe while it's okay for Jews to really believe they are God's Chosen People? I don't get it."<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=43995 Jewish pundit defends Ann Coulter<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In response to Coulter's comments on the show, the [[Anti-Defamation League]] issued a statement saying it "strongly condemns Ann Coulter for her anti-Semitic comment", and that to "espouse the idea that Judaism needs to be replaced with Christianity and that each individual Jew is somehow deficient and needs to be 'perfected,' is rank Christian [[supersessionism]] and has been rejected by the Catholic Church and the vast majority of mainstream Christian denominations."<ref>[http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/5149_12.htm ADL Condemns Ann Coulter's Comment That Jews Need 'To Be Perfected']</ref> The [[American Jewish Committee]] issued a statement asserting that "Ms. Coulter's assertion that Jews are somehow religiously imperfect smacks of the most odious anti-Jewish sentiment."<ref name="CBS">{{cite web | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/12/national/main3361954.shtml | title = Jewish Groups Condemn, Boycott Ann Coulter | accessdate = 2007-12-10 | date = 2007-10-12 | publisher = CBS News | language = English }} (originally included a transcript cited to ''Media Matters''; as revised it contains a more complete version) </ref> The National Jewish Democratic Council, self identified as "the national voice of Jewish Democrats",<ref name = "njdc.org-about">[http://www.njdc.org/about/ Mission Statement || National Jewish Democratic Council<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> called on media outlets to stop inviting Coulter as a guest commentator/pundit."<ref name = "njdc.org-about"/><ref name="CBS"/> ==References== {{reflist|3}} == Books by Coulter == * ''[[High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Case Against Bill Clinton]]'' (1998) * ''[[Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right]]'' (2002) * ''[[Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism]]'' (2003) * ''[[How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)|How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must): The World According to Ann Coulter]]'' (2004) * ''[[Godless: The Church of Liberalism]]'' (2006) * ''[[If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans]]'' (2007) == External links == <!--ATTENTION EDITORS! Please do not add linkspam links to personal sites, or blogs, to this section. Such links will be removed swiftly. Please read the [[WP:EL]] and [[WP:V]] guidelines prior to adding links to this section. --> {{sisterlinks|Ann Coulter}} * [http://anncoulter.com/ Ann Coulter Official Web Site] * [http://www.nndb.com/people/474/000022408/ Ann Coulter biography at Notable Names Database] *{{imdb name | id=1326010 | name=Ann Coulter}} * [http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/people/anncoulter Ann Coulter] at [[Media Matters for America]] === Column archives === * [http://www.findarticles.com/p/search?tb=art&qt=&ft=any&qn=&fn=any&qe=&fe=any&qa=ann+coulter&oi=all&sm=10&sd=1&sy=1997&em=6&en=16&ey=2003&pc=50&so=date_asc&free=0&x=28&y=4 Ann Coulter column archive] for ''[[Human Events]]'' articles at LookSmart Find Articles with advanced search (January 1998-June 2003) * [http://www.humanevents.com/search.php?author_name=Ann+Coulter Ann Coulter column archive] at ''[[Human Events]]'' (contains links to video appearances) * [http://www.nationalreview.com/coulter/coulter-archive.shtml Ann Coulter column archive] at ''[[National Review]]'' (2000-2001) * [http://www.uexpress.com/anncoulter/index.html Ann Coulter column archive] at uExpress.com (1999-2006) [select headline archive] {{Universal Press columns}} {{blpwatch|from=04/2008|reason=Controversial media figure, vandalism target.}} {{Persondata |NAME=Coulter, Ann Hart |ALTERNATIVE NAMES= |SHORT DESCRIPTION=author, political commentator |DATE OF BIRTH=December 8, 1961 |PLACE OF BIRTH=New York City, New York, USA |DATE OF DEATH= |PLACE OF DEATH= }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Coulter, Ann}} [[Category:1961 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American Christians]] [[Category:American columnists]] [[Category:American political pundits]] [[Category:American political writers]] [[Category:Cornell University alumni]] [[Category:Global warming skeptics]] [[Category:Intelligent design advocates]] [[Category:Lewinsky scandal figures]] [[Category:New York Republicans]] [[Category:People from Connecticut]] [[Category:University of Michigan alumni]] [[Category:Conservatives]] [[de:Ann Coulter]] [[es:Ann Coulter]] [[eo:Ann Coulter]] [[fa:ان کولتر]] [[fr:Ann Coulter]] [[id:Ann Coulter]] [[nl:Ann Coulter]] [[ja:アン・コールター]] [[no:Ann Coulter]] [[pl:Ann Coulter]] [[pt:Ann Coulter]] [[fi:Ann Coulter]] [[sv:Ann Coulter]] [[yi:ען קאלטער]]