Coulter-Haters Try New Tactic: Humor and Politics Don't Mix, They Say
When it comes to Ann Coulter, leftists appear to have run out of rhetorical ammo. Finding no weakness in her arguments, they are reduced to condemning her sense of humor. They now charge that she's a mere entertainer, not a serious pundit.
"Coulter is obnoxious, so much so that it's doubtful she believes even half of what she says and writes," charges an editorial in the Austin-American Statesman (May 6, 2005), which I earlier blogged at BadEagle.com.
"Is she serious, or just having fun?" asked Time Magazine in its now-famous April 25 cover story on Coulter.
Ignoring the long tradition of urbane political humor practiced by leftwing wags such as Dorothy Parker and Fran Lebowitz (as well as by less urbane jesters such as Michael Moore and Al Franken), Coulter's critics now claim that humor implies insincerity -- at least in a conservative.
9 Comments:
Those Coulter haqters can do a little research and find out many of her arguments are bunk.
Jakester writes: "Those Coulter haters can do a little research and find out many of her arguments are bunk."
Are you saying that you disagree with Miss Coulter's opinions or conclusions, or are you accusing her of getting her facts wrong?
There's a big difference.
God I hope Ann comments on this in an article.
Jakester:
I would put Ann's research skills above anyone on the left. If she makes a factual mistake it is so miner that it is hardly worth noting. Sure she jabs and pokes fun but she gets her facts right.
I have never seen a statement by Ann Coulter that I knew was incorrect or that I didn't agree with, and I have found her books useful. But I often find her jokes hit-or-miss with regard to the humor quotient, as well as often rude and uncalled for. (Ex.: the line "If they had the energy, they'd have indoor plumbing by now"--that was vaguely funny, but was it really necessary?) I have skipped reading How To Talk to a Liberal, but only because I have no desire to talk to a liberal if I can avoid it.
Ann Coulter is extraordinary. Some people simply can't seem to accept that midly.
Humor is caustic only when it's the truth. It's more than funny when it's a rebuke.
To be right, and funny, is agonizing to those in the wrong.
Coulter does go over the top pretty regularly and some of her statements aren't consistent with reality.
My best example is her statement that embryonic stem cell research has yielded nothing but cancerous growths.
The context was human embryonic stem cell research but her reference was to animal research without explicitly stating so. Further, the growths were not malignant and only occurred in immunologically compromised animals. The purpose was to investigate the use of very primitive embryonic stem cells for transplants.
The knowledge gained from these experiments was enormously important because it pointed to a relationship between the immune system and stem cell growth.
These kinds of statements make her entertaining but a poor source for facts. That's not a problem, not everyone should be quoted as a source.
Her analyses are usually quite good when done on subjects that do not touch upon religion. Her book on Clinton ("High Crimes and Misdemeanors") was excellent, her latest book is only a rehash of her columns but still makes entertaining reading.
However, on abortion, embryonic stem cell research, drugs, marriage, choice of popes and homosexuality she becomes irrational and whatever logic or facts she brings to the issue gets lost in off the wall argumentation.
David Yeagley, referring to Anne states,
"To be right, and funny, is agonizing to those in the wrong.
To which Meyer states directly underneath,
"However, on abortion, embryonic stem cell research, drugs, marriage, choice of popes and homosexuality she becomes irrational and whatever logic or facts she brings to the issue gets lost in off the wall argumentation."
WHAT MORE IS THERE TO SAY!
If you want to see an example of why Coulter is entertaining but unreliable when reporting on subjects with religious overtones read her most recent colunm on Mark Felt.
She makes an excellent case about why "Deep Throat" is almost certainly an amalgam of several sources but then wastes her time attacking Felt's daughter's character because she is a single mom.
Felt's daughter is irrelevant (in many ways) to the issue of whether Felt is Deep Throat, but Coulter couldn't stop herself from attacking the character of such an "un-Christian" woman.
This is the flaw in Coulter that will always keep her in the minor leagues like some busher who can't resist chasing 0-2 curveballs in the dirt - she has no discipline.
Sorry guys.
The irrepressible, inventive and hilarious Coulter is rare and great. Definitely a national treasure and definitely a great ally in the fight against moonbats.Give credit where due.
Post a Comment
<< Home