Ann Coulter comes to Charlotte

[atlrvr]

Delta...yes you can attend, and meet her in person.

Tickets are $55. For details, go to www.eplanettravel.com and click on "Veritas Lecture Series." The first 100 people to pay an additional $100 can attend a private reception afterward.

[Delta_USAir]

Congratulations! You might just understand "totalitarianism"...no flag burning, no gay pride parades, no Democratic Party, no parties at all for that matter except yours.

Let's try "theocracy" now. You know, like Iran and Saudi Arabia, the Vatican... Theocracies use religion to implement policy. The problem in America is, which Bible are we using? Whose interpretation is correct? Yours? Ann Coulters? The interpretation of my church is homosexuality is not a sin. Are you going to deny the freedom of my religion just because it might be the minority? Suppose I had no religion? Should I be exiled to The Netherlands?

[Delta_USAir]

lol, in Ann Coulters Slander book, it says : "It's all liberals fault".

that was a liberal statement.

[mallguy]

Ann Coulter is representative of what The Republican Party does to gays, immigrants or anyone who disagrees with them. They bash them. There is no doubt that those of us who are Liberal have said outlandish things but there is no comparison to the homophobia, muslim bashing, racism and neglect of New Orleans after Katrina,etc etc that is endorsed and encouraged by Bush/Cheney. They love Ann because she rallies the bigoted base needed to win elections.

[voyager12]

Log Cabin Republicans are delusional to be part of a group that despises them. Homophobia is cultivated and promoted by the majority of Republicans to push their agenda and Ann Coulter is just a part of the machine. Comparing the two parties and their histories, there is no debate that overall Democrats stand for more inclusion and equal opportunity for all. Ann & Co consider these virtues to be Communist thought but that's the great thing about free speech. And no one who dislikes Ann Coulter on this thread has said she does not have the right to speak I am sure she will get a sellout crowd.

[swh1972]

There is a reason they call it a political spectrum - many different views ranging from ultra conservative, to radical liberal, to flaming moderate and everything in between. Unfortunately, thought, there are only two legitimate national parties, so oftentimes, you may find yourself voting for something you believe strongly in, and for something you are against at the same time. I don't buy into the protest vote for second tier political parties, I might as well not even vote. Trying to categorize people as either a stereotypical liberal or stereotypical conservative, or typical republican or democrat is useless.

For the Record, I tend to vote republican, but not because of their social views. I also think AC is a bigot, and generally ignore her.

[Miesian Corners]

Clinton lies, so does : Kerry, Rosie , Gore, ETC.

It's easy enough to say someone lies. It's another to back it up.

[Charlotteman]

Getting back to how much "good" a protest does:

A personal experience of mine in Florida from 1986----turned out Jerry Falwell made a quick decision to speak at the city's largest Baptist church. It was only a three day notice, and it was a week day, but I worked the phones like a maniac trying to shore up support to greet him with a picket.

A prior anti-Falwell protest that year drew 125+ protestors, and turned into a quasi street festival of sorts:) LOTSA FUN!!! Inside the venue that night, Falwell called us protestors "Nazis".

Well, I didn't have much luck getting in touch with friends and associates who had organized the first one, which had been seen as a roaring success. But I trooped on anyway and got 12-15 people to agree to show up.

So here's the point of the whole story: I played the local media like it was putty. I called up all the local TV stations and the police department, and alerted them of a "large anti-Falwell rally". Well let me tell ya, the silly media ran with those calls of mine and had whole camera crews covering our "huge rally"of 12 people! The news shows all had teasers ".........and Jerry Falwell is expected to arrive tonite to a picket!! Watch the news at 11 for details." HA!

The media became real bored when they arrived and saw only 12 of us, but in true trooper style, they still played the hell out of it! Interviewed each of us extensively, showed camera angles that looked like there were far more than 12 people.....they even got Falwell on camera declining to debate with us. Pure sensationalism. Our protest, even small, garnered LOTS of local attention.(thanks to the goofball local media)

So I'm not sure it "plays into Ann's hands" if protests are imminent. That night in Jacksonville, us liberals got much much more media coverage than Falwell did. His time on camera was about 5 seconds, as he declined to debate us. And the rest of the news "story" was us protestors. People who watched the news that night heard a lot more from us, than they did from Falwell.

[mallguy]

Log Cabin Republicans are delusional to be part of a group that despises them. Homophobia is cultivated and promoted by the majority of Republicans to push their agenda and Ann Coulter is just a part of the machine. Comparing the two parties and their histories, there is no debate that overall Democrats stand for more inclusion and equal opportunity for all. Ann & Co consider these virtues to be Communist thought but that's the great thing about free speech. And no one who dislikes Ann Coulter on this thread has said she does not have the right to speak I am sure she will get a sellout crowd.

[sfmartin]

... but Republicans would say that they want equality of opportunity for individuals, not necessarily equality of results for groups.

[mallguy]

The only logical end to that theory is the seventh commandment: "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others."

[Charlotte_native]

"They" do not necessarily "love Ann". I am a Republican (certainly in the "base", as I spend a ton of time and money helping Republican candidates and certainly voting Republican) and I find her extremely offensive. Most of my Republican friends feel the same way that I do.

[mallguy]

If so, why not influence your party not to have her speaking at various forums that make her appear to speak on your behalf? I don't mean this to say I think it is every Republicans responsibility for every action done by so-called "conservatives", but wow, it seems that these hate-mongers are allowed to be viewed as supported by many of you.

I have no issue with this person speaking at all, it just mystifies me, as well as some of my very religious family, why she would be invited to a place that claims to teach the teachings of Jesus. Nothing in the Bible tells us to insult or demean people to further our personal agendas.

It reminds me of how easily Newt Gingrinch has his "lifestyle" overlooked by Christian Conservatives. If they really just hate gays because they believe their lifestyle is opposed by the Bible, what about no divorce and not remarrying? What about cheating on your wife while trying to impeach a president for doing the same? I'm not saying Newt shouldn't be forgiven, but why not everyone else? I guess because winning is more important, really, than morals, but claiming moral high-ground is easy.

Bring on more of Ann, I know plenty of Republicans, like some of you on here that say you don't support her, that are being turned off by the party every day because of the hate speech that is becoming acceptable and the wild spending that would make a "tax and spend" democrat blush. Believe you are support Republican ideals if you want to, but consider if we really have anyone that is conservative other than on personal issues.

[Charlotte_native]

Let's note though that due to her offensive comments, the National Review magazine (influential among Republicans) fired her and recently, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and others have disavowed her, and more. Those are prominent Republican individuals and institutions that have spoken out against her. We can continue to do that, but there are plenty of crackpots out there that will support her, even if the GOP mainstream views her as an extremist, just as plenty of crackpots will support radical leftists, despite what mainstream Democrats do.

[voyager12]

I think a major difference between outspoken liberals and conservatives is the willingness and ability for progressives to evolve. Sen Robert Byrd was a Klansman and used the N word repeatedly during his youth but he realized his failings later on and has become of the most supportive voices on racial equality and fairness we have in this country. Rev's Sharpton and Jackson have had personal failings as well but we would be a far less aware nation on racial inequalities without their grassroots organizations. Unfortunately, in this era at least leading figures on the right take pride in being as regressive as possible on equal rights, abortion, and war.

[mallguy]

I think a major difference between outspoken liberals and conservatives is the willingness and ability for progressives to evolve. Sen Robert Byrd was a Klansman and used the N word repeatedly during his youth but he realized his failings later on and has become of the most supportive voices on racial equality and fairness we have in this country. Rev's Sharpton and Jackson have had personal failings as well but we would be a far less aware nation on racial inequalities without their grassroots organizations. Unfortunately, in this era at least leading figures on the right take pride in being as regressive as possible on equal rights, abortion, and war.

[voyager12]

There are undesirable elements to both parties unfortunately The Republican Party is completely controlled by the far right from Gen. Pace to President Bush to Cheney who won't even publicly support his own daughter. Ann Coulter is one of their leading lights and I hope she goes all over the country and supports the Republican presidential candidates. That way we get rid of the hateful stench in The White House now and replace with a party that does not demonize and divide.

[Richhamleigh, DC]

Unfortunately for the nation, the Republican Party has been hijacked by a vocal minority. This started - and was welcomed by the Party - in reaction to the same dynamic that occured within the Democratic Party in the 1970's. The word "Liberal" became a hated moniker because of a Democratic minority. Now, mainstream - old-time - Republicans want to slide out from under their association with the radical right? Sorry... American Republicans remind me of German Nationalists and Conservatives in the 1920's and early 30's who "used" the Nazis to fight the German Republicans, Liberals, Socialists, and Communists and thought they could put the genie back in the bottle whenever it suited them. Sorry, the Republican National Committee has used division, fear, and the religious right to win votes and when it gets embarassing, you want to disavow yourselves of being associated with these tactics and nut-jobs?

On the other hand, what exactly is the "Conservative Agenda" you Republicans spend so much time yacking about? Can anyone articulate your "vision" for America? Is it taxes only for the military, outlawing abortions, gays being sent to reeducation camps, more criminals sent to the gas chambers, no government interference or regulation of business, no social security; when did the RNC corner the market on the protection of personal liberty, do personal liberties apply only to those who can pay for it, only those who agree with the wack-jobs in your Party, or only those who adhere to your version of Christianity? By the way, which translation of the Bible does the RNC use to formulate it's "morality" -driven policies? The literal or the interpretative? The Aramaic or King James?

[atlrvr]

That way we get rid of the hateful stench in The White House now and replace with a party that does not demonize and divide.

[mallguy]

Not adding anything more to this discussion; I and a lot of other Republicans see Democrats as basically good, well-meaning people with well-meaning policies that we just disagree with; if posters above (and others, both in the GOP and the Democratic Party) can't reciprocate the good will, no wonder this country is so polarized!

[Richhamleigh, DC]

Calling Bush a hateful stench is getting pretty close to calling Edwards a hag.

I think its just a matter of perspective.

[atlrvr]

It really is a shame that a moderate party can't emerge. It would be a great balancer and I think force candidates to remain truer to their personel beliefs. As it is now its too easy for candidates to pander to the extremists and know that the moderate voters who slightly lean will vote their way as they see it as a vote for the lesser of two evils.

[Richhamleigh, DC]

Not adding anything more to this discussion; I and a lot of other Republicans see Democrats as basically good, well-meaning people with well-meaning policies that we just disagree with; if posters above (and others, both in the GOP and the Democratic Party) can't reciprocate the good will, no wonder this country is so polarized!

[atlrvr]

Hardly true. Calling someone a "*ag" is associated - for gay people - with violence, isolation and self-loathing. Calling someone a "hateful stench" does not bring back memories of being beat up in middle school for being a "*ag"", or being rejected by friends and family for the same. "Hateful" and "Stench" are opinions - not attachments to a person's very being/identity. Like my black friends like to say, I can't understand how offensive the "n" word is to them as a white person. I hardly think that as a straight person you can even remotely begin to understand how offensive the "f" word is to gay people.

[monsoon]

Closed, since this discussion has nothing to do with Charlotte

If you want to discuss Coulter then go to this thread.