Media Matters is urging its readers to contact NBC and protest the network’s plans to feature Ann Coulter and allow her to promote her new book on national television. The following is the Media Matters letter:
Dear Friend,
As you know, Ann Coulter has a long history of making controversial statements. In media appearances and her syndicated column, Coulter has likened President-elect Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler repeatedly, called Al Gore a “total fag,” and written that without affirmative action, African-American Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) couldn’t get a job “that didn’t involve wearing a paper hat.” She has also repeatedly discussed potential acts of violence against people she doesn’t like or with whom she disagrees, including saying of Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens: “We need somebody to put rat poison in Justice Stevens’ crème brulee.”
» Call NBC and ask why they are reportedly again helping Coulter promote her latest book despite past condemnations by NBC staff for her history of reprehensible comments.
Despite this long and well-documented history of controversial statements, NBC has once again reportedly invited Coulter to promote her latest book on its airwaves. On Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes, during a segment in which she called Obama an “atheist” and asked if “we could get all of his aliases before he’s sworn in on the Quran,” Coulter announced that she is scheduled to appear on the January 6, 2009, broadcast of NBC’s Today.
Enough is enough. Even NBC-affiliated hosts and anchors have expressed disgust over some of Coulter’s more offensive rhetoric. Today co-host Meredith Vieira has acknowledged that the media are part of the problem, saying “we’re perpetuating it.”
» Call NBC and ask why they are reportedly again helping Coulter promote her latest book despite past condemnations by NBC staff for her history of reprehensible comments.
It is time to hold NBC accountable. In light of both her history and the numerous condemnations of her by NBC staff, the network should reconsider reportedly providing her with a platform from which to make these comments.
Call NBC today and let them know what you think.
Thank you for your continued support.
Eric Burns
President
Media Matters for America
Why would Eric advocate the silencing of any individual right to free speech? It appears Eric should brush up on Herr Goebbels tactics a bit. Eric, you surely realize many people find Mike Moore, Rev. Wright, Stuart Smiley and other “non Coulter” types offensive too. That’s why we live in the United States, so we can say stupid, assinine things if we want to. Relax, Ann Coulter has a small following. You give her validation through your objections.
Joe,
I agree. Ann Coulter loves to say controversial things and to have her picture taken while wearing skimpy black cocktail dresses. It’s best just to ignore her.
>As you know, Ann Coulter has a long history of making controversial statements. In media appearances and her syndicated column, Coulter has likened President-elect Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler repeatedly, called Al Gore a “total fag,” and written that without affirmative action, African-American Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) couldn’t get a job “that didn’t involve wearing a paper hat.” She has also repeatedly discussed potential acts of violence against people she doesn’t like or with whom she disagrees, including saying of Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens: “We need somebody to put rat poison in Justice Stevens’ crème brulee.”
Site the source.
Coulter says a lot of outrageous stuff, but if you are going to put quotes like this out there, c’mon, show your credibility and site the source.
Here’s one
” Coulter had told the Philander Smith College audience Thursday that more conservative justices were needed on the Supreme Court to change the current law on abortion. Stevens is one of the court’s most liberal members.
“We need somebody to put rat poisoning in Justice Stevens’ creme brulee,” Coulter said. “That’s just a joke, for you in the media.””
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183006,00.html
Coulter probably is on the protected side of the First Amendment, thanks to
Justice Stevens and his fellows, based on the Clear and Present Danger test. Although you never know in the post 9/11 era, even though she is on the conservative side. One wonders what would happen if someone said that about Bush, and now Obama as well.
Even so, Coulter’s brand of outrageous speech as entertainment that seeks to generate a community consensus that some people are not legitimate, worthy of respect or even of life, seems to be the poison gas threatening the canary in the coal mine measuring the health of our society. While she of course bears personal responsibility for this public persona and the harm it does, and can not hide behind this “we all know I don’t really mean it wink wink” stuff, the real issue is less that she is out there than that enough people listen to her, and are affirmed and empowered by her “entertainment”. She would be at home in the Third Reich, laying the groundwork for and affirming all the bigotry out in those societies that turned murderous. The evils there happened because people thought it was ok. If your dark side is entertained, affirmed or empowered by Coulter, then you may be the problem as much as she is.
I should just ignore Teri’s post, but I just can’t help myself. Her comment about Maxine Walters, but I can’t help myself. He comment about Rep Maxine Walters was controversial, but it was also spot on. That woman is an embarassment. BTW, Walters is continually making outrageous statements.
I’m not entertained by Coulter.
Neither am I entertained by Media Matters for America.
Thanks for the link.
Ann Coulter is a by-product of the media, “talk show punditry” sensationalism. Just like the Al Franken’s of the world. Ninety nine per cent of the rational population, regardless of their political persuasion does not give either of these loons serious consideration, nor will I.