Bringing Ann Coulter to Calvert was a bad move by local Republicans

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

In an earlier letter to the editor to The Calvert Recorder, I wrote that it was my opinion that our local political parties were much less partisan and polarized than their national brethren. Unfortunately, in the case of the Calvert Republicans, I was wrong.

Why was I wrong? I was wrong when the Calvert Republicans had the self proclaimed ‘‘fire-breathing right-wing lunatic” Ann Coulter come to our dear county and unleash her ultra-negative venom on anybody that doesn’t agree with her (i.e., Democrats, progressives, liberals, independents and anybody that doesn’t have a political mindset to the right of Attila the Hun). That’s when I changed my mind.

Oh my gawd, I mean come on, can you just imagine the outcry from the Republicans if the Democrats had Michael Moore (the filmmaker, not the former county commissioner) come and speak for a fundraiser on public school property? As a member of the Calvert County Democratic Central Committee, I can honestly say that we would not invite such a polarizing speaker to speak here. We know that stark partisanship is not what Calvert County is about. I guess the Republicans think otherwise.

The pictures in The Calvert Recorder of various local Republicans including State Senate candidate Tommy McKay (running against Democrat Sen. Roy Dyson), and U.S. Representative candidate Ron Miller (running against Democrat Rep. Steny Hoyer) and Commissioner Linda Kelley standing next to Ms. Coulter while sporting big grins, made me start thinking — hmmm — if local Rs are so proud of having Ms. Coulter here, then I guess they agree with what she stands for and says. Here a just a few of her ‘‘eloquent” statements:

‘‘Clinton masturbates in the sinks.” — Rivera Live 8⁄2⁄99;

‘‘God gave us the earth. We have dominion over the plants, the animals, the trees. God said, ‘Earth is yours. Take it. Rape it. It’s yours.’ ” — Hannity & Colmes, 6⁄20⁄01;

‘‘The inevitable logic of the liberal position is to be for treason.” — Ann Coulter, P. 292

The ‘‘backbone of the Democratic Party” is a ‘‘typical fat, implacable welfare recipient” — syndicated column 10⁄29⁄99;

To a disabled Vietnam vet: ‘‘People like you caused us to lose that war.” — MSNBC

On former Sen. Max Cleland (D-GA), another disabled vet: ‘‘Luckily for Cleland’s political career and current pomposity about Bush, he happened to do it [lose an arm and both legs] while in Vietnam.”

‘‘I think [women] should be armed but should not [be allowed to] vote.” — Politically Incorrect, 2⁄26⁄01

‘‘The thing I like about Bush is I think he hates liberals.” — The Washington Post, 8⁄1⁄00

‘‘My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times Building.” — New York Observer, 10⁄26⁄02.

What a class act she is. If Ms. Coulter were considered a political comedian or satirist, statements such as these wouldn’t be a big deal. But she’s not considered a comedian by many Conservatives. In fact, St. Mary’s own Tommy (it always pays to shop at) McKay says that she’s ‘‘one of the most talked about conservative intellectuals.”

Intellectual? Wow. That’s pretty scary. What does that make Tommy? And former Republican Central Committee Chair Tom Kelley calls her ‘‘eloquent and on-point.” Kinda ironic isn’t it? Tom Kelley gets canned as the Chair of the Central Committee for over-the-top comments about a certain Calvert County commissioner, and Ann Coulter was fired from two of her recent positions because of her rancid commentary. Maybe they both need to learn the definition of eloquent.

You know, something that Ms. Coulter was quoted as saying at the event really — and I mean really — ticked me off. She called Democrats terrorist appeasers and traitors. That fact is, both Democrats and Republicans have problems with the way that this war was sold to the American people and the way it has been conducted. Also, does she really think that all of our troops serving bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan are Republicans? Of course they aren’t. In fact, there are 24 candidates running for Congress this year that served in Iraq or Afghanistan that are Democrats. The Republicans could only muster up two (that’s right, 24 to two).

One of these patriots is Tammy Duckworth (www.duckworthforcongress.com) an Army National Guard helicopter pilot who lost both of her legs when her Black Hawk helicopter was shot down over Baghdad.

One other vet who is running for the U.S Senate as a Democrat is Virginian Jim Webb, who served as Navy Secretary under Ronald Reagan. A Vietnam Veteran, Mr. Webb was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts. His son (in the Marines) will be shipping out to Iraq shortly.

So Ms. Coulter, and her local fans, are you calling these people traitors and appeasers simply because they don’t belong to the Republican Party? Is Tammy Duckworth a traitor? Is Jim Webb a traitor? Is his son a traitor?

The American people are sick and tired of this kind of rotten political discourse. Whatever our political party or ideology, we can be strong advocates for our positions, but in the end we should be civil and try to work together for the good of our communities and country. Calling people traitors isn’t the way to get there. Having Ann Coulter come here and have the local Republicans trip over themselves to agree with her only continues this negative trend.

To put it in words that an Ann Coulter fan might recognize: Just shut up.

Tim Klares, St. Leonard