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Media World: CNBC's Ann Coulter outrage is phony

Why is it that whenever Ann Coulter says something idiotic, racist or just loony that the media acts surprised? Coulter, like Bill O'Reilly, has a long, well-documented track record for spouting nonsense. Check out the Media Matters Web site for a list.

Now the media world is in a tizzy over Coulter's statements to CNBC's The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch
that Christians "just want the Jews to be perfected." Deutsch responded by saying he found her comments "personally offensive."

Yeah, those comments were offensive but why did CNBC even give her the chance to make them on Deutsch's show and why did the General Electric (NYSE: GE) network invite her back to speak with another talking head, Larry Kudlow? The answer is, of course, ratings. News Corp (NYSE: NWS)'s Fox Business Network launches Monday, and CNBC wants people to talk about something besides the looming competition with Fox. Booking Coulter was a cheap publicity stunt.

The outrage being voiced by Deutsch and other CNBC talking heads is phony. I have no sympathy for TV hosts who invite on guests such as Coulter with a history of outrageous statements being "outraged" when she says something outrageous. What makes matters worse is that every time Coulter says or does something shocking, the media acts surprised, as if it's something new.

Coulter is like crack to TV talk shows. They just can't seem to get enough of the articulate, attractive and bonkers pundit, and neither can her legion of fans. Between her books and speaking fees, she no doubt earns a handsome living, since people never know what crazy thing she's going to say.

To be clear, people have every right to be mad about the things Coulter says. They should be equally upset at the mainstream media, including Deutsch, for continuing to give her a platform for her shtick without giving her much of a fight. This is particularly scary as the presidential election ramps up and political passions are at their height.The mainstream media has been waiting for Coulter to self-destruct for years and will probably continue to wait for sometime to come. Continued hysterical outrage over the outrageous things that her and her colleagues such as Rush Limbaugh say doesn't hurt them, it fires up the base of their supporters, ensuring that they will continue to sell books and receive huge speaking fees.

Coulter summed up this situation well when she wrote about Senate Democrats who tried to censure Limbaugh for using the term "phony" to describe soldiers who opposed the Iraq War.

"In my experience, having prominent Democrats censure you on the Senate floor is the equivalent of 50 book signings, she wrote. "Or being put on the cover of The New York Times Magazine 20 years ago when people still read The New York Times Magazine. They should rename Senate censure resolutions 'Harry Reid's Book Club.'"

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Last updated: July 06, 2008: 05:54 PM

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