Media World: CNBC's Ann Coulter outrage is phony
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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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-12-2007 @ 3:20PM
FRANK PATTERSON said...
YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT COULTER ARE APPRECIATED AND SHE IS OVER THE TOP MOST OF THE TIME, BUT THAT IN CONTRAST TO THE SUBTLE LEFT WING AGENDA SPOUTED BY MOST SO-CALLED "MAINSTREAM" COMMENTATORS. THEIR SOFT SPOKEN CAREFULLY SELECTED WORDS ARE INTENDED TO SWAY OPINION WITHOUT BEING OBVIOUS. I'D RATHER HEAR IT UN-FILTERED
10-12-2007 @ 4:30PM
Walden Pond said...
The free press which once was the hallmark of democracy - has turned into childish emotional outbursts and manipulation by those who own it to make money.
It is a shame. I personally, do not pay for cable. I refuse to allow my mind to be polluted by the negative emotions and hate and nonsense of these over opinionated arrogant mouthpieces.
Maybe soon - I'll boycott my internet and live peacefully.
10-12-2007 @ 4:55PM
FELIX SOTO said...
I WILL NOT GIVE THI AIRHEAD BIMBO ANY PLAY.
10-12-2007 @ 8:46PM
steve007 said...
Hey, nobody's perfect... except for my two dogs.
I highly recommend Sweet Ann's new book to you. If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans . Very funny. She even says that a lot of what she says is meant to be humorous, but in the 60's and 70's, some operation was done on libs to remove their sense of humor along with some, uh, other qualities.
I have all my qualities. It seems Deutsch does not. And I'd be happy to go to church with her (as she offered Deutsch) the morning following dinner and an extended date the night before. Unless she preferred to skip it until next week in favor of a, ahem, better offer.
As Sweet Ann writes in her book, "You know you're doing something right when you've reduced hordes of liberals to blind, sputtering rage."
10-12-2007 @ 11:10PM
Annie said...
I'm so disgusted and angry. Why in the world do we provide a platform to someone as narrow minded and ridiculous as Ann Coulter. She is a waste of air, space and time. People are so upset with her comments and yet there she is, getting all the publicity she seeks. She'll say anything to stir things up and sell her books. Perhaps if we ignore her and her books, she will go away.
10-13-2007 @ 10:55AM
Charles said...
A quick note to my liberal friends: Ann Coulter is a gift to progressives everywhere.
Her compulsive narcissism is not just a mental disorder. It is a black flag which discredits the conservative moment generally. I, for one, welcome her bad manners, her childish insults, her obsessive cruelty.
She has become a conservative icon. Because of this, it is no longer necessary to pay attention to honorable conservatives. And her pals help the cause in much the same way.
When Rush Limbaugh mocks a man with advanced Parkinson's disease, he helps our cause. When Michelle Malkin attacks a 12 year old, she helps our cause. When Bill O'Reilly excoriates the son of a 9/11 victim, he too helps the cause.
And when 'Dr.' James Dobson ignores the venal sins of Ted Haggard, Larry Craig, David Vitter and a hundred other Republicans with sex problems, he too helps the cause.
It is in this cynical spirit that I say to Ann Coulter, "Please keep it up! Your crazed conservatism makes it so much easier for us to discredit everything you stand for."
Ann Coulter is currently going the way of Father Coughlin, who also stumbled from reaction to outright anti-Semitism.
I, for one, welcome the spectacle.
10-13-2007 @ 10:56AM
John said...
Kudlow is more offensive than Coulter.
10-14-2007 @ 2:22PM
Tony Tartaglia said...
The media gives her coverage for the same reason you are reporting this story. To attract a viewers/readers.
10-29-2007 @ 3:24PM
bryan said...
you know, Annie, it almost sounds like you want to censor her books. Hm. well, you know, you don't have to listen to her or read her books, but MILLIONS of people do. So you go right ahead and ignore her, I guarantee she won't cry over it
10-29-2007 @ 3:31PM
bryan said...
you know, Annie, it almost sounds like you want to censor her books. Hm. well, you know, you don't have to listen to her or read her books, but MILLIONS of people do. So you go right ahead and ignore her, I guarantee she won't cry over it