As a ranking official of the Arkansas Contrarian Liabilities Union, it pains me to have to defend ranking rank conservative commentator Coulter. There is a move to have her syndicate, Universal Press, drop her newspaper column. Ann Coulter in a speech (not a TV commentary or published essay) called a Democratic presidential candidate a homosexual but used a coarse word. Some in the media call this the “F-Bomb.” It’s not that “F-Bomb,” but another one.
The candidate probably is not gay. But gay rights groups, Democratic groups, and fans of this politician are making big noises to try to ruin Coulter’s career. This is a marketplace decision, not a political one, however, and I am glad that Universal’s chief, Lee Salem, is saying no to demands it drop her, according to news reports. He elaborated that client newspapers are as always free to drop hers or anyone’s columns. He did not say or need to say that if Coulter runs in too few newspapers for Universal to make revenue he can’t keep her.
But these groups don’t like that. The news indicates they are campaigning to individual newspapers to drop Coulter’s column, but they’re also calling Universal Press names — not that name — for making it hard for them to be lazy.
We Contrarians have to stick together, even though we’re talking about Coulter. I don’t mind her calling officials names, even inaccurate, Plame-throwing names. Oh, blame-throwing. No, flame-throwing. I oppose her criticizing non-public figures with her characteristic caustic caws, because they don’t have her arsenal. But she has the right to do so, because she gets to face the consequences of ridicule, if not now then in the next life. I do mind very much when she distorts facts, because lots of people don’t know either current events or history and apparently believe her. But the First Amendment allows her this, too.
It’s simply anti-American for groups to just call for bans or firings, otherwise known as censorship. These groups need their own Ann Coulters, or if that disgusts them, clever but nice people with comparable on-air and prose talent. You know, the Marketplace of Ideas. My ACLU and the real ACLU believe in that bazaar.
As Contrarians who envy her soapbox, don’t we have to say, “You go, F-girl. We got your back”?
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I know all about prison. I’ve seen lots of shows. People often get nicknames in penitentiaries. Some flattering, some mean, some too close to true for comfort — like junior high.
Going to the pen with a nickname is another matter. It’s going to be tested. When your buds in the bar say, “There goes The Accountant,” you’ll be asked to do other inmates’ taxes or count bartered cigarettes and weigh contraband. If the guys in the neighborhood call you Knuckles, or Godfather, well if you have that sort of name you can take care of yourself, inside.
When you’re a guy facing prison and your name is Scooter — well, good luck, fella.
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Psst, psst, speaking of junior high and cliques and secrets, did you hear the latest about Valerie Plame? Valerie Plame is a spy!
Or am I the last to know? -30-
