Ann Coulter again embarasses self, American media

There’s a great piece in Slate about Ann Coulter’s latest tirade.

If you haven’t heard about it, she called John Edwards “a faggot” in front of a packed room of Republicans. There was a little gasp, then laughter and applause. She knew her audience. Michael Richards would have been jealous.

As the article points out — indeed, it’s the opening salvo of the piece — this sort of comment from Coulter is not in the least bit shocking. She gets paid big bucks to spew the kind of braindead hatred that most people are afraid to utter. She’s also useful to the “legitimate” Republicans, who can claim a moral high ground by publicly repudiating her, then quietly invite her to speak at their expensive dinners, where she is paid to call John Edwards a faggot.

For the mainstream press, it’s more or less the same deal. Paula Zahn, for example, can continue to claim she’s actually a journalist because she brings on Coulter, beats her up a bit, and probably also throws in something about how great it is that America enjoys freedom of speech. (For bonus points, she might ask Coulter if she calls herself a feminist because she’s an outspoken woman. Coulter of course gives a pat answer, probably implying along the way that liberal feminists hate men and have hairy legs.)

Coulter, of course, is happy to serve as a kind of straw man; indeed, she is well-equipped for the role, right down to the outdated wardrobe, clear lack of a functioning heart, non-existent sex life (ok, I’m speculating), and innate ability to frighten the shit out of crows.

The cartoonish rage aside, what’s most disturbing about the Coulter phenomenon is that she continues to be represented as a figure who has some connection to politics. The reality is that, as a political commentator, she’s earned about as much credibility as The Rock or the bassist from Creed.

If there were any justice in the world, she might be known as that spindly, unhinged and seriously unfunny chick that opened for Dennis Leary once in Toledo. And bombed. Because that’s really all she is: a really shitty shock comic.

Years ago, we’d laugh or grimace when Geraldo Rivera would invite on a Klansman, the head of B’nai Brith and a former Black Panther and claim that all he wanted to do was have a meaningful dialogue about racism in America. But at least he had the stones to have his nose busted and become a Letterman punchline in order to orchestrate his elaborate ratings bonanzas.

Who among today’s TV journos could make even that modest claim? Who would claim they’re not phoning it in? And who would simply refuse to talk to Coulter in the first place, citing the need for, say, an actual news angle, or a credible case for her legitimacy as a commentator?

By continuing to represent Coulter as some kind of political thinker — as opposed to a fading entertainer who was never terribly good to begin with — today’s mainstream newsmakers are showing their true colours. They’re just risk-averse, watered-down, yes equally narcissistic and exploitative versions of Geraldo.

Geraldo, but lamer. Geraldo, but with less integrity. Geraldo, but dumbed down.

Worst of all, it seems they’re either too brain-lazy to notice, or too cynical to care.