A number of the conservative bloggers who attended the CPAC conference, where Ann Coulter spoke, have issued a public letter to the conference organizers. The letter calls on the conference, organized by the very important conservative group American Conservative Union, never to invite Coulter again, and more importantly, the bloggers essentially disinvite Coulter from the conservative movement.
The list of those bloggers who signed the letter is at the bottom of this post. But more interesting than those who signed is those who attended the conference but did not sign on to the letter, starting with the number one conservative blogger, Michelle Malkin.
Conservatism treats humans as they are, as moral creatures possessing rational minds and capable of discerning right from wrong. There comes a time when we must speak out in the defense of the conservative movement, and make a stand for political civility. This is one of those times.
Ann Coulter used to serve the movement well. She was telegenic, intelligent, and witty. She was also fearless: saying provocative things to inspire deeper thought and cutting through the haze of competing information has its uses. But Coulter's fearlessness has become an addiction to shock value. She draws attention to herself, rather than placing the spotlight on conservative ideas.
At the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2006, Coulter referred to Iranians as "ragheads." She is one of the most prominent women in the conservative movement; for her to employ such reckless language reinforces the stereotype that conservatives are racists.
At CPAC 2007 Coulter decided to turn up the volume by referring to John Edwards, a former U.S. Senator and current Presidential candidate, as a "faggot." Such offensive language--and the cavalier attitude that lies behind it--is intolerable to us. It may be tolerated on liberal websites but not at the nation's premier conservative gathering....
Coulter's vicious word choice tells the world she care little about the feelings of a large group that often feels marginalized and despised. Her word choice forces conservatives to waste time defending themselves against charges of homophobia rather than advancing conservative ideas....
Denouncing Coulter is not enough. After her "raghead" remark in 2006 she took some heat. Yet she did not grow and learn. We should have been more forceful. This year she used a gay slur. What is next? If Senator Barack Obama is the de facto Democratic Presidential nominee next year, will Coulter feel free to use a racial slur? How does that help conservatism?
....CPAC sponsors, the Age of Ann has passed. We, the undersigned, request that CPAC speaking invitations no longer be extended to Ann Coulter. Her words and attitude simply do too much damage.
Credentialed CPAC 2007 Bloggers
Sean Hackbarth, The American Mind James Joyner, Outside the Beltway Scott Schmidt, Boi From Troy Joy McCann, Little Miss Attila Kevin McCullough, Musclehead Revolution Fausta Werz, Fausta's blog Patrick Hynes, Ankle Biting Pundits Ed Morrissey, Captain's Quarters
Other Conservative Bloggers Owen Robinson, Boots and Sabres N.Z. Bear, The Truth Laid Bear Michael Demmons, Gay Orbit
