Coulter: McCain v. Obama Was Like Helen Thomas v. George Foreman In His Prime

One of the more interesting dynamics of the Conservative Political Action Conference this weekend in D.C. has been how eager conservatives have been to cleanse themselves of the Bush years and how timid they've been in going after John McCain. Matt Cooper at Talking Points Memo noticed this on Friday, and I picked up on it as well.

Last year, when he took the CPAC stage as -- for the first time -- the defacto Republican candidate, the crowd nearly booed McCain off the podium. This year, after he fell short in the general election, the only punches thrown at the Arizona Republican have been thrown largely in private.

On Saturday, that changed. Ann Coulter, in an otherwise mild performance (one filled with political jokes seemingly recycled from the campaign), lambasted McCain for his lameness, equating him to longtime Washington scribe Helen Thomas taking on a heavyweight boxing champion.

"In a poll taken in Germany during the election I showed that 80 percent of the German people supported Obama over McCain. And we all know how infallible the Germans are at picking great leaders," said the brash conservative author. "Meanwhile, we were running John McCain. It is amazing he lost by only seven points rather than 75. Obama beating McCain is the equivalent of George Foreman, in his prime, beating Helen Thomas in the 12th round by technical knockout. Which, come to think of, I wouldn't mind seeing."

The line, a rather mild ribbing of the Senator but a ribbing nonetheless, earned a spattering of applause from the crowd. Far more popular, in fact, was Coulter's defense of Bush (and, by extension Obama), which came after an attendee asked her to asses the president's national security policies.

"Actually on national security, I think we all ought to be gloating because Obambi seems to be continuing the policies of George Bush," said Coulter. "It is MoveOn.org, Daily Kos, Code Pink, and the New York Times who ought to be weeping, weeping. Apparently Obama got into offce and got the national security briefing and thought, 'I can't let the New York Times run national security.' So I think we do owe a thank you to George Bush for keeping us so safe, and we ought to acknowledge that."

Comments

[Bitsko]

Good stuff. Always nice to see the G0P destroying itself.

[mobedda]

Proves how bright Coulter is. Thomas would have won.

[HeresHoping]

Ann Coulter isn't fit to wipe Helen Thomas' boots.

[Scoop82]

The problem with Ann's little analogy, apart from the rather delicious visual it provokes, is this. This election was not equivilant to a 12th round TK. Sure, I will buy that Obamo=Foreman and McCain=Thomas, but as you would expect in that match up, it was a lopsided early victory for Obama/Foreman. This was not a close election. Obama slaughtered McCain, even on much of his home turf. At no point on Election night was there even a twinklin of early hope for McCain. This was over as soon as Florida and Pennsylvania went D.

Bad analogy Ann. Nice try though

[RushHour]

If you go by the actual popular vote which, by the way, you democrats have been fuming and foaming about since 2000, it wasn't exactly a 1st round knockout. Wasn't something like 46 or 47 percent of the voters against Obama?

[Jackie F Cheeser 49]

Neither Coulter nor Limbaugh is the answer to our problems. We can only wonder whose interests they have in mind, especially Limbaugh, who wants the president to "fail." We all fail if he does.

[DoTheMath]

Last year's presidential primary proved that the latest incarnation of the GOP had died. They nominated the least Republican candidate in the GOP contest, a man whom the movers and shakers of Republicanism, including Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter, had condemned. And nominating McCain was not a mistake. It was the only chance they had, though clearly not a very good one.

It's interesting that Coulter has joined John Ashcroft in the following brain-twisting argument:
1. Obama's national security policies are exactly like Bush's national security policies.
2. Therefore, it's obvious that Bush was right
3. because clearly Obama knows what he's doing --
4. unless we don't want to say that Obama knows what he's doing, which we clearly don't;
5. so our point must be that Obama's policies being exactly like Bush's policies prove that Obama doesn't know what he's doing
6. because, after all, who thinks Bush knew what he was doing.
7. Oh yeah, we do.

[NeoStar9]

This is what I don't get about the people that went to CPAC. The people that consider themselves republican voted in the primaries and it was clear the one they wanted was McCain. Who was clearly not far right. They had their choices of those that were far right and one would think the most die hard republicans would be ones voting in the primary. That say says a LOT I think about where the everyday republican is compared to those that speak for the republican party are. It's clear there are actually two republican parties yet those in power and have a platform to voice their opinions clearly don't realize this or simply want to ignore it.

This is why I don't really see the republican party making a come back but instead wouldn't be surprised to see a new party rise out of it's ashes that is more moderate (as the republican party used to be before the neocons got a hold of it). It's really sad that those in congress on the republican side fear people like Limbaugh that they have to actually apologize to him and feel they can't actually criticize him in public. People on TV can't seem to do it and they are in way hold held accountable by him or voters. Sad and pathetic.

[bobbysgurl]

I believe Ann Coulter needs to check her analogy. Joe Foreman, in his prime, got beat by Ali.

[canuckdjs]

Probably important to get your facts straight while in the process of criticizing someone for not getting their facts straight. Just sayin..... George Foreman.

[punkindmb]

Correct. But I believe he could beat her if not in his prime. What is with them trying to beat up this little old lady. Did she do something to them, like point out their lies?

[Gregor53]

Once again Ann is incorrect. I believe Hellen Thomas would kick the crap out of George Foreman, AND I do not think he would disagree! She is one of the best fighters in the White House breifings I have ever seen.

[Applecheeks]

Coulter for President! I demand a new straw poll NOW!

[learnsomething]

We already have a president. And we are very satified with him.

[johndab]

SAFE FROM WHAT? THE REAL TERRORISTS WERE ON WALL STREET [THEY HAVE DONE AS MUCH DAMAGE TO THIS COUNTRY ECONOMICALLY AS OSAMA AND HIS BAND ] ALL ALONG.
GEORGIE AND THE DICK SUPPORTED THEM AND THEIR AGENDA ALL ALONG

IN FACT DIDN'T GEORGIE ONCE SAY THAT MORE PEOPLE OWNED HOMES DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION THAN EVER BEFORE.

THE REPUGS ARE LIKE RATS GETTING OF A SINKING SHIP.. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT THE SHIP ALREADY SUNK.

[lylo]

He did a really bad job of keeping us safe.
2001 was in his presidency.
We weren't kept safe.

[learnsomething]

He was too busy with the Treasury, to keep us safe.

[GrammieJ]

OMG, OMG (oh my goodness)!
Coulter is out of her mind!! Love it.
Who do the republicans like anymore? SO SAD,,, they only like the one they see in the mirror!!

[Gidster]

AS long as there is a profit in it.

[tonkamatthew]

keeping us safe? he totally ignored all advice about dealing with al-quida from the previous president and instead planned spending billions on some type of nuclear umbrella protecting us from the soviet union which was gone, but that is where he could channel money to his backers. after 9/11 I'd say everything he planned still had not our country's safety in mind but funneling moving more money back to his backers

[learnsomething]

He was too busy transferring the wealth of the country into the hands of the super rich.

[timberdoodle]

Coulter, Palin, Limbaugh, Hannity and Joe The Plumber running the GOP and the brains behind their organization. If that doesn't scare Americans than nothing will. As a matter of fact I would expect the closet Republican Lou Dobbs to announce the GOP are using scare tactics against themselves.

[cthusky]

You forget the 13-year-old.

[widollar]

Great Post and this is the "Ship of Fools" for sure!

[cthusky]

Amazing that this woman still gets press. I think that this fascination with her goofy comments is sheer adolesence--and we have grown-up problems now to deal with.