Coulter: McCain a "Lickspittle" Unworthy of "Kissing Bush's Behind"
In her newest syndicated column, right-wing pundit Ann Coulter calls the U.S. occupation in Iraq "a stunning success," awards President Bush the status of "moral giant," and trashes Sen. John McCain as one of "the weakest members of the herd."
Since 2001, right-wing pundits have increasingly used offensive and violent rhetoric to humiliate Democratic Party candidates and politicians and to undermine political debate of important issues. Coulter's attack on Sen. McCain confirms a rising trend of right-wing pundits using this tactic of humiliation and violent language to brand Sen. McCain a danger to the safety and well-being of the country.
Coulter's column was penned in reaction to the Democratic Party's argument that a McCain presidency would be tantamount to a third term of the Bush administration. Rather than defending Sen. McCain in the face of Democratic Party criticism, however, Coulter praises Bush as "a great President," then lashes out at both liberals and Sen. McCain as "lickspittles" not "worthy of kissing Bush's behind."
Coulter leaves her readers to do the final step of calling sen. McCain a 'liberal' through her oft-used propaganda technique of guilt-by-association. In this case, the final paragraph of her column makes it virtually impossible for readers to miss the larger associated she wants them to draw:
There is not a liberal in this country worthy of kissing Bush's rear end, but the weakest members of the herd run from Bush. Compared to the lickspittles denying and attacking him, Bush is a moral giant -- if that's not damning with faint praise. John McCain should be so lucky as to be running for Bush's third term. Then he might have a chance. (link)
Sen. McCain is going to lose the election, Coulter is arguing, because his lack of praising Bush makes him a liberal.
Beyond the critique of McCain, Coulter's column is a bellwether of how right-wing pundits plan to use their influential media platforms to drive political debate up to the general election.
Rather than back McCain, right-wing pundits seem poised to turn Sen. McCain into a cartoon effigy of all they claim is wrong with American liberalism. In this way, pundits like Coulter and Limbaugh will be able to argue simultaneously that McCain lost because he was 'too liberal,' and that a Democratic victory will bring disaster because a President Obama will be 'too liberal.'
By supporting McCain, right-wing pundits risk the loss of prestige that comes with backing a losing candidate. By turning against McCain, they can blame Republican defeat and predict doom for the country with the same argument. Anti-McCain right-wing pundits, in other words, can advance their goal of staying relevant in a rapidly shifting media environment where their access to the White House and to Congress will likely be limited relative to what it was during the Bush years.
Only time will tell if this full scenario is in the cards, but for now Americans can look forward to plenty more 'John-McCain-is-a-Liberal' tirades from the likes of Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, and all the right-wing pundits trying to emulate them.
Follow Jeffrey Feldman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JeffreyFeldman
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
The anorexia took her pea brain down years ago, and yielded a real treat for the history books, like her ghostly mentor and philosopher king, Sen. Joe McCarthy. She represents the best fascism can come up with, which leaves one to ask: Have you no shame, Annie?
http://www
Of course Iraq is a stunning success; by invading Iraq, George Bush helpfully turned Osama bin Laden's bloop double into a grand slam home run.
What if there's a vast right-wing conspiracy for McCain to step down at the convention? They'll have cast lots of shadows on Obama, then come up with some respectable, old fashioned non-Bush conservative who wouldn't be a disaster as president. I don't know who, somebody similar to John Dean or Colin Powell.
Colin Powell recently stated he might support Obama... So, he's out.
Such language, Ann! I thought your party was the party of "family values". Those Catholic nuns should give you lashes on your knuckles and make you wash your mouth out with soap you potty mouth you!
Sen. McCain should think more about who his "friends" are. When he received the nomination, those talk show nimrods were warning him of how his liberal friends would mistreat and betray him. If these are your friends, you might want to use that body armor you wear during your strolls through Iraqi streets while at home...
BTW Ms Coulter...
I'm sure Ann would die for a chance to French kiss Bush's behind.
The Neo-Cons know they have lost. They want Obama elected. If he is unable to fix the incredible mess created in the last 7+ years, they'll say, "See, we told you he was too liberal." Same answer if McCain wins, but that can't happen.
Bush is a "moral giant," as Coulter says, only if one stands about an inch off the ground.
Ghandi was a moral giant. King was a moral giant. Bush is no giant...he sure is funny though.
This column is very prescient. Coulter loves Bush so much because he is a warmonger and Coulter hates humanity. She would be happiest with the world aflame and she could play her fiddle.
Our fascist friends would like nothing more than to do away with these pesky "elections" and allow bush to declare himself dictator for life.
You got it! The far right will tell us: "Why bother with elections. They are only costing you money."
Wrong, only MAKING THEM MONEY!
Is anyone surprised that the haters are hating on McCain? That's what haters do... hate. Spread venom and hate against whoever isn't a clone of themselves.
It's long overdue that Coulter has her platforms for spreading hate taken away. It's emberassing that any self-respecting editor would publish her hate in a national paper.
McCain must have not passed the "hater" test enough for far right-wing pundits like Coulter and others.
Sneaky.
They insult McCain, making him appear more "center" and not "with Bush" - thereby emphasizing McCain's "I'm not with Bush" stance.
Right wingers/neo cons are nothing if not sneaks and plotters. And I might add: Anti-American because they don't respect the rights of the voters as they try to manipulate elections.
they are the ones refered to in the oath of service "to protect our constitution from all enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC"
GOOD ONE!
Who is this woman & why does anyone care what she says?
In reading her bio in wikipedia 2 things stood out..
1) 1st on her list of favorite books is the Bible.
From her writings & the way she treats others, you can't help but wonder what she got out of reading the Bible. Or if she has read it at all.
2) She can't seem to hold a job. Even conservative readers find her "shrill, bombastic & mean spirited". She has been terminated from EVERY job she's had since leaving college. EVERY JOB! Hired for her conservative views & FIRED from EVERY JOB!!!!!
Any other person with this history would be living at home, camped on Mom's couch, drinking, smoking & watching daytime TV.
So why does anyone care what she shrieks?
Why do we make her important?
Let's not.
"Who is this woman...." That question is QUITE presumptive, no? Take a good, hard look at her/his/its ADAM'S APPLE before you ascribe a gender to her/him/it.
Wilbur
It is people like Coulter, Limbaugh and Hannity who have personalized politics so that you respond to the fate of your candidate emotionally. The master of this was hate-spewing Father Coughlin, who once was prevented from speaking publicly because his appearance created "a clear and present
danger." These people are dangerous, not because of the shallowness of their ideas, but rather because they appeal to parts of the body much lower than the brain.
Personally, I believe they go home and make fun of the people who pay attention to them.
I agree, they are dangerous. It's a streach but it was hate filled radio commentators that instigated the genocide in Rwanda.
Who better than Ann Coulter to judge lickspittl
Experience pays off well for her, doesn't it?
I saw her speak in person and had to leave because it made me sick; watching her on Fox for a laugh once in a while is one thing, but actually seeing her spew her fascist/racist propaganda live was really unsettling.
She is NOT a joke nor is she a provocateur--if you see her live, then you will see.
She is a true fascist and it is scary to watch.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
