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

Comments

[xpresv]

Best endorsement if you ask me.
I was gonna vote for Obama, but if Ann Coulter hates him, McCain must be alright after all.

Just kidding. I may have voted for McCain over Hillary, but only an idiot would go for four more years of this republican-led garbage.

[booksnmore4you]

There an interesting NY Times article today about how Canadian and European laws would silence a lot of the sort of hate and violent-filled rhetoric coming from the neofascist AM radio echo machines and people like Coulter. Check it out:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/us/12hate.html?ex=1213934400&en=c2f1656cced66e63&ei=5070&emc=eta1

[zitlight73]

What's the tempature in Hell today? If someone rants and babbles enough they're bound to say something you agree with, today's the day. McCain may have not been worthy but he sure kissed Bush's ass on many occasions especially on the Military Commission's Act. He's going to be so bummed when Bush declares a national emergancy and appoints himself dictator and dissolves congress. All that ass kissing for naught.

[LAR1969]

Coulter's next article: "The Sun Rotates Around the Earth (Despite What Liberals Teach)."

[indypete]

But how does it get round the stack of turtles?

[jmaster]

All that's missing in Coulter's screed is the song cue - cut to "Comedy Tonight." Totally bizarre. Coulter is NEVER funny. Except sometimes when she's trying to be serious - and very rarely even then. Of course, when it happens we're only laughing at HER. I bet you'd get a similar effect from dropping acid and then watching old Jerry Lewis movies.

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

This a ploy to fool people into thinking he is so different for GWB.....But these two are joined in more than one spot ..Ok seperated at the hip ...True you free McBush to walk his own path ...But they share the same brain..I have yet to see McBush express a idea that was his and his alone ...This is a smoke screen to hide his conjoined twin GWB

[bobbym]

Ann needs a tour of Iraq or at least Dirty Jobs

[CommanderWhitehead]

Well heaven knows, he certainly is a "lickspittle" among other things...but having the likes of Ann Coulter attacking him for being just that is merely a weak attempt at bolstering his artificial image as a "maverick" and a "liberal" thereby hoping to procure the votes of some independents as well as the many disenchanted Clinton backers still sulking in the middle-distance.

Good luck John. (Nice try Ann.)

[Sleepwalkr]

Exactly. So transparent....
And she will keep making more and more shocking/i­nflamatory statements to get attention and hopefully amplify her message... but it isn't goint to work. Not this time.

[IndependentMynd]

My thoughts exactly. This is a ploy to manipulate the vote.

McBush - liberal (sided w/Bush 95% (2007) / 100% (2008); O% rating Planned Parenthood)
Obama - extreme (100% rating Planned Parenthood)

http://www.newsweek.com/id/137529

[JScott]

'Coulter leaves her readers to do the ....."

You mean she has readers?

{Sadly yes)

[WLA]

You can spot them easily because their lips are moving while they read.

[ikology]

LMAO! good one WLA

[DallasMike]

McCain would rather reach across to the Dems and kiss thier ass.
McCain is a RINO and thats all he is
This election is about the lesser of two evils, the only question is who is the lesser of the two

[mike53]

Couldn't agree more. I have talked to more than a few conservative friends who feel its better to let Obama win. Let the democrats get the blame for the next four years.

[copernikus]

Of course the Repubs f**ked things up so bad they can't possibly be fixed in four years.

[wheresthebeef]

You should do all you can to encourage that sort of thinking.

[wheresthebeef]

Absolutely correct, Sir! McCain is a downright Commie Pinko compared to Barack Obama. Now Bob Barr...there's a real conservative hero! My advice is vote for Obama or, if not, vote for Barr. That'll teach 'em.

[lthuedk 1]

Why do fascists overreach? Ann: Care to tell us why?

http://www.light-to-dark.com/ann_coulter_republican.html

[indypete]

You might as well ask why scorpions sting!

[gbht12]

ANN,

We leave the ass kissing to you. I'm sure Bushie would love it. Kiss mine while you are at it!

[Krikkit]

No, no, no! USE it! Call in to Rush praising Bush and castigating McCain... Then talk about how shameful it is that he left his wife for the Rodeo queen. Compare that to Bush and Laura...

Get some real jabs in there that the media is leaving alone.

[KarateKid]

I feel like a member of the audience at the Coliseum's latest gladiator show. I'm going to make a lot of popcorn this summer, sit back, and watch the Republicans shred each other to bits.

At the end, my thumb will always be pointing downwards.

[Jazzcomedian]

For an evil, strident, spiteful, purveyor of hate, and all that is wrong with the conservative right-wing, she looks pretty good. Is that sexist?

[indypete]

I wouldn't push her out of the way in my rush to get at you! I guess that makes me sexist too, even though I consider myself to be somewhat of a feminist. (Can't fight them male hormones!)

[rinpochet]

Maybe she has a picture in the attic as in "The Picture of Dorian Gray". It should be quite hideous by now.

[enkidusshade]

i've never understood the ann coulter is attractive meme. she's skinny and has a long face ('why the long face, ann?'). i've never heard her name mentioned in a locker room or barroom dialog about women guys want to get with. does this phenomenon exist outside the internet?

[indypete]

I'm a skinny man... I like skinny girls.

[Maury66]

On the subject of the desirability of Ann Coulter, I figure as long as we're talking imaginary, not gonna happen type stuff....I'll aim a bit higher... any one or two of a million younger sweeter looking ladies...sorry Ann...take heart....Everybody loves somebody, sometime....

[AustinCynic]

If you take Coulter strictly on a physical features basis, she's not unattractive. But she's so ugly on the inside that it comes out in her features in a way that I can't adequately explain. That is the reason I, at least, can't explain.

Molly Ivins in the middle of her cancer treatments was more physically attractive than Coulter could ever be.