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Jews, Jesus and Republicans: Playing Ann Coulter's Game
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2008 Election, Ann Coulter, Politics, Religion And Politics, Republican Presidential Candidate,
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To read Jon Wiener's most recent post, "[Expletive] the Jews. They didn't vote for us anyway": Republicans and Israel, click here.
The following piece was produced by the Huffington Post's OffTheBus.
When Ann Coulter remarked on CNBC that Jews should become Christians, it wasn't "a faux pas," and she wasn't being "an idiot," as many commentators suggested. Instead she was playing her game -- provoking her critics to get her into the media spotlight that helps sell her books. That raises the question: should the Republican candidates be asked whether they agree with Ann Coulter that America would be a better place if we were all Christians? Or is that simply playing Ann Coulter's game?
Many people are playing her game this time around: Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, denounced Coulter for speaking in "the classic language of anti-Semites throughout the millennia." The National Jewish Democratic Council asked broadcast news organizations not to give Coulter airtime. Then right wing talk radio got to yell at liberals for trying to deny Ann Coulter her right to free speech.
So it's happened again: Ann Coulter is controversial. Ann Coulter is important. We all need to take a stand for or against Ann Coulter's right to express her views, no matter how repugnant they may be.
But what if we ignored her latest publicity ploy? What if we didn't play Ann Coulter's game - again?
That would be a mistake, Tim Rutten argued recently in the LA Times. We need to press the issue on the candidates, and others, this time -- because, Rutten writes, "the implications of these latest remarks simply are too threatening to be allowed to stand."
Yes, it's worked for her many times before, propelling her books to the top of the best-seller list. Her readers buy her books precisely because they love the way she provokes liberals to screaming outrage. That's why in the past, when asked about our enemies in the Middle East, she said "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity"; that's why she insulted the 9-11widows.
But this time, Rutten argues, it's different. That's because Coulter's argument - that Christianity "perfects" Judaism, and that Jews need "perfecting" -- is the major theological underpinning of anti-Semitism (along with the notion to that the Jews killed Jesus). The Catholic church, and most Protestant denominations, have explicitly broken with that claim. The Republican candidates ought to do the same thing.
"It's a scandal that in this pluralist nation it falls to the voices of organized Jewry to make this case," Rutten writes, "because it is a case whose outcome is of the greatest consequence to us all. For too long we've pretended that the brutal political rhetoric that now characterizes our partisan politics can be quarantined, that it won't inevitably leach over into every other aspect of our lives."
So it would be good to ask Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and their rivals: Ann Coulter is a best-selling Republican pundit; do you agree with her that the ideal America is a Christian America?
Read more OffTheBus coverage here.
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While I respect the premise of what Weiner writes, Coulter's pronouncements are obviously calculated to promote controversy and sell books, to think that one could ignore, even if one should ignore, her is neither plausable or possible (given the amount of exposure she'll get from Fox news anyway). Our society tends to be knee jerk reactive, and she is very good at tapping those knees. The real lesson here is for Jews who have bought the whole Bush-As-A-Friend-Of-Israel line. Though the White House may distance themselves from her moronic comment, Coulter is a true embodiement of how a good chunk of America feels. The Zionist policies, supported by the neocons, foment antisemetism. Until Israel changes direction and makes amends for past crimes against the Palestinians, not considered to be people by none other than Golda Meir herself, the horror of bigotry will continue. The U.S. has gotten what it wants out of its Israeli policy, that is destabilization of the region, but what has Israel gotten out of it? Walls and barbed wire and swatstikas emblazoned around the world. Israel needs and deserves to live in peace, but they must stop thinking that they can push their way to that goal. They are walking down a losing path. Coulter is nothing more than a distracting signpost.
The extremist Zionists proclaim that Israel is a Democracy. When I have seen through these many years the "iron fist" policies of the Israeli Government, I contest whether we should accept that assertion. Do Israelis vote on using American bulldozers to turn over Palestinian homes in the middle of the night? Do they vote on shooting little boys dead who happen to have thrown a little rock or stone at a tank? On and on it goes.
To Coulter's point: All Christians believe that they are to go forth and spread the gospel to all peoples. It is not forced on anyone. Jews have had the freedom to reject their fellow Jew, Jesus.
Jews do not understand the source of that desire and that's okay, but to jump up and down denouncing this core Christian belief that we should evangelize the rest of the world, means that we would not be doing what Jesus told us to do. And for Jews to sucessfully legalize that prohibition as a hate crime would be tantamount to setting up Judaism as the state religion, and it almost is that now what with the cost to the American gentiles of supporting an intransigent Israel in its crazy policies. This would not be happening were it not for the fact that AIPAC and the Jewish owned Media work in tandem to get total support for Israel, or else. Our political whores are on AIPAC's payroll. Just look at the Congressional Quarterly to see how much they are indebted to it.
Most of us are sick of the AJC's constant belly aching about perceived inequities. Enough already! And criticizing Israeli policies is not being antisemitic; nor is criticizing the effort of the AJC to dominate our governmental policies, by means of cold cash or pac support to our legislators. You have successfully corrupted our government for your own ends, and we are sick of it!
I know it wasn't possible to let this last comment of Ann's pass by but if we try really hard, can we pretend she doesn't exist any more?
How? Don't buy her books, watch her on television, read blogs about her, respond to blogs about her, think about her, get angry with her etc. Just erase her totally from our thought patterns. She has nothing to say and whatever foams out of her mouth is yucky so why contaminate the world with it? When I say click, she is gone for me. CLICK
At the very least Ann was honest,
she wasnt a hypocrite when it came to her views.
(and remember all that 'stuff' about Christian America)
cnn 7/8/97:Proposed Israeli law would ban Christian missionaries
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9707/08/israel.missionaries/index.html
'We are a Jewish state,' official says
The dwindling number of Christians in the Holy Land are facing yet another threat. Militant Jews and Israelis are trying to force members of the religion from seeking converts in the country.
Most alarming to Christians is a newly proposed law that would let authorities jail anyone who shares Christian literature.
"It could even include the New Testament because, after all, that is certainly a document Jesus would say, 'go out into the world and make disciples,'" Pastor Ray Lockhart of Christ's Church in Jerusalem says.
The proposed legislation is aimed at those who possess, print, reproduce, distribute, import, track or publicize information meant as an inducement to religious conversion.
"We are a Jewish state," explains Israeli Knesset member and bill co-sponsor Niffim Zilli. "We want to remain a Jewish state."
Rabbi David Rosen of the Anti-Defamation League opposes the bill, but admits that democracy does not have deep roots in Israel.
"We are dealing with a society that is very fragile in terms of its own self-confidence and its ability to function within the modern democratic world, and therefore you have to take that into consideration," Rosen says.
What is being waged is a cultural clash that opens centuries of old wounds between Jews and Christians. It is a struggle for souls, and the Christians do not have the upper hand.
Israel was founded as a homeland for Jews--after much evidence that homes in other lands were, at best, fragile.
The United States was founded as a non-sectarian nation.
While I do not favor religious exclusionism in any country, the two nations are different and should not be judged by the same standard.
You abandon principles for one -
you abandon them for all!
One of the reasons mentioned that isreal should be supported is that it is "democratic".
A state cannot be religious and democratic.
Tell me then how to judge "law that would let authorities jail anyone who shares Christian literature".
Ann Coulter is pathetic.
She is the Al Franken of the Right.
What a sad state of affairs when lawyers and comedians like Coulter, Franken and Maher try to give us political viewpoints. They are idiots.
This is the new America? Sad.
Absolutely correct.
I disagree with your premise that Franken and Maher exude the same amount of vitriolic venom that Ann Coulter does. They may take swipes at righties, but I have never heard either one of them match Coulter's viciousness. Besides her they are wimps.
I don't have a problem with Coulter being out there revealing the dark side of conservatism. I am just sorry that there are so many who seem to agree with her by buying her books. She has become very rich. I aslo don't have problems with lawyers (who are well educated) or comedians(who often are insightful) giving us their political opinions. At least they have some. Too many Americans are apathetic.
My girlfriend and I are thrift store junkies. Whenever we go to Goodwill or similar stores I head straight for the books section. There I see copy after copy of books by Coulter, as well as Limbaugh, O'Reilly, et al. Yes, people buy these books, perhaps they read them, but it is obvious that a lot of people don't find them worth keeping.
OUr media outlets in general do a quite lousy job of spreading information to the masses in regards to issues that ARE of importance to OUR extistance on many levels..These days one is more likely to get a better "take" from the likes of Maher,Franken,Stewart--and many of us are grateful it is NOT dripped/draped in utter coarse/vulgar/acidic spews but with tinges of truth laced via humor. Coulter does the shock schlock version,Rush and others do as well but they too provide "insight" as to what is resonating/thought even by mere "ordinary folk" sho do not take to the mikes/stage/print outlets. Coulter serves a purpose of sorts, problem is, some have allowed her ilk to be taken as if positioned corretly and not as the example of what is so desparately in need of "correction" for she and others are promoting the concept that ALL "MUST" "BE" /etc of the group that THEY deem as the ONLY acceptable order. NOT TRULY abiding of the AMERICAN WAY concept we "thought" we as a nation embraced/enbodied which is to allow respectful EACH THEIR CHOICE and to not force another to absolute conformation to anothers preference.
Why not ask everyone the insipid question Ann was asked? And how is anyone threatened by her remarks? If the Democrats get into power, you may reast assured that they will try to make the Country over in their image, which means less freedom and more pandering to special interest groups.
ResidentChimp do you think that no Republican takes money from lobbyists? No Republican elected
would not have used connections to get there? We
only have one image as a country, and its not
good.
Screw all religions...they've brought nothing but misery to humans and this planet.
As far as I'm concerned, Christianity, Judaism, Islam and the lot can go to Hell...wherever that may be. If there is a God, humans have disgraced themselves.
I couldn't agree more....
Until the human race gets religion out of the picture.. we will never evolve into the advanced intellegent life form we think we are..
Ann Coulter wearing the christian symbol of the crucifix around her neck...( and I don't think she is making just a fashion statement} shows how corrupted and pathetic organized religion is..
P.S. I know of no one that has bought any of Ann Coulters "Litterature"..
I am a little surprised that jews would find this one a shock; don't they know this is how born again America views them? It's the tenents of their beliefs; it's one reason why it would be good to get rid of religon; it devides people over nonsense.
Anyway, Coulter is a bowl of warm puss, and her latestest book is tanking; ("If liberals had brains", yuk yuk, is recess over?) yeah, it's time to start ignoring her.
Asking ALL the candidates about how their religious faith informs their veiw of America is of course fair and a good idea.
Ann Coulter should not be dismissed as a fringe player. She is a leading commentator for right wing Republican ideas. She appears on numerous right wing talk shows and is syndicated in major newspapers. It is important to know what Coulter and the Republican base is thinking.
We already know. Just listen to them for 30 days, you know exactly what they'll say and think for the next 30 years. Pathetic. Just go back and listen to some Calvin Coolidge speeches. Same rhetoric as today... taxes...states rights....liberty to contract....creeping socialism...blah blah blah
I concur on all points except one: We don't need to know what Coulter is thinking. We ALREADY know what she's thinking! That's a given. However, the suggestion that the Republican candidates should be questioned about her comments is a good one.
Ann Coulter is the lightning rod, the magnet. She draws all the flak. Isn't it possible that she says what they're thinking? Until they publicly denounce her - distance themselves from her - they are implicitly agreeing with her.
And Ann Coulter is not alone in her beliefs.
Why talk about a barbie doll?
Excuse me, but a Barbie Doll has tits.
Coulter's argument - that Jews need "perfecting" sounds very similar to one that was euphemistically called the "final solution".
Why all this manufactured outrage?? I dont recall any of you showing any indignation when anyone suggests anything demeaning about Islam or Muslims?
Are Jews more important?
Is Judaism superior to Islam??
Just asking.
Where's the beef???
Look, we all know she is what she is. You actually have a forum to show your displeasure. You know you still have that yahoo account floating around, so just log on, go to opinion in the news section and give her (?) editorial comment the one star it deserves.
Here is the link to her latest rant, sign in and make youself heard to yahoo and her other enablers:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucac/20071011/cm_ucac/fredsawyerandhuckabeefinn
People like Ann Coulter personify the worst side of religion. Religious people who follow the basic tenets of their faith and who follow the premise of most religions which is simply "to treat others as you would want them to treat you" rarely cause any problems.
But when people believe that their religion is the only true one, or believe for some reason or other that they are "the chosen ones", or follow some self-proclaimed messiah down a path to self-destruction or think that the time has come to eliminate from the face of the earth all other religions but their own, they sound a great deal like Ann Coulter.
It is a sad fact of life that controversial people make for higher ratings on talk shows. That is why you continue to see people like Ann Coulter on these shows. She may be a miserable bitch, but she does give great headline.
the Trolls love a good trainwreck, and Coultergeist is just that.
Newsflash Democrats:
You're not running against Ann Coulter.Neither she,Rush Limbaugh,Bill O'Reilly or any of the other right wing wing pundits you're constantly bashing are running for President in 2008. Personally for myself I'm much more offended by the far left's hatred for Israel than I am by Ann Coulter saying she thinks I should become a Christian.As a Jew who actually has taken the time to read both the Old and New Testaments I don't see how you can possibly even call yourself a Christian without also believing that the Jews missed the boat with Jesus.And that's fine if that's what you want to believe.It doesn't affect my life one way or the other.The anti-Israel sentiment that pours forth from the far left does however.And that's because it's obvious from the vitriol that the far left uses whenever they bash Israel that their real target is the Jews themselves.
Total nonsense. Have fun with your dear friends Rush and Mizz Coulter, and keep ignoring the many Jews who criticize the actions of Israel's government.
I have no idea what you're talking about, Aztecmummy - this supposed "anti-Israel sentiment that pours forth..." I suspect this is a convenient way out of any rational discussion about Israeli-Palestinian problems. I don't call myself a Christian-or any religion, thank you. And although the Dems aren't running about O'Reilly et.al., they are fighting for voters who are intellectually-uncurious television junkies that refuse to do any critical thinking of their own. So is Coulter relevant? Only if we allow her to be. Which I guess I just did. Damn.
Oh Please. Aztecmummy.
Newsflash. If Ann Coulter did not serve as the mouthpiece of the Neo- Conquers, she would either be in a rubber room or in jail for hate crimes.
Your studies?
Then you have read the part where after freedom comes to Jerusalem all the Jews are slaughtered. *The blood shall run to the depth of the bridle of a horse.*
Not good.
But the Prophesy of an (Enrapturing) are clear.
Rapture: A mindless state of euphoria or ecstasy.
Yeah,,, that about sums it up. Look at her eyes. Have any of you seen the blank emotionless stare of Ann Coulters eyes?
Humm?
Rapture??? But what was the Greek translation?
Harpazo: To be forcibly taken away, Umm? Against God’s and your will? To be Snatched as by a thief. To be taken for oneself. Abducted. Stolen of mind. Helpless. Kidnapped.
FORCIBLY,,,, TAKEN AWAY.
Rapture is NOT a promise, it is a,,,, WARNING!
Are they to meet our Maker?
Heck yes!
They will be DEAD!
See: Armageddon. The flesh will melt from their bodies.
Now look.
War is NOT the answer. It never has been. Not among all the tribes of Isaac`s sons and,,, certainly,,, not among those we are to protect.
Just a hint people. Muslim and Christian alike. Until the earth is restored and the Temple rebuilt, there IS no coming of a Messiah.
Jews teach it, Muslims teach it, and so do the Christians.
Now if we all believe the same thing, why the hell aren`t we,,, ALL,,, working together????
TOGETHER!
READ PEOPLE READ!
All the best
Knute (Neo-LIB)
Ann "wicked witch of right wing" Coulter is doing what she does best pandering too her fans the racists, bigots, hatemongers, warmongers, she has found her niche in society, she sells her books too her fans who love her hatemongering, warmongering, racist, bigoted rhetoric, hidden behind the cloak of "christianity, patriotism, family values, anti-abortion", but like the Klu Klux Klans use of "States Rights" during 1960's era and further back as cloak for their real agenda, racism, hatemongering, it is all merely a deception, but she will always have her fan base, society has always had these people, only time they will be removed from us is on judgment day when they face Jesus, and he tells them he knows them not for ignoring the poor, hungry, naked those sick & in prison, and god will not look upon them as he passing his judgment, great irony and awe and shock [to quote a favorite right wing term] is they being the blind biblical goats truly do not see any wrong in their acts, views, opinions, life, and all the way to the end they will ask when did we see you Jesus in these conditions, and he will tell them when you did it too the least of these you did it unto me...
this myth thing can get outta hand
huh !!!
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