Stars & Stripes letters: Won't sit down for "stand up" (Ann Coulter)

[lebkuchen]

Although the letters published in Stripes critical of Coulter are becoming as redundant as she is, I'd still like to maintain a web-record of them for posterity, and for the cause she promotes--the demise of her own political party. Here are two more, from today's paper, the first one written by a female Naval Commander, woman to woman:

Won’t sit down for stand-up

There are a few things I’ve been able to add to my list of constants besides death and taxes. When North Korea wants more aid it will start making noise about its nuclear plan and when Ann Coulter isn’t getting enough publicity she will denigrate a bunch of widows or make a juvenile comment about someone on the left side of the political debate.

I classify myself as a “proud liberal” and absolutely adore the Stars and Stripes practice of putting Coulter side-by-side with Arianna Huffington every week. So Coulter’s recent use of the word “faggot” as a descriptive of presidential candidate John Edwards has me torn. I love it when she admits that she’s not a real pundit, just a comedian who hates liberals — as she did when she defended her comment by saying it was a “joke.” Truly, though, I would very much enjoy reading a conservative viewpoint that is thoughtful, insightful and meant to add somehow to our political debate rather than debase and sensationalize it.

...

I simply believe that if Coulter wants to continue to make such “jokes,” that the comedy club circuit might be a better outlet for her First Amendment rights. Is it too much to ask as a reader that you raise the bar on the political discourse in your pages?

Coulter out of step with GIs

Could you please explain why you chose to publish the March 5 column on global warming by Ann Coulter (“ ‘Global warming’ cry denies cold, hard facts”)?

...

Coulter’s tactics and conduct in the political arena do not seem to be in keeping with the values that the military embraces. Because we hold our people to a moral and ethical standard that encompasses their actions on and off duty, that standard should be reflected in our “community newspaper.”

It is great to publish opinions on both sides of an issue, but in the future please refrain from publishing, and supporting, someone who is so out of step with what we soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and other great Americans are trying to achieve here in the Central Command area of responsibility.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=44395

[Erika]

1. Coulter has used the conservatives in a very vicious manner

She is embarrasing in her desire to rake in the $.

[KG]

3. because she knows they are idiots looking for someone to tell them what to think.

lots of money to be made that way. just ask dr. phil.

[brothernature]

2. Sooner or later her secret will be out

Coulter has been "fornicating" with teenage boys just like the teachers who have allegedly had affairs with student that she would like nothing more than to stone to death in the marketplace. I've read some things both by her and about her that point to this perversion in her lifestyle that somehow goes unreported. Read between the lines and you'll find that she gathers her "dates" when she visits these Christian preparatory schools to speak. She makes me sick every time I hear her name or have the misfortune of seeing her face.

[Hubert Flottz]

4. I'd be inclined to believe anything bad, I hear about Ann Coulter.

That person, if that's what you'd call Ann Coulter, is definitely one dark and twisted individual.

Hate motivated like Rushbo.

[lebkuchen]

7. kinda funny

how several libs want to keep her as the GOP Stars & Stripesspokesperson because she turns so many people away from the rethuglican party. :)

[rasputin1952]

5. The Stars and Stripes has always been a separate entity from

the military, per se. They have wide latitude in what they put in print and give the ground pounders their due and allow them to say what is on their minds.

My step-dad had several trunks full of WWII memorabilia from Europe, in there were several copies of S&S from the war. They were wonderful reads, so little on Generals, and so much on Pvts, Cpls and Sgts that were actually winning the war through blood and sweat.

I read the S&S when I was on active duty and enjoyed it immensely.

As for Coulter's "comment".....I'm straight, and I never really cared whether a soldier was gay or not, the only thing I needed to know is that he could shoot and wouldn't hot foot it the midst of a firefight. Back then, gays were pretty much in the closet, no one talked about it, (except in disparaging ways), I know I went into situations with gay soldiers that could have played out some kind of "stereotypical" behavior, but the men and women I served with were exemplary in every way, straight gay, even serious bigots, knew we were all "green" back then that was the color of the uniform. Color, sexual orientation or any other personal trait, didn't mean diddly when your fellow soldiers were under attack and bleeding the same red blood we all have.

[lebkuchen]

8. It's been a great outlet these days for soldiers

to express their views, often with heavy use of inference. Now that Hackworth is gone, troops have Galloway, Murtha, veterans' organizations, and Stripes for venting purposes.

[Toots]

6. Both of those were very good letters..I particularly liked the last line in first letter

"Is it too much to ask as a reader that you raise the bar on the political discourse in your pages?"