Letters to the Editor
-
Republican spokesmodel?
Hoping she will make a too-outrageous claim is as ineffective a strategy for handling her as ignoring her. There is no such animal as a "too-outrageous claim" unless someone says "enough." And that someone has to be a Republican.
The way to handle Ann Coulter is for reporters to ask Republicans, especially moderate ones, their opinion of her statements. Preferably in public press conferences. On the record.
"Ann Coulter has said that the widows of 9/11 victims are opportunists. Does the President [Vice President, Senator, Congresswomman, or Congressman] agree?"
"Ann Coulter has said that the appropriate response to Jack Murtha's position on Iraq is fragging--essentially, murder. Does the President [Vice President, Senator, Congresswoman, or Congressman] agree?"
"Ann Coulter has said that [insert hateful message here]. Does the President [Vice President, Senator, Congresswoman, or Congressman] agree?"
Make the questions specific about Ann's specific statements and follow up. Make the questions rain down on those for whom Ann claims she speaks. Get her statements out of the studio, away from the talking heads and "pundits," and into the realm of policymakers, Deciders, and leaders. Ask those people, the ones we elect and those who write legislation, where they agree and where they disagree with her.
The best part is that we don't have to wait for an Edward R. Murrow or Woodward/Bernstein to do this. Any reporter can participate: bloggers, local newspaper reporters, and even Matt Lauer can call or email the office of an elected representative. If an official doesn't want to go on record about Ann Coulter, well, that's a story, too: why not?
Once the Republican machine recognizes that she needs to be shut down, she'll disappear. But until all Republicans are held accountable for her public, hateful statements, she will thrive like crabgrass.
P.S. This strategy would also work with Rove.