By Nathan Rothwell
Conservative darling Ann Coulter, who I can’t believe is
still allowed on TV, made remarks this morning that hopefully disqualify her
from future public appearances.
(h/t to C&L's Videocafe for the video)
Appearing on This Week with George Stephanopoulos to promote
her latest book in a 75,869-part series that blames liberalism for any and all
of America’s woes, Coulter claimed that gay people, women, and immigrants have “commandeered”
the “civil rights experience” in America.
When Stephanopoulos pressed her on
the matter, the following exchange actually,
and almost unbelievably, took place:
STEPHANOPOULOS: Immigrant rights are not civil rights?
COULTER: Umm… [pause] No. I think civil rights are for blacks.
Coulter’s remarks were part of a discussion of the
Republican and Democratic parties’ attempts to earn the Hispanic vote. President
Obama leads Republican challenger Mitt Romney 70% to only 22% according
to Latino polling group Latino Decisions, while a more recent poll
conducted by Fox News Latino gives Obama a 60% lead to Romney’s 30%. No matter
whom you believe, Romney is still doing worse than John McCain
(31%) in 2008, and George W. Bush (44%) in 2004.
While Coulter is not an elected Republican official or
official Romney campaign spokesperson, comments
she made several weeks ago paint the picture that she’s trying very, very
hard to influence his campaign with her own ideas. So while I have a hard time
believing Mitt Romney wants any part of Coulter’s “civil rights are only for
blacks” comment, I’m happy to hold her to the standard of Romney spokesperson,
since she seems to fancy herself one.
There are two major problems with Team Romney’s
Coulter’s statement. The first, obviously, is that civil rights aren’t just for
African-Americans – they’re for everyone.
