Finishing up a presentation on Friday at the Conservative Political Action Convention, right-wing pundit Ann Coulter referred to Democratic Party presidential nominee John Edwards as a "f****t."
"I was going to have a few comments about the other Democratic nominee, John Edwards, but it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'f****t,'" she said to a crowd, eliciting uncomfortable groans, then cheers and applause. "So I'm kind of at an impasse. Can't really talk about Edwards, so I'll just conclude here and take your questions. Thank you."
In the past Coulter has made similar such crude remarks about other liberals, referring to Al Gore as a "total fag."
Coulter's statement caused an uproar within the Democratic Party and gay rights groups. Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean said in a statement Friday that her words were inappropriate and "bigoted."
"There is no place in political discourse for this kind of hate-filled and bigoted comments," he said. "While Democrats and Republicans may disagree on the issues, we should all be able to agree that this kind of vile rhetoric is out of bounds. The American people want a serious, thoughtful debate of the issues. Republicans--including the Republican presidential candidates who shared the podium with Ann Coulter today--should denounce her hateful remarks."
The Human Rights Campaign also issued a statement condemning her remarks.
"To interject this word into American political discourse is a vile and disgusting way to sink the debate to a new, all-time low," said HRC president Joe Solmonese. "Make no doubt about it, these remarks go directly against what our founding fathers intended and have no place on the schoolyard, much less our country's political arena."
The conference was attended by several 2008 Republican presidential hopefuls, including former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, Colorado representative Tom Tancredo, and Kansas senator Sam Brownback.
The Edwards campaign could not be reached for comment. (The Advocate)
