controversial ann coulter in tampa
tampafilmfan permalink | categories: tampa, things to do, visitors, writtenby tampafilmfan @ 5:21 pm
Right-wing author Ann Coulter is someone you either love or hate (or love to hate). Fresh from her summer book tour promoting her latest book Godless:The Church of Liberalism, Coulter is speaking at the University of South Florida at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 19. Liberal students are planning a silent walk-out to show their disapproval of USF’s selection of Coulter as a guest speaker.
Sounds like an interesting evening all around.
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October 18th, 2006 at 6:38 pm
Not listening sounds like a great tactic. Way to arm yourselves for the Revolution, USFers.
October 18th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
It really makes me upset to know that USF has wasted my money this way. Hundreds of students, myself included, protested this to the administration far in advance of the event. No one listened of course. The University Lecture Series was, at one time, a respectable series of events, bringing academics and accomplished writers, artists, etc to the campus. Now it seems to be more about garnering attention for the school, either positive or negative. I’ll be glad when my time at USF is over.
October 18th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
So it’s okay to bring in Aaron McGruder but not Ann Coulter?? I am Republican and I can’t stand Coulter, but you can not complain because you disagree with her views.
ULS exists to present a DIVERSE group of guest lecturers. Sometimes diversity means having to accept something with which you do not agree. Do conservative students have the right to protest that their money is wasted when a liberal speaker is brought in??
Oh, and the ULS is run by a committee of faculty, staff, and students… but they never have enough student members (they are currently seeking students). I served on it for a semester when I was at USF. Those who protest now should get involved at the beginning — when the decision is made.
October 19th, 2006 at 7:51 am
Ann Coulter is not a lecturer, she is a backwards hate monger. That’s not opinion, that’s fact. She has produced such gems as: “My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times Building.” and “While the form of treachery varies slightly from case to case, liberals always manage to take the position that most undermines American security.”
Coulter is a desperate, hateful person. To conflate her extremist views with Aaron Mcgruder is a farce at best and a blatant lie at worst.
October 19th, 2006 at 9:13 am
Lord, this may well be the strangest comment I’ve ever posted on a blog. Ever.
I’m a bedrock, mostly-liberal Democrat. There is just not going to be very much I agree with Jim Johnson on (though I do dig his for a different point of view). But — God help me — he is absolutely right on this score.
I can’t stand Ann Coulter. I think she is over-the-top hateful, backbreakingly divisive and plain mean-spirited in a time when politics in America is desperately crying out for unity, bi-partisanship, good will and trust. She is an unapologetic hate-monger and, worse, a propogandist of the worst sort, making her big bucks off slamming the other side.
From my perspective, that’s a pretty good reason *not* to go see her at the USF forum. So I won’t.
Does that mean she shouldn’t have been invited?
Does that mean she shouldn’t have been considered as a speaker?
Does that mean that she — and her ilk, ie, Michelle Malkin, Bill O’Reilly, etc. — should be locked out of forums like the one USF is hosting?
If you look past the hate in your heart for Coultergeist, then don’t you think that she has as much right as anyone to be invited to speak anywhere? Whether you like what Ann Coulter, bile-spewing insane person, has to say or not.
On a brief note from a less preachy point of view, I say let Ann come on down to Florida. She has long since reached her tipping point in the conservative movement, firing up and motivating not just good Democrats, but just plain ol’ decency-loving Americans as well. In short, she has overplayed her hand with the mean books and the hate-spewing talk. She has gone from super fantastic GOP cheerleader to GOP embarrassment. She’s that crazy aunt with 175 cats who eats only hard candy and prunes and has saved every newspaper since World War II. She’s nuts, and she cheeses off Democrats more than she motivates Republicans. Let her come down to Florida and rile up some Democratic voters in this off-year election. Sounds like a great get-out-the-vote plan to me.
October 19th, 2006 at 9:58 am
I think the citizens of the this Republic have forgotten what our Founding Fathers stood for,FREE SPEECH. The right for every person to speak and express their views. I am I the only one who learned Volatire? “I may not agree with what you have to say but I will even to my own death, defend your right to say it.”
Be loyal to your country first, not your politics.
October 19th, 2006 at 11:52 am
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for Ms. Coulter speaking here, it’s her absolute right to do so. I just want to be clear that the regarding Coulter and Mcgruder as equal opposites is misleading. Even though Coulter is totally off her rocker, she can certainly speak anywhere she wants, even if no one is listening. I just wish she’d eat something.
October 19th, 2006 at 12:37 pm
There will be a post appearing on Sticks in the next few hours covering a lot of what has already been commented today on this post. I thought I’d mention that I wrote it yesterday, so no one thinks I’m vulturing the fine opinions being expressed by our readers.
I now return you to your regularly-scheduled debate.
October 19th, 2006 at 12:55 pm
I’m not going to be able to go tonight. I would if I could, just to hear her in person and see what happens. If anyone attends and wants to email me the details, I’d love to hear about how it went.
Jim — I wondered when I saw Aaron McGruder’s name on the speaking schedule if there would be any opposition or controversy over him. While many people find McGruder offensive and divisive, he seems to be more willing to critize anyone, regardless of political party or race. To me, Coulter comes across with much more of the “us against them” mentality and so much of her writing is just plain cruel. I was on her website yesterday in preparation for this post and she made the comment — in several places — that all the controversy and hatred towards her is fine with her, because it’s making her rich, rich, rich. Guess there’s no such thing as bad publicity, huh?
Joel — I’m looking forward to your post. Even though I’m apathetic and apolitical, I enjoy reading others’ political viewpoints (both sides).
October 19th, 2006 at 2:20 pm
I am I the only one who learned Volatire? “I may not agree with what you have to say but I will even to my own death, defend your right to say it.â€
If you learned that Voltaire said that, I’d ask for your tuition money back.
Voltaire never said that. Check out Boller & George, “They Never Said That” (1989).
October 19th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Tim’s all kinds of smart. I thought Voltaire said that, too.
Look at Lisa! Posting such a topic - I’m proud of you! Too bad I can’t go tonight. I’d love to see the whole spectacle in person. Alas - I’ll be in Land O’Lakes surrounded by bugs and watching two little boys enjoy soccer practice. Can’t wait to read about it!
October 19th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
Tim, I stand corrected. I don’t know if I can ask for my money back from fourth grade at St. Cecelia’s School.
But regardless it is still a great a quote that all Americans should put in to practice.
October 19th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
Unfortunately I’m stuck at work, no more than half a mile from the Sun Dome. The sound of many sirens is coming from the general direction of the Sun Dome.
Damn my work ethic, I’d love to go down there and see what’s what.
October 19th, 2006 at 8:38 pm
The sirens were nothing. The parking lot was surprisingly not full for an event such as this. I guess being polarizing doesn’t do much for attendance.
January 8th, 2007 at 9:23 am
[...] After bringing the controversial, conservative author Ann Coulter into town for a recent lecture, the University of South Florida is restoring balance to the political universe by bringing the controversial, liberal politician and speaker Jesse Jackson to Tampa on January 18. His speech is titled “Making the American Dream a Reality” and his visit is co-sponsored by USF’s Multicultural Activities Department, the MLK Commemorative Celebration Committee and the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival. [...]