Behold, I Shall Weigh in on CPAC
But mostly to agree with everyone else.
By Leon H Wolf Posted in Special Events — Comments (5) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
So this year was my first CPAC experience, and despite the fact that I was "working" for the duration, it was still a generally positive experience. The folks there did a great job of putting on a well-orchestrated event (with the following exception: they held a political conference in a hotel which had zero cell phone reception). It was also great to get to meet some fellow bloggers in person for the first time, including Erick, Moe and Rob from RedState, Michelle Malkin, NZ Bear, Sean Hackbarth, Dr. James Joyner, and others. It was also good to renew old acquaintances such as "Captain" Ed and Karol Sheinin from Alarming News. It is always good to know that there are conservatives who are still out there fighting for the cause, who have not lost heart.
I'd just like to take this opportunity to echo Ace (another fine blogger I met this weekend) when he echoes Bryan Preston: I am really disappointed that the story that will come out of this weekend will be Ann Coulter and her big mouth.
More below...
I'm not particularly interested in a discussion of whether her comments were funny (they weren't), or whether we should all be a little more thick-skinned, or whether Ann was right, or whatever. Whatever you think about the remarks themselves (I thought them low-class and stupid), only an idiot would have spoken those words without realizing that they'd instantly become the top story to come out of a conference that attracted the best an brightest minds in conservatism, and about 6,000 conservative activists. And whatever Ann is, she is not an idiot. As Bryan points out, the only possible conclusion is that she knew that the conference would just be about her and the bonehead thing she said, but she went ahead and did it anyway, because in Ann's world, it's all about Ann, and the books that she sells.
And you know what? To a certain extent, it works. The autograph line for Ann's new book was the longest one of the whole conference. I can understand how folks who are surrounded by liberal hegemony might love someone who is willing to "strike back" unapologetically, but when that person makes it clear that they care nothing about advancing anything but their own self-interest, I have a hard time understanding how anyone not obsessed with Ayn Rand could look up to such an individual.
Myself, I'm done. I used to buy her books, find her entertaining, etc. And for all I know, the latest one may have more stuff in there that I'd chuckle at. But I'm not going to willingly feed the ego of a person who cares nothing for the movement she claims to associate herself with, all so that they will (apparently) reinforce that very same ego. Au revoir, Ann. This time, at least, I hope you start to reap the rewards you've been sowing for the last couple years.
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Behold, I Shall Weigh in on CPAC 5 Comments (0 topical, 5 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
And try to concentrate on the fact that this CPAC was by every other measure a big success. I've said my peace on the thing and I can only hope that if Ann Coulter wants to continue to be a friend of the Conservative movement, she needs to mature and realize that it's not her right to speak at CPAC on live television, it's a privilege.
Otherwise, from all the other accounts I've read this thing was a big success by any other measure. Unprecedented attendance, a lot of media attention, a lot of productive debate, and a great networking opportunity for everyone. I'm especially proud of my personal favorite candidate, Mitt Romney -- who I think arguably had the most to gain and the most to lose at this conference. If he had sunk like his life preserver was lined with birdshot, I think that would have been a death knell for his campaign. But he acquitted himself very well, from what I've heard and seen.
So I'm finished with the bitterness, and I'm not going to let her ruin it for me. I'll be at the next one in person, you can count on it.
Congratulations to everyone who made the event such a spectacular success except for ten overrepresented seconds at the end of someone's bad taste routine. Get some sleep next time, Ann, and start acting like a grown-up.
"I am really disappointed that the story that will come out of this weekend will be Ann Coulter and her big mouth"
You know, I get that some people are ticked about Ann. But I don't get this floating theory that there would have been some big positive story out of CPAC if not for Ann. That's extreme wishful thinking. If not for the story of Ann, the press would have carried some other negative story or none at all.
Leon, you may very well feel none would have been better. But surely you don't suggest that some glowing press coverage would have been ours at last, if not for one bad apple. It's plain silly.
I must disagree on one point: Coulter *is* an idiot. She may have some savvy when it comes to selling herself and her books, but don't confuse that with political savvy or intelligence. When it comes to analytical thinking, Coulter is the lightest of lightweights. (Latest from her blog: "There are more reputable scientists defending astrology than defending global warming.")
She will say or write whatever it takes to generate outrage, publicity, and sales. It is a huge mistake for conservatives to to allow her to be perceived as a spokesperson for anyone but Anne Coulter Inc. To do so leaves voters with the impression that all conservatives are equally stupid, equally rabid, and equally divorced from reality. It would be best if she were never invited to speak at any event where the press will be present.
She is an embarrassment and is just in it for one thing: Ann Coulter.
We need to turn our backs on her- she knew exactly what she was doing and portrays all the GOP as bigots and every stereotype in the book..
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I think we all just need to take a deep breath here. Ann has always said these types of things, and as far as I know, we haven't publicly announced our decision to stop buying her books, etc. This is getting blown out of proportion, especially since we have Bill Maher making equally ridiculous claims about the life of Vice President Cheney. Let bygones be bygones, and move on.