by Frank James
Big kerfuffle over political commentator Ann Coulter’s remarks on Donny Deutsch’s “Big Idea” CNBC More Top Picks Bosch Vs Kitchenaid Dishwashers
Media Matter for America has a critique of her appearance.
A few thoughts. Coulter’s view is actually not uncommon among fundamentalist Christians. Coulter did accurately capture the manner in which many Bible-believing Christians interpret the New Testament.
In John 14:6 (KJV), for instance, Jesus tells his disciple Thomas “…I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”Another New Testament passage Hebrews 10:14 encapsulates Coulter’s view.
“For by one offering, he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified,” meaning those who accept Jesus as their “personal Lord and savior.”
So while Coulter will get a lot of criticism as an anti-Semite, she will also get a lot of spiritual high fives from members of the Religious Right who believe with all their hearts that Jews must by definition become Christians to be “perfected.”
This is not to defend Coulter. It’s just to explain that her view is widely shared by millions of Americans, though they’re a lot less outspoken than she is.
Meanwhile, Coulter accomplished her mission. Ever the publicity seeking bomb thrower, she is getting attention today for last night’s appearance on the cable show which would’ve likely been ignored if it hadn’t been for her comments about Jews.
Ironically, one of Deutsch’s points was that Coulter earns a great living by being incendiary, that that’s her what her very successful “brand” represents. She, after all, is the queen of the drive-by outrage. Then she favored him with a perfect example.
Even writing this, it’s hard not to feel like I’m playing into Coulter’s hands, that I’m in some way being an accomplice.
It’s the same feeling I get about the media when a school shooting occurs and we have 24/7 coverage, which then contributes to some unstable teenager somewhere an idea that he too could become a major news story. And so it goes.