If Ann Coulter's Going to Be in Heaven, Then I Don't Want to Be There!

Like every sensible person I was outraged by Ann Coulter's anti-Semitic comments on CNBC's "The Big Idea" with host Donny Deutsch. Coulter began answering Deutsch's question about what her ideal United States would look like by stating it would be like it was during the Republican National Convention in New York City. She then went on to say that the Democratic Party would look like Joe Lieberman, presumably because he is the iconic Jewish politician to Coulter. When Deutsch (Jewish) asks if she thinks we (Americans) should all be Christian, she responds in the affirmative and invites Deutsch to church with her. The woman is the textbook definition of chutzpah if not outright Antisemitism.

This is where Coulter really stepped out of bounds:

DEUTSCH: [...] We should just throw Judaism away and we should all be Christians, then, or -

COULTER: Yeah.

DEUTSCH: Why don't I put you with the head of Iran? I mean, come on. You can't believe that. "Let's wipe Israel off the earth." I mean, what, no Jews?

COULTER: No, we think - we just want Jews to be perfected, as they say.

DEUTSCH: So you don't think that was offensive?

COULTER: No.

Oy Vey! What are we to make of this? Clearly, Ann Coulter will say anything to get headlines. Last Spring she referred to John Edwards using an anti-gay slur. I found Shmuel Rosner's column about Coulter's anti-Jewish comments to be most helpful. Rosner (right) is the Chief U.S. Correspondent for Ha'aretz.

Rosner listed the potential reactions people will have to Coulter's comments. I've posted them below:

The shock and amazement reaction

Did you hear what she said? She wants Jews to be perfected? This is anti-Semitism; pure and simple (should be conveyed in an angry tone).

The retaliatory reaction

This is a continuation of the shock and amazement reaction, but is mostly reserved for Jewish organizations calling for Coulter to be punished (purgatory? hell?). Actually, the National Jewish Democratic Council has already done that: "While Ann Coulter has freedom of speech, news outlets should exercise their freedom to use better judgment," said NJDC Executive Director Ira N. Forman. "Just as media outlets don't invite those who believe that Martians walk the earth to frequently comment on science stories. It's time they stop inviting Ann Coulter to comment on politics."

Another retaliatory reaction

So now I'm going to say that it's better for all Americans to be perfected and become Jewish, Coulter included (a scary thought, eh?)

The self-hating reaction

I also think Jews should be perfected.

The dismissive reaction

I don't read her books and don't care what Ann Coulter thinks, neither about politics nor about Jews nor about anything else.

The forgiving reaction

(Should we call it The Christian reaction?) This is also a kind of dismissive reaction: She just wanted to say something nice for a change and it didn't turn out so well. She really isn't anti-Semitic. Her tongue runs so fast that she sometimes doesn't even know what she's talking about.

The knowledgeable reaction

Also known as the paranoid reaction: she only said what all Christians think in their heart of hearts but don't have the guts to say publicly. It?s just like John McCain saying America is a Christian Nation.

The expert reaction

Ann Coulter needs therapy!

The explanatory reaction

She only said that for a Christian it is okay to hope for everybody else to be a Christian. What's wrong with that? We all want other people to be just like us.

The amused reaction

She was kind of funny wasn't it?

The feigned ignorance reaction

Also known as the cool reaction: Ann Coulter? Who's Ann Coulter?