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Exclusive Interview: Liberals, Bush, and Israel: A Chat With Ann
Coulter
The Jewish Press ^ | Tuesday, July 4, 2006 | Avraham Shmuel Lewin
Posted on 07/10/2006 9:33:40 AM PDT by GMMAC
Exclusive Interview:
Liberals, Bush, and Israel: A Chat With Ann Coulter
By: Avraham Shmuel Lewin
The Jewish Press
Tuesday, July 4, 2006
Ann Coulter is the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including
the current Godless: The Church of Liberalism.
Coulter, who writes a popular and controversial syndicated column, is a
frequent guest on many TV shows, including Hannity and Colmes, Wolf
Blitzer Reports, Scarborough Country, The O'Reilly Factor. Coulter
consistently raises the ire of liberals, most recently when she
castigated several 9/11 widows for using their status to score
political points against the Bush administration.
America knows Ann Coulter's views on liberals and liberalism in
America, but little is known about her views on Israel. Ms. Coulter
addressed that and other questions in an interview last week with The
Jewish Press.
Jewish Press: Why is it that liberals can attack and ridicule you and
other conservatives and it's considered within the realm of free
speech, but when someone like you lashes out at liberals you are
silenced and castigated? How do you explain this liberal double
standard?
Ann Coulter: You said it yourself: the famed liberal double standard
(although I think now they're calling it "multi-standardizing").
There's one set of rules for them and another, much stricter set of
rules for everyone else.
How do you explain the phenomenon of so many American Jews identifying
with liberal views and policies that often go against Jewish interests?
Absolutely baffling. But it is changing. I believe about 40 percent of
Jewish males under 30 voted for Bush in the last election.
Moreover, both America and Israel are quite popular with Jews who
actually practice the Jewish faith in some way. President Reagan's
approval rating in the chassidic community was off the scale (something
like 90 percent) - surpassed only by his approval from residents of
Grenada.
Why, when it comes to terrorism in Afghanistan or Iraq, does the U.S.
apply a strong hand - but when it's Palestinian terrorism against
Israel, there's not the same tenacity and determination?
Probably because of the formidable left-wing lobby, which has now added
anti-Semitism to its sins.
Many conservatives have been increasingly disappointed with President
Bush's performance on issues like immigration, the economy and of
course the war in Iraq as it drags on. Do you share their dismay?
Like most, I am utterly baffled by Bush's position on illegal
immigration (amnesty for illegals, no serious wall at the border). But
President Bush has fought the war on terrorism magnificently,
completely ignoring liberal naysayers who want us to capitulate to
savagery. For that, he deserves our support.
Even though the 2008 presidential election is still more than two years
away, what's your early guess of who the Democratic and Republican
candidates might be?
Absolutely no idea. My most interesting prediction at this stage -
since she is the clear front-runner - is that the Democratic nominee
might possibly not be Hillary.
Have you ever written about Israel? If not, why not?
I rarely write about any country other than the U.S. There are too many
big juicy fish to fry right here at home! Also, I'm a Protestant girl
from Connecticut and there are many other capable writers who know a
lot more about the subject than I do. In fact, I just started a
screenplay about a Connecticut shiksa like me trying to become an
expert on Israel. It's called "Mission Impossible IV."
Have you ever visited Israel?
No, but I have been to Miami if that's any help.... Actually, I would
like to go, but I've been too busy keeping my eye on liberals here at
home for the past several years to have taken any vacations. My parents
went to Israel a few years ago and loved it. I definitely will go some
day.
While we know how you feel about liberals in America, what's your
opinion on the liberals in Israel like Shimon Peres, Ehud Olmert and
others like them who gave away the Gaza Strip and plan to give away the
West Bank, which many perceive as a victory for terrorism?
No one can be as contemptible as American liberals. I am informed, for
example, that, in Israel, even liberals serve in the military.
What are your feelings about the disengagement from Gaza last year?
Since Israel's withdrawal from the area over 500 rockets have been
fired from Gaza into Jewish communities. Al Qaeda has moved into the
territory abandoned by Israel. Iran is looking to establish an embassy
there. Egypt has accused the Gaza terrorists as targeting them as well.
My first thought is that the Jewish people may not drive as hard a
bargain as I've always been led to believe. I take it this is part of a
long-term Israeli strategy to achieve lasting security by giving up
some disputed areas while re-doubling efforts to protect their new,
smaller boundaries with measures such as the security wall, which I
understand has been very effective in keeping suicide bombers out.
By the way, would you happen to know where the U.S. could get one of
those walls? One about, oh, seven hundred miles or so long? No special
reason, just curious.
What about the planned withdrawal from the West Bank, from which
rockets can hit Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Israel's International Airport?
If you start a war and lose, you lose your land. Next.
Have you ever thought of running for elected office?
No, but if I did, I'd run for the U.S. Senate from New York. Those
people will elect just about anybody!
Have you been threatened, physically or in any other way, for being so
outspoken against liberals?
Frequently on college campuses - or as we call them, "America's
madrassas," I've had food thrown at me and I've been cursed out in the
foulest language imaginable.
Has the response to your new book been largely congratulatory or
disparaging?
Overwhelmingly congratulatory.
.
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