Ann Coulter's Latest

[va32h]

Ann Coulter was on Donny Deutsch's program last night and shared her vision of the perfect world (everyone is Republican, Christian, and lives in New York).

Okay, typical Ann blather. Then she had this to say about the difference between Judaism and Christianity, which honestly makes no sense to me:

“Yeah. Well, it’s a lot easier. It’s kind of a fast track. But you have to obey. We just want the Jews to be perfected. That’s what Christianity is. We believe the Old Testament but ours is more like Federal Express. You have to obey laws. We know that we’re all sinners.”

Donny responded by saying he was offended and that if Ann Coulter had any brains she wouldn't say that.

She said, “No, I’m sorry it is not intended to be offensive. I don’t think you should take it that way. But that is what Christians consider themselves – perfected Jews.”

Maybe I'm just dense but I'm not getting the Christianity = FedEx analogy. Fast track to salvation? Her comments sounds as dismissive of Christianity as they do of Judaism.

 

[Maleficent13]

Without context, I am lost. With context, I would probably still be lost, but at least then I could make a disparaging comment.

 

[va32h]

Here's the transcript:

DEUTSCH: Let me ask you a question. We’re going to get off strengths and weakness for a second. If you had your way, and all of your — forget that any of them —

COULTER: I like this.

DEUTSCH: — are calculated marketing teases, and your dreams, which are genuine, came true having to do with immigration, having to do with women’s — with abortion — what would this country look like?

COULTER: UMMMMM (pause) … It would look like New York City during the Republican National Convention. In fact, that’s what I think heaven is going to look like.

DEUTSCH: And what did that look like?

COULTER: Happy, joyful Republicans in the greatest city in the world.

DEUTSCH: No, no, no, no, but I’m talking about this country. You don’t want to make this country — it’s not about Republicans. I’m saying, what would the fabric of this country look like? Forget that the Republicans would be running the show.

COULTER: Well, everyone would root for America, the Democratic Party would look like Joe Lieberman, the Republican Party would look like Duncan Hunter —

DEUTSCH: No, no, no, I don’t want — I’m not talking about politically the landscape. What would our — would we be safer? Would people be happier? Would they be more —

COULTER: We would be a lot safer.

DEUTSCH: Would there be more tolerance? Would there be — would women be happier, would the races get along better? The Ann Coulter subscription — prescription. What — tell me what would be different in our fabric of country, because —

COULTER: Well, all of those things.

DEUTSCH: I can give — I can give you an argument there would be more divisiveness, that there would be more hate —

COULTER: Oh, no.

DEUTSCH: That there would be a bigger difference between the rich and the poor, a lot of other — tell me what — why this would be a better world? Let’s give you — I’m going to give you — say this is your show.

COULTER: Well, OK, take the Republican National Convention. People were happy. They’re Christian. They’re tolerant. They defend America, they —

DEUTSCH: Christian — so we should be Christian? It would be better if we were all Christian?

COULTER: Yes.

DEUTSCH: We should all be Christian?

COULTER: Yes. Would you like to come to church with me, Donny?

DEUTSCH: So I should not be a Jew, I should be a Christian, and this would be a better place?

COULTER: Well, you could be a practicing Jew, but you’re not.

DEUTSCH: I actually am. That’s not true. I really am. But — so we would be better if we were — if people — if there were no Jews, no Buddhists —

COULTER: Whenever I’m harangued by —

DEUTSCH: — in this country? You can’t believe that.

COULTER: — you know, liberals on diversity —

DEUTSCH: Here you go again.

COULTER: No, it’s true. I give all of these speeches at megachurches across America, and the one thing that’s really striking about it is how utterly, completely diverse they are, and completely unself-consciously. You walk past a mixed-race couple in New York, and it’s like they have a chip on their shoulder. They’re just waiting for somebody to say something, as if anybody would. And —

DEUTSCH: I don’t agree with that. I don’t agree with that at all. Maybe you have the chip looking at them. I see a lot of interracial couples, and I don’t see any more or less chips there either way. That’s erroneous.

COULTER: No. In fact, there was an entire “Seinfeld” episode about Elaine and her boyfriend dating because they wanted to be a mixed-race couple, so you’re lying.

DEUTSCH: Oh, because of some “Seinfeld” episode? OK.

COULTER: But yeah, I think that’s reflective of what’s going on in the culture, but it is completely striking that at these huge megachurches — the idea that, you know, the more Christian you are, the less tolerant you would be is preposterous.

DEUTSCH: That isn’t what I said, but you said I should not — we should just throw Judaism away and we should all be Christians, then, or —

COULTER: Yeah.

DEUTSCH: Really?

COULTER: Well, it’s a lot easier. It’s kind of a fast track.

DEUTSCH: Really?

COULTER: Yeah. You have to obey.

DEUTSCH: You can’t possibly believe that.

COULTER: Yes.

DEUTSCH: You can’t possibly — you’re too educated, you can’t — you’re like my friend in —

COULTER: Do you know what Christianity is? We believe your religion, but you have to obey.

DEUTSCH: No, no, no, but I mean —

COULTER: We have the fast-track program.

DEUTSCH: Why don’t I put you with the head of Iran? I mean, come on. You can’t believe that.

COULTER: The head of Iran is not a Christian.

DEUTSCH: No, but in fact, “Let’s wipe Israel” —

COULTER: I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention.

DEUTSCH: “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: Wow, you didn’t really say that, did you?

COULTER: Yes. That is what Christianity is. We believe the Old Testament, but ours is more like Federal Express. You have to obey laws. We know we’re all sinners —

DEUTSCH: In my old days, I would have argued — when you say something absurd like that, there’s no —

COULTER: What’s absurd?

DEUTSCH: Jews are going to be perfected. I’m going to go off and try to perfect myself —

COULTER: Well, that’s what the New Testament says.

DEUTSCH: Ann Coulter, author of “If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d Be Republicans,” and if Ann Coulter had any brains, she would not say Jews need to be perfected. I’m offended by that personally. And we’ll have more “Big Idea” when we come back.

(BREAK)

DEUTSCH: Welcome back to “The Big Idea.” During the break, Ann said she wanted to explain her last comment. So I’m going to give her a chance. So you don’t think that was offensive?

COULTER: No. I’m sorry. It is not intended to be. I don’t think you should take it that way, but that is what Christians consider themselves: perfected Jews. We believe the Old Testament. As you know from the Old Testament, God was constantly getting fed up with humans for not being able to, you know, live up to all the laws. What Christians believe — this is just a statement of what the New Testament is — is that that’s why Christ came and died for our sins. Christians believe the Old Testament. You don’t believe our testament.

DEUTSCH: You said — your exact words were, “Jews need to be perfected.” Those are the words out of your mouth.

COULTER: No, I’m saying that’s what a Christian is.

DEUTSCH: But that’s what you said — don’t you see how hateful, how anti-Semitic —

COULTER: No!

DEUTSCH: How do you not see? You’re an educated woman. How do you not see that?

COULTER: That isn’t hateful at all.

DEUTSCH: But that’s even a scarier thought. OK —

COULTER: No, no, no, no, no. I don’t want you being offended by this. This is what Christians consider themselves, because our testament is the continuation of your testament. You know that. So we think Jews go to heaven. I mean (Jerry) Falwell himself said that, but you have to follow laws. Ours is “Christ died for our sins.” We consider ourselves perfected Christians. For me to say that for you to become a Christian is to become a perfected Christian is not offensive at all.

DEUTSCH: We will let the audience decide then, won’t we? Ann Coulter. New book. More “Big Idea” straight ahead.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Maybe I'm just dense but I'm not getting the Christianity = FedEx analogy.

That's because she doesn't know anything about the theology of these two religions!! That's why you don't understand. You/we can't understand because she is unaware and ignorant.

 

[Crankyshank]

Here's the transcript
http://mediamatters.org/items/200710100008

ETA: Oops I see Va32h beat me to it
I'm wondering how long until we get people defending her as a comedian on this thread. Guesses anyone?

 

[rie'smom]

Ann Coulter has some nutty ideas but this takes the cake.

 

[Camicar]

She is an idiot. And I love her contention that because she (supposedly) did not mean to be offensive, then she is not offensive.

I really wish people would stop giving her a forum to repeatedly prove her ignorance.

 

[Tigger Woods]

Ann Coulter was on Donny Deutsch's program last night and shared her vision of the perfect world (everyone is Republican, Christian, and lives in New York).

Okay, typical Ann blather. Then she had this to say about the difference between Judaism and Christianity, which honestly makes no sense to me:



Donny responded by saying he was offended and that if Ann Coulter had any brains she wouldn't say that.



Maybe I'm just dense but I'm not getting the Christianity = FedEx analogy. Fast track to salvation? Her comments sounds as dismissive of Christianity as they do of Judaism.

It sounds like she was talking about a fast track to heaven. Coulter grates my nerves, as does Michael Moore. Whenever I see them pimping their wares on television, I can't change the channel fast enough.

 

[JennyMominRI]

Ann Coulter has zero understanding of Judaism at all..Big shock there

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Where is the vomit smilie?

 

[Maleficent13]

I'm wondering how long until we get people defending her as a comedian on this thread. Guesses anyone?

Ann Coulter is a comedian?

She needs a new writer then.

 

[LoraJ]

I am just so glad that I haven't seen her here at work. I probably couldn't help making a wretchign noise if I saw her. She is just such a vile human being.

 

[dennis99ss]

As much as I hate Ann Coulter, I get what she is saying. As a Jew, you are still awaiting the messiah. as a Christian, the messiah has come. As a result, to perfect the Jew, they need to accept Jesus Christ as the messiah.

I think she was baited, but, i also think that her use of the language, and her inability to adequately explain herself, caused her to fall into the trap and be in the news again. i also think that the interviewer heard the words, and went off without thinking about what the meaning of the words were.

Now, that is the last time I do anything even close to defending Coulter.

 

[Chicago526]

She is an idiot. And I love her contention that because she (supposedly) did not mean to be offensive, then she is not offensive.

Oh well, if she says she didn't mean to offend, well then no offense taken! Glad that was cleared up!

I really wish people would stop giving her a forum to repeatedly prove her ignorance.

On the other hand, she's a walking, talking recruitment ad for the Democratic party. Maybe she's helping more than she's hurting!

 

[JoiseyMom]

This women is ignorant. What's scary is she believes what she says, where some shock jocks say stupid things just to shock. All idiots, but she is more dangerous.

 

[eclectics]

Jews need to be perfected huh? Maybe Eva Braun is indeed happily reincarnated and living in Ann Coulter. It would actually explain a lot.

 

[NewJersey]

What a pyschotic *****.

 

[DISUNC]

Ann Coulter is a Nazi!

 

[JennyMominRI]

As much as I hate Ann Coulter, I get what she is saying. As a Jew, you are still awaiting the messiah. as a Christian, the messiah has come. As a result, to perfect the Jew, they need to accept Jesus Christ as the messiah.

I .

Except she is unaware of the funadamentals of Judaism
In Christianity messiah = savior..Salvation from sin and damnation etc.
In Judaism the messiah has nothing to do with salvation from sin and damnation

ETA, what she said is nothing new.. I have heard people say that christians are completed or perfected Jews before.

 

[smartestnumber5]

How does this woman keep getting air time? And why do people buy her books? Do they really believe any of these things? I've heard people say she is a satirist--but who is the target of the satire? Steven Colbert does satire--he says bad things about liberals and gay people but the point of his act is that he is making fun of conservatives who really do think things like that about liberals and gay people. Who is the target of Coulter's "satire"?

Anyway, about the Fed-Ex thing. I think she's working with a misunderstanding of Judaism according to which Jews have to follow all of the laws in the Old Testament (you know, no pork) to get to Heaven. But Christians are on the fast track because God scrapped those rules and came up with a much simpler rule to follow to get into heaven--just accept Jesus.

Of course, I think I've seen Jenny say numerous times on the DIS that the Old Testament laws do not and never have had anything to do with salvation; so it can't be that the new "accept Jesus" rule takes the place of the old rules if the rules had completely different purposes.

Coulter says at one point essentially that Christians believe Judaism, but have improved upon it by getting rid of all of those laws in Leviticus (except for the anti-gay ones of course!!). Kind of funny she claims to believe a religion that she obviously doesn't understand.

She also seems to hold a particular Protestant view that ALL one needs to do is accept Jesus to get to heaven. Obviously Catholicism doesn't accept such a view, so according to her view Protestants are probably perfected Catholics too. But she probably thinks Catholics aren't real Christians anyway.

I saw someone on a blog ask an interesting question in response to this: If Christians are perfected Jews, does that make Muslims perfected Christians?