Ann Coulter crosses line with parents of special needs students with her “retard” tweet during presidential debate
Bad girl pundit Ann Coulter has turned offensive and cutting remarks into her signature brand and, based on how often I see her on TV, it seems to be paying off for her.
But one of her tweets this week set off a group of parents who already have it hard enough in my book: Parents of children with special needs who must navigate a dizzying array of state and federal mazes to get their children vital services. And never mind their battle to get their children respect.
In response to the presidential debate Monday between President Obama and Gov. Romney, Coulter tweeted: “I highly approve of Romney’s decision to be kind and gentle to the retard.”
The outrage was immediate. Much of the response to Coulter cannot be printed here, but one person writes: “Again, making fun of people w mental disabilities=not funny. BTW, I am both practicing Catholic AND conservative.”
I have read dozens of commentaries from parents of children with special needs about how hurtful comments like “retard” are to them and their children. Despite condemnation in the past for her use of “retard,” Coulter apparently has great affection for the word as she has used it before to describe people she doesn’t like.
The most eloquent response to her this time came from a young man with Downs Syndrome:
Special Olympics athlete John Franklin Stephen wrote: (This is an excerpt. Please read full piece.)
I’m a 30 year old man with Down syndrome who has struggled with the public’s perception that an intellectual disability means that I am dumb and shallow. I am not either of those things, but I do process information more slowly than the rest of you. In fact it has taken me all day to figure out how to respond to your use of the R-word last night.
I thought first of asking whether you meant to describe the President as someone who was bullied as a child by people like you, but rose above it to find a way to succeed in life as many of my fellow Special Olympians have.
Then I wondered if you meant to describe him as someone who has to struggle to be thoughtful about everything he says, as everyone else races from one snarky sound bite to the next.
Finally, I wondered if you meant to degrade him as someone who is likely to receive bad health care, live in low grade housing with very little income and still manages to see life as a wonderful gift.
Because, Ms. Coulter, that is who we are – and much, much more.
After I saw your tweet, I realized you just wanted to belittle the President by linking him to people like me. You assumed that people would understand and accept that being linked to someone like me is an insult and you assumed you could get away with it and still appear on TV.
I have to wonder if you considered other hateful words but recoiled from the backlash.
Well, Ms. Coulter, you, and society, need to learn that being compared to people like me should be considered a badge of honor.
No one overcomes more than we do and still loves life so much.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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234 comments Add your comment
Just A Teacher
October 24th, 2012
2:34 pm
This is what happens when you let a very small handful of media moguls have so much say in national politics. Television and radio used to report the news; now they try to be the news. So she said something stupid and offensive. If everyone would follow my lead and not watch or listen to any of those right wing hate mongers (Limbaugh, Coulter, etc.), it wouldn’t matter at all. Then, the FOX network would have to focus on entertainment. After all, who cares what a former celebrity thinks? She’s just lucky she lives in the USA where she has a constitutional right to say stupid and hurtful things. Oh, and the military forces which protect that right for her . . . their Commander in Chief is President Barrack Obama.
Duh
October 24th, 2012
2:36 pm
I have read the comments and concluded that Ann Coulter has accomplished her goal. You know what they say about opinions, right?
Burroughston Broch
October 24th, 2012
2:36 pm
For all you educated grammarians who looked up the definition of “retard” and ignored the noun, here it is:
1. Used as a disparaging term for a mentally retarded person.
2. A person considered to be foolish or socially inept.
These definitions are listed as offensive slang (and they are), but both were absolutely correct and spot on her target. The howls of the socially conscious underscore that she was correct.
Jen
October 24th, 2012
2:40 pm
@Matt, while Obama’s “It was like the Special Olympics or something” comment was highly inappropriate and very offensive, it’s nothing like Coulter’s use of the word “retard”, which is a form of hate speech. Obama’s comment got plenty of media coverage, and he apologized. No such apology was issued by Coulter; she has used the r-word not once, not twice, but several times. She’s very fond of the term.
What I find interesting is that Sarah Palin commented on how “heartbreaking” Rahm Emmanuel’s use of the word “retard” was, but she remains silent whenever Ann Coulter uses it in a Tweet.
itsme
October 24th, 2012
2:43 pm
Wow. Ann Coulter should wish she had the class and eloquence of John Franklin Stephen.
The Deal
October 24th, 2012
2:44 pm
The blog responses would be a mirror image of these if a liberal pundit called Mitt Romney a retard. Case closed.
Ann
October 24th, 2012
2:48 pm
@ Phil from Athens – I believe Obama apologized for that statement. We’ll see if Coulter sincerely apologizes or not.
@ Tea Party Meber – The term was certainly not used as a verb or the “slow down” definition you list.
Using terms such as that will offend as many Republican families as Democrats. Children with disabilities are members of families across all political spectrums. And, adults with disabilities vote, too.
Katrina
October 24th, 2012
2:51 pm
John Franklin Stephen’s response should go down in history as the greatest response ever. He says he thought all day about how to respond. Given all the time in the world, the rest of us would probably never have written something so beautiful.
indigo
October 24th, 2012
2:54 pm
Ann Coulter is a foul loud mouth who, unfortunately, mirrors a large part of the Republican electorate.
Sal Hammonds
October 24th, 2012
2:54 pm
Thanks for sharing the young man’s response. It was very clear as to the hurts this population endures but still strives to be productive members of society.
lahopital
October 24th, 2012
2:56 pm
I’m sure it was hurtful to some people, but they should know that most of us don’t take what ann says seriously. She’s just trying to hustle a buck from her target audience and they respond to the bully persona.
Richard Pellegrino
October 24th, 2012
2:57 pm
John’s letter made me cry tears of joy for him and tears of sadness for self-haters, like Coulter, who spew such filth and for all those who support such “hatertainment” and the self-hater personalities like her, Rush, Boortz, etc. I am grateful to you John for showing us the real difference.
Private Citizen
October 24th, 2012
2:57 pm
Phil – just a thought. you might relate / college town, etc. After all, you are Phil from “Athens,” the college town in Georgia, B52s, all of that.
Interesting to see some special needs parents on here expressing they’ve got other concerns, not allegiance to politically-correct-speak, and also standing for free speech. This is refreshing, thank you for confronting the whole lefty language control agenda, etc., seeing greater values.
Mitch
October 24th, 2012
3:03 pm
A good way to deal with “village idiots” is to ignore them. Gosh, don’t honor them with even acknowledging that they exist.
LydiasDad
October 24th, 2012
3:07 pm
Let’s not go overboard. O’Reilly is nothing like Coulter. He’s very fair to everyone, but he calls you out if you’re harmful or idiotic. Simple as that.
Snoopy
October 24th, 2012
3:08 pm
Ann Coulter Rocks!
SBinF
October 24th, 2012
3:09 pm
re: Ann Coulter
I don’t trust any woman with an Adam’s apple bigger than mine.
10:10 am
October 24th, 2012
3:13 pm
This is much ado about nothing.
Admit it liberals—you hate Ann Coulter because she’s beautiful. And because you’ll readily hate anyone who reminds you of your humiliation in not being invited to prom.
Billy
October 24th, 2012
3:18 pm
People are too hyper sensitive these days. Not a fan of “Pee Wee Herman” Coulter, but if she didn’t say it to a specific person, then don’t worry about it. People are always looking for an excuse to criticize someone. If you don’t like it, don’t look at it or listen to it. Better advice is to grow up and for society to dump all this PC nonsense…
Duh
October 24th, 2012
3:26 pm
Judge Smails + Droopy Dog = Ann Coulter
Catch22
October 24th, 2012
3:27 pm
You want to see victimization and fake outrage? Look no further than the whining, so-called conservatives posting in this comments section. Wow…show some personal responsibility and shut off the water works!
SBinF
October 24th, 2012
3:29 pm
“Admit it liberals—you hate Ann Coulter because she’s beautiful. And because you’ll readily hate anyone who reminds you of your humiliation in not being invited to prom.”
She makes a really beautiful drag queen. I’ll give you that much.
D.D.D.
October 24th, 2012
3:36 pm
Apparently the word “retard” or “retarded” needs to be removed from the English language. As a sibling of a “mentally handicapped” or “developmentally disabled” or “mentally challenged” Individual – I’ve been told that it is rude and impolite to refer to him as retarded because that is a derogatory word.
Is it derogatory or is it a description of a physical condition?
Additionally, I have to agree with Still Teaching, while not all “developementally disabled” people are mentally handicapped those with the diagnosis of mental retardation are rarely able to write a letter of that quality.
Teacher of Special needs
October 24th, 2012
3:45 pm
Everyone needs to look at this website!
http://www.r-word.org/
That word is never acceptable, I even ask my mother not to use it. It is offensive and rude!
Ronin
October 24th, 2012
3:49 pm
Rick @ 11:52, you’re correct, “It’s just a word”. 30 years ago, retarded was a common term for retarded cognitive development. It wasn’t used as a slam against the person. Then, as speech became more politically correct it became mentally challenged, special needs and other terms that were deemed less detrimental to that person’s self esteem. Hypersensitivity to insensitivity is now the norm.
Coulter was speaking/tweeting for effect and she certainly got it.
phil
October 24th, 2012
3:49 pm
Obama. Special Olympics. Jay Leno.
Shaw Staff
October 24th, 2012
3:53 pm
I’m so tired of free speech. Hopefully, President Obama can end that awful right and most of the others before his time is up. Then and only then will no one get their feelings hurt, and will we finally be able to live under the protective umbrella of government, and live happily ever after.
home&home
October 24th, 2012
4:06 pm
This is sofa king we todd it.
Lexi
October 24th, 2012
4:08 pm
We sure are sensitive, aren’t we?
Ann Coulter may be called lots of things, but “uneducated” is not apt. She is an honors graduate of Cornell and Michigan Law, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif (top 10%) and was an editor of the law review, when those elections were based on merit.
Like Lee, above, I suspect that the Bush haters, who were wont to call Bush dull-witted, had lower scores on objective standardized tests than did George.
Brandt Hardin
October 24th, 2012
4:11 pm
Ann is just one of the talking heads guarding the inhabitants of Bullsh*t Mountain from rejoining the world of the sane. Fox News is a propaganda machine which dumbs down America by the day through disinformation and their slanted agendas. See their anchors spewing forth feces from their mouths in my visual homage to the network on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-fox-news-scylla-guardian-of-bullsht.html
the prof
October 24th, 2012
4:22 pm
That Adam’s apple is scary for sure!
RGB
October 24th, 2012
4:30 pm
I am as right-wing as they come but wouldn’t use Coulter’s verbiage to describe President Obama’s sheer willful ineptitude. And I’m not sure why this piece appears in a blog pertaining to schools unless it satisfies some personal need to trounce conservatives.
What troubles me more is that President Obama didn’t adequately protect our ambassador in Libya–allowing him to be raped, yes raped, and then killed along with three colleagues. The president turned down pleas for additional security and then refused to deploy military assets to attempt to save our people in the compound. Then he lied about it.
That–added to the fact that President Obama and his party have single-handedly nearly destroyed our economy–upsets me more than a writer using the word “retard”. In fact, the slow economic growth shepherded by Obama does more to hurt the mentally retarded (because of fewer government resources) than any word Ann Coulter could utter.
But a journalist has to have her priorities I suppose.
I guess rape and murder are not “mean-spirited and cruel” enough to warrant your writing about it.
NCAA Critic
October 24th, 2012
4:35 pm
Why don’t we invent a new word? Whenever someone needs to be reminded that they have crossed a line, just call them a Coulter. “Hey, way to go, Coulter.” or, “don’t go all Coulter on me.” Also, “you are the biggest Coulter I’ve ever met.” It would be a fitting legacy for her.
William Casey
October 24th, 2012
4:36 pm
I’m slightly left of center but do watch Bill O’Reilley a good bit. Whenever Coulter shows up, I simply switch the channel. Problem solved. She’s simply a “shock jock,” similar to Howard Stern. She appeals to the segment of society that yearns for 1959. She knows that she would be fired for using the “N” word, so she settles for the “R” word. Apologists who say that language doesn’t matter? Well, I just feel sorry for your profound lack of understanding. Ann Coulter is the price we pay for the protection of the First Amendment.
William Casey
October 24th, 2012
4:39 pm
I’m OK with “willfull ineptitude.” That is simply a person’s opinion. I simply don’t agree. This is America!
William Casey
October 24th, 2012
4:43 pm
This is OK, too: “That–added to the fact that President Obama and his party have single-handedly nearly destroyed our economy–upsets me more than a writer using the word…” It’s simply wrong as any sentient being alive on January 19, 2009 knows only too well.
Special Ed. Teacher
October 24th, 2012
4:55 pm
I don’t know why so many people are quoting the dictionary to try to apologize for Ms. Coulter’s remark. The word has clearly become offensive for people who have disabilities and their families when used in that context.. Sure, the word can still be used and used appropriately. But the issue here is Ann Coulter used the word inappropriately. We all know what conotation she means. If she had called the president a certain slur for gay people, I’m sure that also would raised a few eyebrows even though that is not its definition. Can’t we find other ways to disagree and not be so shallow?
William Casey
October 24th, 2012
4:57 pm
Coulter may be intelligent; her record seems to indicate as much. So was Dr. Joseph Goebbels.
SueEllenEwing
October 24th, 2012
4:58 pm
To 10:10am: I hardly think ANYONE, except maybe you, is jealous of Ann Coulter. She has absolutely nothing to be jealous of. NOTHING!
Atlanta Mom
October 24th, 2012
5:01 pm
“Ann Coulter crosses line with parents of special needs students ”
It’s not just parents of special needs children who were offended.
Phil from Athens
October 24th, 2012
5:03 pm
“So was Dr. Joseph Goebbels.”
Before Inglorious Basterds came out, no one even knew who Goebbels was. Left wingers probably think that movie is true.
SBinF
October 24th, 2012
5:09 pm
Don’t assume everyone was as ignorant of Nazi history as you, Phil, before Inglorious Basterds came out, whatever that is.
Rafe Hollister
October 24th, 2012
5:09 pm
Freshman!!!! Throw me down and wash my mouth out! This word Coulter used is offensive, but it has been made that way by those who get offended every time it is used. Once it was an official term to designate those who had mental or emotional problems. We need to get our language back, where words mean what Funk and Wagnalls say they mean, rather than what “pop culture” says they mean. I have a male friend named Gay, and someone destroyed his happy go lucky name. He still proudly uses it, not ashamed, and takes on any one who tries to make fun of it. Grow up people. Sticks and stones…………………. as my mother taught me.
3schoolkids
October 24th, 2012
5:27 pm
I do not give a hoot about what Ann Coulter thinks or says. However, I do not agree with @skipper, “abuse is a fact of life” and I will not get over that. I wish all that have commented on her statement would use their time to petition our local, state and federal governments for improved care, research and education for special needs.
@Private Citizen said “it is tragic that we do not have the knowledge to just go into this child’s head and flip a switch and make it right.” There are studies being conducted now of brain scans of people with autism to try and figure that out. Check out the Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine, based here in Atlanta. http://www.mitochondrialdiseases.org/
They are researching Mitochondrial Disease, a subset of people with autism have mitochondrial disease or dysfunction. There are many other conditions associated with Mitochondrial Disease. It very well could be a situation where if we could restore energy to the organ/s affected in an individual, their quality of life could be much improved, even restored. There are NO cures for Mitochondrial Disease, yet. Quit griping about Ann Coulter, use your energy in a positive way.
lahopital
October 24th, 2012
5:30 pm
I love it that some poster points out that Coulter was an editor of the University of Michigan Law Review “when those elections were based on merit.” She got her JD in 1988, the same year Obama was elected President of the Harvard Law Review. So, clearly she was the benficiary of affirmative action and made law review the same year as the president – just at at second tier school. I suspect she’s still hacked off about that.
Get Over It
October 24th, 2012
5:39 pm
It is time for people to get back their sense of humor. I am sure Ann was not referring to mentally disabled people. This is a word that has been in the vocabulary for a very long time. The quote needs to be taken in the context given.
Phil from Athens
October 24th, 2012
5:45 pm
“Don’t assume everyone was as ignorant of Nazi history as you, Phil, before Inglorious Basterds came out, whatever that is.”
Oh look, it’s the troll who got in a fight with a bunch of folks on the LSU/cross topic yesterday.
Phil from Athens
October 24th, 2012
5:46 pm
lahopital
I’d love to see Obama’s grades. Oh wait, he won’t release them.
bigdoggie
October 24th, 2012
5:51 pm
I substituted in a special needs class today. the students were inspiring, fun, attentive and tried hard to master the lessons presented.
ANYONE posting on here who tries to defend Man Coulter and her hate speech is just as bigoted, shallow and hateful as she.
And, I’ll bet you call yourselves X-tians! What you are is insensitive, disgraceful and all that is wrong with America today!
I love teaching. I hate what it is becoming...
October 24th, 2012
6:20 pm
It is pathetic that ANYONE would support this kind of language, let alone aimed at the president of the United States. BTW, I am a liberal, and disliked Bush, but I never referred to him by a derogatory term, and would take to task anyone who did. The office of the President should be shown a certain amount of respect.
I weep for this country. I spend all day trying to teach my students that one should be polite and civil to others, that calling people nasty names is unacceptable and does nothing to solve problems. Then I get to watch as all of my lessons are undermined by people like Ann Coulter – who shows up on TV and talk shows like celebrities, treat people like trash, and makes millions doing so.
Furthermore, I get to read as posters, rather than admitting that she was out of line, act just like my students, “Well, HE did it too! So nanny nanny boo boo!” Or even worse, defend her foul mouth.
I am absolutely sick of the incivility infecting this country. Not a day goes by that some politician, celebrity, religious figure etc. doesn’t say something nasty or derogatory about others in the national media. These days it does not seem to be enough to disagree with someone, you have to insult them like a small-minded, schoolyard bully!
And for those of you blathering on about how “liberals” this and “right wingers” need to stop lumping millions of people into simplistic categories that make it easy to point the finger. No wonder this nation is teetering on the brink – and if we fall, I am sure some folks will place all the blame on the “other” and never consider how their own efforts to marginalize anyone who was not “like them” lead to the growing cult of coarseness and the inability to cooperate on anything
.