Gay Civil Rights Group Condemns Ann Coulter's Remarks as 'Vile' and 'Disgusting'

by Admin

WASHINGTON - Today, at the Conservative Political Action Conference sponsored by the American Conservative Union, right-wing pundit Ann Coulter spoke, saying, "I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I - so kind of an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards." The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay civil rights organization, strongly condemned Coulter's remarks and called on those Republican leaders in attendance to follow suit.

"To interject this word into American political discourse is a vile and disgusting way to sink the debate to a new, all-time low," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Make no doubt about it, these remarks go directly against what our Founding Fathers intended and have no place on the schoolyard, much less our country's political arena.

"It is clear that some in the Republican Party plan to run in 2008 the same way they did in 2004, by using discrimination to divide the country and rally their base," said Solmonese. "But 2008 is not 2004, and this time the politics of fear and smear will not work. The American people are tired of those who would rather divide than unite."

The Conservative Political Action Conference was attended by 2008 Republican presidential candidates former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. and former Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. Vice President Dick Cheney also attended the event.

Romney spoke before Coulter, saying, "I am happy to hear that after you hear from me, you will hear from Ann Coulter. That is a good thing."

"We demand that every single presidential candidate in attendance at this conference, along with Vice President Cheney, stand up and publicly condemn this type of gutter-style politics," continued Solmonese. "If not, then their silence will be deafening to the vast majority of Americans who believe this type of language belongs nowhere near the discussions about the future of our country."

To see a video of Coulter's and Romney's remarks, please visit: www.thinkprogress.org

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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"To interject this word into American political discourse is a vile and disgusting way to sink the debate to a new, all-time low," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Make no doubt about it, these remarks go directly against what our Founding Fathers intended and have no place on the schoolyard, much less our country's political arena.

"It is clear that some in the Republican Party plan to run in 2008 the same way they did in 2004, by using discrimination to divide the country and rally their base," said Solmonese. "But 2008 is not 2004, and this time the politics of fear and smear will not work. The American people are tired of those who would rather divide than unite."

The Conservative Political Action Conference was attended by 2008 Republican presidential candidates former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. and former Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. Vice President Dick Cheney also attended the event.

Romney spoke before Coulter, saying, "I am happy to hear that after you hear from me, you will hear from Ann Coulter. That is a good thing."

"We demand that every single presidential candidate in attendance at this conference, along with Vice President Cheney, stand up and publicly condemn this type of gutter-style politics," continued Solmonese. "If not, then their silence will be deafening to the vast majority of Americans who believe this type of language belongs nowhere near the discussions about the future of our country."

To see a video of Coulter's and Romney's remarks, please visit: www.thinkprogress.org

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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