Bernie Sanders Defends Ann Coulter: 'What Are You Afraid Of, Her Ideas?'
LINK :
http://www.cnsnews.com/blog/craig-bannister/bernie-sanders-defends-ann-coulter
By Craig Bannister | April 24, 2017 | 10:02 AM EDT
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) defended conservative pundit Ann Coulter’s right to speak at California’s Berkeley University after liberal threats of violence caused the school to cancel her scheduled appearance.
Sanders told the Huffington Post that Coulter should be allowed to express her views “without fear”:
“I don’t like this. I don’t like it,” Sanders told The Huffington Post after speaking at a rally for Omaha mayoral candidate Heath Mello on Thursday night. “Obviously Ann Coulter’s outrageous ― to my mind, off the wall. But you know, people have a right to give their two cents-worth, give a speech, without fear of violence and intimidation.”
Resorting to violence and threats to silence Coulter is “a sign of intellectual weakness” – and it makes liberals look bad in the eyes of the world, Sanders said.
The best way to counter Coulter is to politely ask her “questions which expose the weakness of her arguments,” he said:
“What are you afraid of ― her ideas? Ask her the hard questions. Confront her intellectually. Booing people down, or intimidating people, or shutting down events, I don’t think that that works in any way.”
After backlash regarding Berkeley’s cancellation of Coulter’s speech, the school now says it’s trying to negotiate a conditional approval of Coulter’s speaking engagement.
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Resorting to violence and threats to silence Coulter is “a sign of intellectual weakness”
Intellectual weakness is the hallmark of liberal thought ...
No one is afraid of Ann Coulter. They are annoyed by her. People will sometimes go to great lengths to avoid being annoyed.
Intellectual weakness is the hallmark of liberal thought ...
That is irony right there. Isn't this Bernie... a liberal.. saying this? Therefore your comment doesn't hold.. or at least is a broad brush, which is another problem with our current state of dialog.
I happen to agree with Bernie. It is better to go and challenge her premises, then to stop her from talking.
Isn't this Bernie... a liberal.. saying this?
Sanders politics goes beyond liberalism all the way to socialism . I admire his courage of conviction even if I don't agree with his political concepts .
Ann Coulter is a hustler who always needs to keep herself 'relevant'. She doesnt have a show or a big time website, and she needs to get invited in order to make money.
Anybody seen her lately? Her two big issues are the travel ban and building the wall and deporting Mexicans. The rest of the issues can go to hell as long as Muslims are kept out and Mexicans are sent out. Why these two issues? Because that is where her bread is buttered.
Ann Coulter is a hustler who always needs to keep herself 'relevant'.
Coulter is considered relevant enough by the intellectual Bill Maher to have her on his show . I guess you'll have to refer to Maher as a "hustler" too ...
"No one is afraid of Ann Coulter."
That seems unlikely given those college "students" that were frightened by Pence's visit. Yes, many liberals are frightened by opposing views.
"People will sometimes go to great lengths to avoid being annoyed."
Do you condone those "great lengths", or is your personal attitude more sensible like that of Bernie Sanders (who has now gained respect from me).
I don't much care what happens to Ann Coulter. She is not a serious person.
Our first amendment is not in danger.
This was a great article for encouraging common ground but then you introduced the discussion with an insult which only invites arguments.
Boo on you Petey.
I agree with Bernie. These young kids need to learn what freedom of speech is and that they only make the ones they silence stronger. What in the world are our Universities and Colleges teaching our kids. Are they really this incredibly stupid and small minded.
but then you introduced the discussion with an insult which only invites arguments.
Feel free to dispute my statement . Please include an explanation of the liberal's many abuses happening at UC Berkely ...
I watched those videos, and there is no way to tell what the heck is going on there. It looked like to me, that both sides were trying to "exercise their free speech" and it lead to mutual violence.
That being said, I feel that everyone has the right to express themselves.
It looked like to me, that both sides were trying to "exercise their free speech"
Are you denying that the left was trying to suppress the speech of Coulter ?
Wow. I finally agree with Berne on something. It's too bad many liberals are too scared to allow free speech.
I seeded the same article when I got up this morning. Unlike me you got the liberals attention with it.