An Interview With Ann Coulter
by John Hawkins
John Hawkins: Do you think the left has largely gotten a
pass for being so completely, utterly, and entirely wrong about the effects
of Reagan's decision to abandon detente and challenge the Soviet Union?
Ann Coulter: The fact that there still is a Democratic
Party proves that.
John Hawkins: If Jimmy Carter had somehow defeated
Ronald Reagan in 1980, do you think the Soviet Union would still exist
today?
Ann Coulter: Yes. On the bright side, Jimmy Carter would
have gotten his Nobel Peace prize a lot sooner.
John Hawkins: Now I heard that you wrote an impassioned
defense of tailgunner Joe in the book. Is that case? If so, why do you think
Joe McCarthy has gotten a bad rap?
Ann Coulter: I know he got a bad rap because there are
no monuments to Joe McCarthy. Liberals had to destroy McCarthy because he
exposed the entire liberal establishment as having sheltered Soviet spies.
John Hawkins: Despite the fact that Communism has been a
blight on the world that eclipsed even Nazism, why do you think so many
people on the left even today see no problem marching at a rally organized
by Communists or supporting Communist regimes like Castro's Cuba?
Ann Coulter: Communism is like vegetarianism in that
it's actually not very healthy for most people but leftists continue to
defend it because it seems like the thing to do.
John Hawkins: In your opinion, if someone like Ronald
Reagan or George W. Bush had been in the White House instead of Johnson,
would we have won in Vietnam?
Ann Coulter: Probably. More importantly, liberals
wouldn't be able to call every military action in defense of the nation
since then: "the next Vietnam".
John Hawkins: What is the most important lesson
Americans can learn from our experience in Vietnam?
Ann Coulter: If you can possibly avoid it, do not go to
war when the Democrats control either the executive branch or the
legislative branch.
John Hawkins: When you look back at the Clinton, Carter,
& Johnson Presidencies, it becomes obvious that the Democrats have an
abysmal record on foreign policy. Why do you think the left has such a
difficult time dealing with foreign policy issues?
Ann Coulter: There's always a conflict of interest when
people who don't really like America are called upon to defend it.
John Hawkins: Do you think the left is having a much
tougher time getting away with their spin than say 10 years ago because of
Fox, talk radio, & the internet?
Ann Coulter: Yes. If the internet, talk radio and Fox
News had been around in McCarthy's day, my book wouldn't be the first time
most people would be hearing the truth about "McCarthyism."
John Hawkins: You've caught a lot of heat for a couple
of quotes you made. In your column three days after 9/11, you said, "We know
who the homicidal maniacs are.They are the ones cheering and dancing right
now. We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them
to Christianity." You also said in an interview with the New York Observer,
"My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times
Building." Do you stand by those quotes or do you think that perhaps you
should have phrased them differently?
Ann Coulter: Ozzy Osbourne has his bats, and I have that
darn "convert them to Christianity" quote. (Thank you for giving the full
quote. I have the touch, don't I?) Some may not like what I said, but I'm
still waiting to hear a better suggestion.
RE: McVeigh quote. Of course I regret it. I should have added, "after
everyone had left the building except the editors and reporters."
John Hawkins: What do you say to your critics who claim
that you attack liberals just as viciously as you say Conservatives are
attacked by liberals?
Ann Coulter: Our insults are true.
John Hawkins: If you gave the TV & news media an
overall grade on their coverage of the Iraqi war, what would it be and why?
Ann Coulter: I thought it was pretty good, especially
the staging of Jessica Lynch's rescue.
John Hawkins: Do you think it was hypocritical for
people to say that they,"support the troops" even as they claim we're
deliberately murdering children, waging an imperialist war, are only trying
to steal Iraqi oil, etc? After all, how can anyone claim that's what we're
doing and say they support the people who are carrying those acts out?
Ann Coulter: They "support the troops" the way most
Americans "support" diversity - it's a meaningless platitude that pacifists
repeat by rote.
John Hawkins: Could you give us two or three examples of
people on the left who acted unpatriotically during the Iraqi war (or the
build up to it) and tell us what they did that was unpatriotic?
Ann Coulter: Better yet, for a complete list just go to
the D.N.C. Website, the Screen Actor's Guild membership site, and the op/ed
page of the NY Times (minus Bill Safire).
John Hawkins: In chapter 1 of "Treason" you say, "Why
can't we ask: Who is more patriotic -- Democrats or Republicans? You could
win that case in court." Who would that winner be (I think I know =D) and
can you give us a short synopsis of why you think that?
Ann Coulter: Republicans are historically more likely to
defend the U.S. against its enemies, foreign and domestic, whereas the
Democrats are historically one of America's domestic enemies.
John Hawkins: If you had to name 5 people on the
American left who you found most contemptible, who would they be?
Ann Coulter: Right off the top of my head I'd say Bill
and Hillary Clinton and Hillary's three ghost writers.
John Hawkins: Was the timing of the release of "Treason"
related to when Hillary's book was coming out?
Ann Coulter: HILLARY'S GOT A BOOK COMING OUT? You're
kidding - I didn't hear a thing about it. Actually I waited 2 extra weeks
just to give Hillary a chance to read her own book.
John Hawkins: So who's going to sell more books when
it's all said and done -- you or Hillary?
Ann Coulter: Hard to say, but based on the reviews of
"Living History" so far, I'm confident more people will actually read my
book.
John Hawkins: Your little scrap with Katie Couric when
Slander came out was memorable. Are you and Katie going to go around again
this time?
Ann Coulter: No, for reasons I cannot fathom, the Today
Show turned me down this time. Instead I had a completely pleasant, serious
interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America.
John Hawkins: So tell us a little bit about what you're
going to be doing on your new Human Events Online Blog -- CoulterGeist.
Ann Coulter: The first thing, which I intend to do very
soon, is to figure out how to post items.
John Hawkins: Are there any blogs you read regularly or
semi-regularly?
Ann Coulter: Mickey Kaus, especially for his trademark "series
skipper" which allows people to avoid reading those long gaseous "series" in
the NYT and WAPO that
inevitably win pulitzer prizes.
John Hawkins: Are there any political websites that you
could recommend to our readers?
Ann Coulter: Human
Events and of course the Drudge Report.
John Hawkins: Tell us a little bit about your new book,
"Treason".
Ann Coulter: It's mostly about sail fishing. Hahahaha!!!
John Hawkins: Is there anything else you'd like to say
or promote before we finish up?
Ann Coulter: Please buy your children a copy of my book
before they are old enough to vote.