The problem with Coulter is that joking or not, she is presented and seen in the media as a spokesperson for Republicans and conservatism in general. Yeah, she can be joking and facetious perhaps. But she generally isn't taken as such by most people. This applies to O'Reilley and Limbaugh as well.

She's sort of like the right wing Jesse Jackson. She is seen and usually presented as representing ALL conservatives or at least being a mainstream conservative voice. And if you're going to be seen in that role, it really behooves your party to either disavow that person's repeated and routine dumb comments or else tell them to shut the fuck up. Or both.

It hurts the party and it sets a really negative tone. A tone that is then emulated by others that admire and believe in them. Then suddenly the harshest rhetoric and personal attack becomes the political dialogue rather than the issues themselves being the dialogue. Which in turn then rises up to where even the politicians themselves start using the divisive rhetoric if only to be able to reach and motivate the masses who have been infected (or rather "entralled" ) with this virus of divisiveness. And yeah, a few politicians even rise up thru the ranks fully drinking the Kool-Aid.

I'd give that advise to Jackson and the Democrats too BTW. I mentioned in the Jackson thread how yes, there indeed are people who buy into Jesse's idiotic rhetoric and message. Frankly, I'm of the opinion that Jesse Jackson and whatever coalitions and constituencies of pissed off people he attracts are more a hindrance than an asset to the Party and thus should be marginalized or flat out ignored when they open their mouths to complain about perceived slights to his influence.

Yeah, there is still injustice out there. I really don't think Jackson is looking to alleviate them much though so much as he is out there seeking to exploit them and seeking to create a climate of divisiveness. And thus I don't need him and I certainly don't need his inflated sense of leadership. Both in political circles and in what's given to him by the media who tout him as a leading voice or as representing Democratic voters in general.

What this country needs right now is a climate of cooperation, consensus and compromise. What we get from both Coulter (and the punditry) and Jackson is a climate of polarization. Like I mentioned earlier today, i wish it wasn't seen as weakness to show things like apologies when you offend, kind words, and compromise. Perhaps more people might actually give a shit about politics if it wasn't all about absolutes.