Coulter Skelter
I might consider myself a Conservative, but that doesn’t stop me from finding conservative commentator Ann Coulter to be utterly offensive.
Media Matters has drawn my attention to an interview from the October 8 edition of CNBC’s The Big Idea (with Donny Deutsch) , in which Coulter espouses some rather vile views about Judaism and Jews.
DEUTSCH: Let me ask you a question. We’re going to get off strengths and weakness for a second. If you had your way, and all of your — forget that any of them –
COULTER: I like this.
DEUTSCH: — are calculated marketing teases, and your dreams, which are genuine, came true having to do with immigration, having to do with women’s — with abortion — what would this country look like?
COULTER: It would look like New York City during the Republican National Convention. In fact, that’s what I think heaven is going to look like.
DEUTSCH: And what did that look like?
COULTER: Happy, joyful Republicans in the greatest city in the world.
DEUTSCH: No, no, no, no, but I’m talking about this country. You don’t want to make this country — it’s not about Republicans. I’m saying, what would the fabric of this country look like? Forget that the Republicans would be running the show.
COULTER: Well, everyone would root for America, the Democratic Party would look like [Sen.] Joe Lieberman [I-CT], the Republican Party would look like [Rep.] Duncan Hunter [R-CA] –
DEUTSCH: No, no, no, I don’t want — I’m not talking about politically the landscape. What would our — would we be safer? Would people be happier? Would they be more –
COULTER: We would be a lot safer.
DEUTSCH: Would there be more tolerance? Would there be — would women be happier, would the races get along better? The Ann Coulter subscription — prescription. What — tell me what would be different in our fabric of country, because –
COULTER: Well, all of those things.
DEUTSCH: — I can give — I can give you an argument there would be more divisiveness, that there would be more hate –
COULTER: Oh, no.
DEUTSCH: — that there would be a bigger difference between the rich and the poor, a lot of other — tell me what — why this would be a better world? Let’s give you — I’m going to give you — say this is your show.
COULTER: Well, OK, take the Republican National Convention. People were happy. They’re Christian. They’re tolerant. They defend America, they –
DEUTSCH: Christian — so we should be Christian? It would be better if we were all Christian?
COULTER: Yes.
DEUTSCH: We should all be Christian?
COULTER: Yes. Would you like to come to church with me, Donny?
DEUTSCH: So I should not be a Jew, I should be a Christian, and this would be a better place?
COULTER: Well, you could be a practicing Jew, but you’re not.
DEUTSCH: I actually am. That’s not true. I really am. But — so we would be better if we were – if people — if there were no Jews, no Buddhists –
COULTER: Whenever I’m harangued by –
DEUTSCH: — in this country? You can’t believe that.
COULTER: — you know, liberals on diversity –
DEUTSCH: Here you go again.
COULTER: No, it’s true. I give all of these speeches at megachurches across America, and the one thing that’s really striking about it is how utterly, completely diverse they are, and completely unself-consciously. You walk past a mixed-race couple in New York, and it’s like they have a chip on their shoulder. They’re just waiting for somebody to say something, as if anybody would. And –
DEUTSCH: I don’t agree with that. I don’t agree with that at all. Maybe you have the chip looking at them. I see a lot of interracial couples, and I don’t see any more or less chips there either way. That’s erroneous.
COULTER: No. In fact, there was an entire Seinfeld episode about Elaine and her boyfriend dating because they wanted to be a mixed-race couple, so you’re lying.
DEUTSCH: Oh, because of some Seinfeld episode? OK.
COULTER: But yeah, I think that’s reflective of what’s going on in the culture, but it is completely striking that at these huge megachurches — the idea that, you know, the more Christian you are, the less tolerant you would be is preposterous.
DEUTSCH: That isn’t what I said, but you said I should not — we should just throw Judaism away and we should all be Christians, then, or –
COULTER: Yeah.
DEUTSCH: Really?
COULTER: Well, it’s a lot easier. It’s kind of a fast track.
DEUTSCH: Really?
COULTER: Yeah. You have to obey.
DEUTSCH: You can’t possibly believe that.
COULTER: Yes.
DEUTSCH: You can’t possibly — you’re too educated, you can’t — you’re like my friend in –
COULTER: Do you know what Christianity is? We believe your religion, but you have to obey.
DEUTSCH: No, no, no, but I mean –
COULTER: We have the fast-track program.
DEUTSCH: Why don’t I put you with the head of Iran? I mean, come on. You can’t believe that.
COULTER: The head of Iran is not a Christian.
DEUTSCH: No, but in fact, “Let’s wipe Israel” –
COULTER: I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention.
DEUTSCH: “Let’s wipe Israel off the earth.” I mean, what, no Jews?
COULTER: No, we think — we just want Jews to be perfected, as they say.
DEUTSCH: Wow, you didn’t really say that, did you?
COULTER: Yes. That is what Christianity is. We believe the Old Testament, but ours is more like Federal Express. You have to obey laws. We know we’re all sinners –
DEUTSCH: In my old days, I would have argued — when you say something absurd like that, there’s no –
COULTER: What’s absurd?
DEUTSCH: Jews are going to be perfected. I’m going to go off and try to perfect myself –
COULTER: Well, that’s what the New Testament says.
DEUTSCH: Ann Coulter, author of If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d Be Republicans, and if Ann Coulter had any brains, she would not say Jews need to be perfected. I’m offended by that personally. And we’ll have more Big Idea when we come back.
[...]
DEUTSCH: Welcome back to The Big Idea. During the break, Ann said she wanted to explain her last comment. So I’m going to give her a chance. So you don’t think that was offensive?
COULTER: No. I’m sorry. It is not intended to be. I don’t think you should take it that way, but that is what Christians consider themselves: perfected Jews. We believe the Old Testament. As you know from the Old Testament, God was constantly getting fed up with humans for not being able to, you know, live up to all the laws. What Christians believe — this is just a statement of what the New Testament is — is that that’s why Christ came and died for our sins. Christians believe the Old Testament. You don’t believe our testament.
DEUTSCH: You said — your exact words were, “Jews need to be perfected.” Those are the words out of your mouth.
COULTER: No, I’m saying that’s what a Christian is.
DEUTSCH: But that’s what you said — don’t you see how hateful, how anti-Semitic –
COULTER: No!
DEUTSCH: How do you not see? You’re an educated woman. How do you not see that?
COULTER: That isn’t hateful at all.
DEUTSCH: But that’s even a scarier thought. OK –
COULTER: No, no, no, no, no. I don’t want you being offended by this. This is what Christians consider themselves, because our testament is the continuation of your testament. You know that. So we think Jews go to heaven. I mean, [Rev. Jerry] Falwell himself said that, but you have to follow laws. Ours is “Christ died for our sins.” We consider ourselves perfected Christians. For me to say that for you to become a Christian is to become a perfected Christian is not offensive at all.
You can view the interview at the Media Matters site, or download it from here.
Update: A number of commenters and other bloggers do not see the big deal with Coulter’s comments, nor why I should find them offensive. I find them offensive because they are offensive to any non-Christian. She has every right in the world to believe what she wants. But she deserves to be criticized for uttering such insensitive things.
Even if what she said is an accurate representation of Christian theology, saying this in a public forum is no less insensitive or offensive to non-Christians.
Don’t get me wrong. The Ann Coulters of the world are not the big threat to our freedoms and way of life. But that fact does not preclude her being deserving of criticism. After all, there’s a difference between feeling offended and feeling threatened.
Update: Thank you for the comments, even though I disagree with most of you so far.
My point is rather simple: Coulter degraded my religion, and this is offensive to me. Does it offend me that most Christians believe what she said? No, because they don’t rub my face in it, like Coulter did.
I am not offended by Coulter because of her Christian beliefs. I am offended because she showed a complete disregard for the feelings of others, those others beings practioners of other religions. In fact, one could argue that her disregard for other people’s feelings contravened the teachings of JC.
Why wouldn’t I be offended that someone went out of their way to publicly disrespect what I believe in?
She made a point of expressing her views on a television show, knowing many Jews would be watching, and that the liberal host would likely take her to task on it. Saying this is her style does not exonerate her.
I have a lot of respect for religious Christians, even though I reject many of their beliefs. We share a belief in the G-d of Abraham, and Christianity is based on many of Judaism’s moral principles. So don’t construe my comments as an attack on Christianity, or an attempt to stifle theological debate.
Other Reactions:
LindaSoG: “I am not going to toe the party line here. She was not just talking “shock” to sell her books or get attention and she was not misquoted or misunderstood. Ann said what she meant and she meant what she said.”
Omri: “This week’s manufactured Media Matters scandal is now online. The Jewish blogs and Democratic organizations are all over it. And wow, it is totally f***ing retarded. It combines the best elements of liberal sophistication: the banality of multiculturalist tolerance, the humorlessness of scolding identity politics, and the blubbering of righteous indignation.” [Aussie Dave: I don't agree with Omri here, but he certainly has a way with words].
Roger Simon: “Coulter is a cross between some nutcase passing out Jews for Jesus literature on Hollywood Boulevard and the Islamists she says she hates.”
The Anchoress: “This is a discussion best left to someone with a gift for diplomacy, a deft tongue and a loving, civil and collected mien. It is is absolutely not a discussion that should be undertaken by someone who has the deftness of a hammer and the mien of a German Shepherd.”
Ace: “It’s fairly standard for religions to assert their metaphysical rectitude and superiority, but we only seem to have these controversies when a Christian expresses it.”
LGF: “From my reading, Coulter was simply stating standard Christian doctrine—with a little extra edginess to get Deustch wound up. Looks like it worked, and now she’ll sell some more books as a result.”
See my latest update here
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: General
It’s not secret that converting the world of non-believers is a central Christian (and Muslim, and Mormon and…) plank. Jews are an exception here, but we still want to spread monotheism globally. I don’t take offense to that at all. They are Christians for a reason and they have basic tenants of faith.
What I do care about is how it they want to action it. If through dialogue and even social ostracism, fine. I can exclude aggressive Christians from my simcha too. If through forced conversion, terrorism, public humilitation, denial of citizens rights etc… that’s not so cool.
All that being said, Coulter is vile.
i concur, she’s comically opinionated and vile. anyone who does not believe God is one does not believe in the Tanakh. i’m conservative and identify as a messianic jew. christian church is in the Bible, she is: mystery babylon, mother of whores. Coulter can take her pagan, self-rightous crap and delicatly place it where the sun don’t shine. the Bible clearly says that not all are called and that countless jews have, are and will be called into the kingdom. ipray for jews to recognize hamashiach for who he is and for christians to stop worshipping him as God, and give up your babylonian trappings. may Adonai bless and keep you all.
*steps off self-rightous soapbox*
“We Just Want Jews To Be Perfected”…
Ann Coulter:…
My Coulter’s logic, Muslims could call themselves ‘perfected Christians’. I’d love for someone to shove that in her face.
[...] Aussie Dave bei Israellycool hat mehr zum Thema. [...]
I haven’t a clue who Ann Coulter or Donny Deutsch are, so I don’t know what angle they are approaching each other from, however reading the transcript, it would appear to me to be a perfect example of why religion is the cause of so many problems.
It would appear that this is a fairly insipid conversation that turns nasty when one religious view point is expressed that is contrary to the other persons religious belief. Christians do believe that they are “better” than Jews, because they have seen the “true path” to “G_d”, where as the Jews having been shown the new “true path” (as opposed to the old one), don’t accept it. This is the reasoning that gave us the Spanish Inquisition and all other attempts by Christians to “correct” the errors of the Jews.
As DU Poisoning points out, Muslims believe that they are “better” than both the Jews and Christians. They too have been shown the new “true path” to “G_d”, where as the Jews and Christians having been shown it don’t accept it (They are sticking with the very old one and the old one). This is the reasoning behind the Islamist movements, and why “moderate” Muslims do not condemn the Islamist actions, because the non-Muslims need to be “educated”.
And here I’m just talking about three religions that believe in the same G_d, and haven’t even got on to all the rest…
Differing religious belief always has, is currently and always will be the cause of violence and struggle, and there is no way round this while people still believe.
I’m sorry Aussie Dave, to me your posting and comment about this is doing exactly the same thing as you accuse Ann Coulter of.
(And I haven’t mentioned the rugby).
I don’t see anything suprising in Coulter’s opinion from the Christian viewpoint.
After all, we Torah observant Jews view most of Christianity as a violation of the Noahide Law forbidding idol worship. (Nevermind the irony of Christians violating this and espousing the greatness of the 10 Commandment at the same time).
Ann Coulter is not our problem right now. Keep your eye on the ball.
I’m a Christian who seldom gives Ann Coulter a second thought. Also, I refuse to attend any church that teaches that Christ is the same as or equal to God in power or glory, which leaves me home on Sunday mornings. I believe this is a major mistake and clearly against the teachings of the Old and the New Testamnets. That said, I don’t see how what she said was offensive until after the break where she clarifies that she thinks Christians are “perfected Jews” which is fairly offensive.
But just saying she wants Jews to be perfected… How is that offensive? I can’t imagine not wanting to be perfected by God. Christ talks of us being “refined by fire” like gold having its impurities burned away.
So the simple act of saying Jews should be perfected? Not offensive. Coming back and saying if they were perfected, they’d be Christians? Yeah, pretty offensive.
And please, don’t think that everyone who calls himself a Christian believes that Christ is God, or worships Christ.
I worship God, Christ was just a handy sign-post, and said so himself (Matthew 7:21-23).
[...] read with astonishment the following at Israellycool: DEUTSCH: That isn’t what I said, but you said I should not — we should just throw Judaism away [...]
I am not a religious person, but I have an opinion about this post. (1) Coulter is first and foremost a comedian. (2) She phrases ideas in the starkest possible terms to get a rise out of an audience.
As to whether Christians feel themselves improved or “perfected” Jews (and, though I received 16 years of Catholic education, I never before heard the term “perfected Jews”) that is a stark description one might use for the way Christians feel about themselves. But If they did not feel something like that way, they would merely accept the Old Testament and remain Jews, as Jesus was. They feel the New Testament was an improvement on the Old Testament. But “perfected Jews”, only in an exaggerated way. No Christians I know ever claimed to be perfect in any sense of the word. Their doctrine is that all people are sinners to a greater or lesser degree.
If Coulter got a rise out of you, it is not personal, just business.
Deutsch and Coulter are not speaking the same language here. Deutsch is aware of it and is using the fact to foment conflict where there really is none, relying on the now-standard “I’m SOOOOO offended” response and labeling Coulter’s statements as “hateful” when they are not.
EVERY institutionalized religion has its reasons for, essentially, NOT being some other religion. And of course every fervent practitioner of a religion is going to expound on the subjectively defined superiority of the faith s/he’s chosen, since objective reason can’t be used to support it. The relationship between Judaism and Christianity is a matter of history. The notion that it’s somehow “hateful” to declare the difference between the two – from the perspective of Coulter’s subjective assessment of her Christian faith – borders (ostensibly) on the moronic.
But of course class-baiting, race-baiting and, lately, faith-baiting are the best ways to generate controversy and draw attention to onesself these days. Coulter does this with her books. Deutsch has done it here. The only difference between the two is one’s perspective.
Of course Christians would like to see the world be converted. Joseph is right on track here. Evangelism is commanded in the New Testament. (It’s also interesting to note that Jesus specifically commands an approach without physical coercion.) Universalist religions like Islam and Christianity send out missionaries. What matters is whether or not they are carrying guns along with their holy books.
Ann Coulter is all about shock value. She is like Michael Moore, only without taking herself seriously. I don’t like her, but I understand that she thrives off of being politically incorrect.
James – politics does same thing, along with personal relationships. People will always find something to be passionate about.
hello -
I don’t have much time for Anne Coulter.
I think, though, in a world full of Mersheimers and whomevers, where an emininent British scientist can contend that atheists should have as much influence, as a minority, as Jews “obviously” do in the world (and no one remarks overly much about it), where so-called leftists march alongside people holding signs “death to Jews”, where Israel is singled out again again again as the world’s only abuser of Arabs, Anne Coulter is not something to worry about.
“I find them offensive because they are offensive to any non-Christian”
Well, they do reflect the words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, when He said “You MUST be born again”, and again when He said “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and NO ONE comes to the Father BUT BY ME”
Those words are pretty self explainatory, but they’re not Anne Coulter’s words, they’re the Lord Jesus Christ’s words.
And that’s why He told us to “go unto all nations” to pass His words on… because they’re the only means by which anyone may enter into Heaven.
I will say this however, to disagree with Anne… with my knowledge of Christ’s church throughout the world, it’s sure not going to look anything like the GOP Convention in NYC… PRAISE THE LORD!!!
I’m a Methodist, and have hung around with a lot of Baptists, and I’ve never heard this “perfected” stuff before. And the idea of being offended by anything Ann Coulter says? Puleaze! Read the interview more closely. She’s clearly put off with the guy’s approach and is messing with him. Which is what she does.
There are a lot of people who profess to follow Jesus, but get all tangled up with process, and nit-picking, and the trivial, and who has the correct secret handshake. We all tend to look inward, churches as well as individuals. Jesus taught that we should look outward, trying to live up to the Law stating we should “love your neighbor as yourself”.
James Hagee recently addressed a large gathering of Evangelicals where he stated clearly that he believed the Jews have their own relationship with G_d, that they are truly His Chosen People. That group, and I, believe this also. We don’t want to convert the Jews, or see them “Perfected”, or whatever. At any rate, Christianity is too varied for anyone to say “Christians believe this” or “Christians believe that”.
Anyone can stick a fish on the back of their SUV and call themselves a Christian. I prefer to let God label me (hopefully) in the next life. Jesus had a dialogue with a lawyer about the Law. Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan in response to the lawyer’s question of “who is my neighbor”. Afterwards the lawyer answered his own question: “The one who showed mercy”. This is the core of Christianity, and a lot of the other contentious stuff is just bling. Far too many folks argue about things that can’t be known, in this life anyway. That is energy better spent, whether one is a Jew, Christian, Moslem, athiest, whatever, in acting on Jesus’ injunction to “go and do likewise”.
I am no fan of Coulter – he pressed her – and baited her to tell him how she wanted the world to look – if she ruled the world…
What would an orthodox Jew have said? – Muslims would be rounded up and deported – but from how many more countries? – not unlike what Hitler did to Jews.
Ms. Coulter was more, well, Christian, in that she would have perfected other religions – not exterminated them.
in the world where so-called leftists march alongside people holding signs “death to Jews”
This world sounds like a figment of your imagination. In fact, I can ignore the supposed leftists and say that even the “death to Jews” sign BY ITSELF is a fabrication on your part. No “death to Jews” sign has ever been carried in any march in America.
This isn’t your fault, it’s just a symptom of the deep indoctrination that Jews are subjected to within their community.
Why should you be offended when a Christian declares that her path is true and yours isn’t? This smacks of profound insecurity. Is your faith so weak that you need Coulter’s spiritual approval?
Gee, you finally got some comments. At least you are not sputtering and blithering like Roger Simon. Yes Pollyanna, orthodox (actual) Christians truly believe that God gave His Word to you, you ignored Him and we took it over. Sorry. You got all the prophets. You got the Messiah in the flesh. All we have is a book and yet we believe. Have you been made jealous enough yet? Will you give Him an honest look? Or will you continue to bury your heads in nothing but what you have been brainwashed to believe …. like the Muslims?
Charles Hope,
Rest assured, I am not in the least bit insecure about my faith.
I think that if we get ‘offended’ by the comments then we are choosing not to respond. I don’t see anything in her position that precludes an actual argument. I’ve had theological discussions with Christians, it’s not a bad thing. And it’s not difficult to argue with her, since she knows more about arguing than she does about theology.
And yes, I agree, she was messing with him because he was choosing to go the ‘offended route’ rather than the ‘responsive route’. I personally get very offended when people get offended.
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>> I personally get very offended when people get offended.
I love this idea. Nobody should be afraid of an argument/debate (unless the other guy is the sort to resort to violence). Its lame when folks shut down debate due to faux outrage.
As a Catholic I wholeheartedly agree with what Ann is saying. She’s stating tenets of the Christian faith. Whether you agree with her or not is irrelevant. We’re not in the middle-ages so I wouldn’t worry about somebody sticking a red hot poker where the sun don’t shine if you don’t convert. She’s stating her beliefs – is that a crime? If Donnie Deutsch doesn’t want to hear the answer maybe he shouldn’t have asked the question.
*I can ignore the supposed leftists and say that even the “death to Jews” sign BY ITSELF is a fabrication on your part. No “death to Jews” sign has ever been carried in any march in America.*
my source is at this link:
http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/235
(but is that `Jewish indoctrination’, too…?)
another one:
http://canadiancoalition.com/forum/messages/15968.shtml
and:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1689952/posts
of course, nothing about Richard Dawkins are the disgrace of the `apartheid’ characterization of Israeli, etc. etc.
*I can ignore the supposed leftists and say that even the “death to Jews” sign BY ITSELF is a fabrication on your part. No “death to Jews” sign has ever been carried in any march in America.*
my source is at this link:
http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/235
(but is that `Jewish indoctrination’, too…?)
another one:
http://canadiancoalition.com/forum/messages/15968.shtml
and:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1689952/posts
of course, nothing about Richard Dawkins and the disgrace of the `apartheid’ characterization of Israeli, etc. etc.
ps: wrt to Dawkins, what is especially fascinating that his statement about the Jews is not even a *proposition*, that is, a debatable point – it is the *premise* for his other point. the `undue Jewish influence* is a taken as a given – and the commentators also accept the premis without argument.
thanks
Roundhead
How quickly some forget.
Another:
San Francisco, August 12, 2007.
I’m sorry. I can’t find a ready made list of these. Search for them yourself.
And if you think marching alongside Hizballah flags doesn’t imply the same, you’re naive.
You don’t know, Jack!
She’s wrong – Jews are perfect already.
So yet another spoiled hypersensitive Jew
offended by traditional Christian theology as related by Coulter who is after all a pro-Zionist lackey. Actually the Jewish moderator implicitly described centuries of quite intelligent European Christians of all stripes, including scientists and inventors, for example,
as ignorant if they believed orthodox Christian doctrine and as related to Jews,which myriad did. I find this as offensive as the Talmud’s many attacks on Christ.
>I might consider myself a Conservative
Well, you may have to re-think that – as you are currently trying to enforce political correctness over honest dialogue.
I suppose the reason I roll my eyes instead of taking it personally is because of the politicians I have to live through. Live through an election with someone like Katherine Harris, who was in office, and see. The one openly says, “god chooses our leaders”, and “non-christians legislate sin”. Along with other fun quotables.
Coulter is just a media hog. I could care less what she says. We here have bigger problems than the views of a very divisive person who peddles her books on TV.
Heh. She has a right to express her beliefs, as long as they don’t include violence against anyone (she has a right to express those too, of course – and the right to suffer the consequences).
I find her opinion silly, but that’s my problem.
The really good bits are right here in the comments:
“This isn’t your fault, it’s just a symptom of the deep indoctrination that Jews are subjected to within their community” – Tom
“What would an orthodox Jew have said? – Muslims would be rounded up and deported – but from how many more countries? – not unlike what Hitler did to Jews” – Jack Thomsen
“by Coulter who is after all a pro-Zionist lackey” – Ken Hoop
I am quite sure these commenters do not see themselves as anti-semitic psychotics, too. Which makes it all the more amusing
Please, this is all a wind-up. It’s Donny Deutsch on MSNBC late night and the motorcycle guys cancelled. It is bad political theater and I can not believe you people fell for it. The excerpt starts with ‘Heaven is going to look like NYC during the Republic national convention’ and ends with a Falwell (we’re too gay sic deserved 9-11) quote….
Raccoon,
I agree with you that some of the comments are much more offensive than Coulter’s statements.
Lucky I am able to turn the other cheek..err..so to speak.
Judaism is a religion for one chosen people who must obey the Law perfectly to reach Paradise. Jews do not proselytize. Gentiles have a hard time converting. Christianity, on the other hand, is a universal religion, following the theology of the Son of God and a Jewess, that offers salvation and Paradise to everyone who believes and acts in good faith. The religion is built on Jewish foundations but it offers salvation to Jews and gentiles alike. You should not feel insulted that Christians see Jews the same way they see gentiles. Practically speaking, it’s not like Christians are going to impose dhimmi status on you. Christians want you to enjoy the benefits of Christianity, not least because salvation is achievable by imperfect humans in Christianity, but almost never achievable if the Mosaic Law must be obeyed perfectly for an entire lifetime.
Ann Coulter was asked a question about her personal beliefs. She was hounded into going beyond the inoffensive answer she gave first. So she responded truthfully with Christian beliefs and Deutsch became outraged that he didn’t like the answer he hounded her to get. As if he didn’t expect to hear what he heard. He’s dishonest. Now you’re bothered because he hounded her into honestly explaining her Christian beliefs. Good grief! Life is too short to get mad at BS like this.
Perhaps you are saying that Christians should stop believing the Word of God because it bothers you. Or perhaps they should just never tell you truthfully what they believe, even if you hound them to get a truthful answer. Neither of these are going to happen, and you might as well get used to it.
LGF concurs: much ado about nothing.
I would note, I am an Orthodox Jew – and I don’t want to round up and deport all the Muslims (if Jews were Hitler like, like be seeking to methodically kill them all, I think the 6 million would have been delighted with being deported.)
People like to blame religious differences for war – but people forget that atheism is also a religious belief in that it takes a position that is essentially unprovable. The belief is that science can answer all questions and explain all things. Atheism, and its lack of moral mooring has killed more people than even the bloodthirsty versions of Ann or the Osamas of this world – see Hitler, Stalin, Mao etc…
The modern crop of Islamofacist nutheads might want to join the club, but they aren’t there yet.
That all being said, Christians can look down on us and say we need to be ‘perfected’ (I’ve certainly heard it) all they want. It is like Mormons converting us after death. It is something I lend no credence to and don’t care about.
At least they consider us people and not just the children of Pigs and Monkeys
Anne coulter has gone too far! I have in the past found that i agree with her about some political issues. However, her outright claim that jews need to be perfected not only crossed the line, but she took a dump right on it! I am done with coulter and can’t wait till she spouts that hate filled crap in front of the wrong person. If I were a betting man, i would put the odds on her being killed by an assasin at 2-1 in favor of her being killed.. How long will people of all walks of life put up with it? For all those who do not think her comments should have been targeted I say this “get out of my country! You have no place in a free society”. I am sick of her antics and hope in the future that hse will be barred from TV in all forms, I hope she wont be able to get a show on PBS! Someone needs to stop this hateful B*tch before it is too late and she insites riots or worse.. Stop the hate end her life!
Just a quick note. I’ve seen comments like this a bunch of times in this thread: Jewish salvation is almost never achievable if the Mosaic Law must be obeyed perfectly for an entire lifetime. Coulter said the same sort of thing with the “Fast Track” program.
All I can say is, actually study some Jewish theology before you apply this sort of blanket statement.
There are lots of disagreements, but basically, we don’t all live in a state of sin and if we never sinned, the reward wouldn’t be salvation, but eternal life IN THIS WORLD.
In addition, we care a bit less about salvation and a bit more about achieving positive impacts in this world. We don’t seek to be blank robotic people who suffer under the incredible pressure of a massive legal code. Sure, we have an impressive legal code, but we find fundamental benefits from that legal code – in this world.
And even imperfect, we can achieve what you would call ‘grace’.
That all being said, you can believe what you want. As a Jew, I’m just happy to see people believing in G-d.
But in the blanket characterization, don’t forget that our hundreds of thousands of pages of discussions and texts and thoughts – and our thousands of years of development – just might have produced something other than the one sentence black and white summary so many see.
Andrew,
I hope that was satire.
Wolf,
You said:
What you fail to mention is that we believe non-Jews can reach what you call Paradise. In fact, it is easier for non-Jews to reach it (only have to follow the Noahide laws). So your statement is misleading.
Shy Guy,
LGF is not the bible.
Coulter The Evangelist…
Read this at Israellycool and it begs for comment although I am in no way as caustic as Ann Coulter.
DEUTSCH: Let me ask you a question. We’re going to get off strengths and weakness for a second. If you had your way, and all of your – forget that an…
Come on, Dave.
She describes her ideal as the Democrat Party being Joseph Liebermann, a practicing, Orthodox Jew.
Don’t let MSNBC, or Media Matters (wholly-owned subsidiary of Hillary Clinton and George Soros) get you boiling. Ann Coulter is a fire-brand and I admire her for her candor and humor.
If that ridiculous exchange bothered you, try a different tack; ask her to do a phone interview with you and pod-cast it.
Jeez, you thought I was being too sensitive when I made a mild comment about you labeling a dark-skinned guy in a cap as “Tiger Woods.” Rule-of-thumb: if it comes from MSNBC or Media Matters, take it with a great big grain of salt.
CJRun,
I know all about Media Matters and MSNBC; I am not naive. But that doesn’t pardon Coulter’s comments. They were insensitive and I found it offensive that she uttered them on National television.
I have not once accused Coulter of being anti-Semitic, so your reference to the Lieberman comment is not entirely relevant.
What bothers me is the readiness of some of my fellow Conservatives to find all manner of excuses for her. She does more damage to the cause than good.
[...] I guess I was wrong about Ann Coulter. She sure is effective. Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the first terrorist attack on the World [...]
[...] blogger at “Isreallycool” seems to get it, sort of: Coulter degraded my religion, and this is offensive to me. Does it [...]
I certainly am not defending Coulter. It be better if she shut up from now on. I just don’t have any problems with Christians saying Christianity is better on national TV. It is like Athiests saying they are better. Or the Flexerciser 3000 saying it is better. We can’t get all condeming of the Mohammad cartoon reaction if we can’t deal with an expression of a belief that is at odds with our own.
Coulter specifically denigrated Judaism. Had she just espoused the virtues of Christianity, I would not have been offended in the slightest.
And ‘piss Christ’ did the same to Christianity and the Mohammad with his bomb turban did the same to Islam. I guess there are a variety of degrees of offended. I found ‘piss Christ’ offensive and the cartoons as simply cutting, but Coulter’s comment isn’t in either of these leagues.
The Raccoon
Oh, yeah, raccer, Coulter’s position on
supporting Israel is synonomous with
Pat Buchanan’s. Get a life.