March 4, 2007: Celebri-spiraling Ann Coulter Needs Your Attention Desperately

Do you want to give it to her?

Ann is having a celebri-spiral, caused by her deep-seated need to stay in the headlines, at any cost.

I realize that my noting her most recent cry for help - calling John Edwards a faggot at a political pundit rally - gives her more of the publicity she craves like crack.

But I am curious, compelled to explore celebri-spirals of all colors, including dark ones like this. What's the best way to react when faced with another Coulter outburst? Her deeply juvenile denigration of schools, 9-11 widows, and now political leaders is hardly intellectual. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Name calling! What a mind-giant she is to come up with such a clever conceit.

Do intelligent people warble a responsive chorus of I'm rubber and you're glue, nanny nanny boo boo?

Do we laugh and assume she is a grand satirist, right up there with character-inventing comics like Ruth Draper and Lily Tomlin? Oh Ann, the details you bring to the part of blond idiot springboard this character to life! Not so fast. It's easy to knock everyone and claim to be a satirist, but isn't the other part of the job to help society see itself more clearly? She misses on the latter.

Do we give her the attention she craves by spending precious time condemning her? Her latest oafish statement was shot down by everyone from John McCain to Ted Kennedy. But at this point, why bother? She's not taken seriously by anyone of note. As Anna Nicole coverage indicates, America loves over-the-top distraction.

Do we ignore her?

Do we crash a conservative rally, make our way through crazies, fast talking narcissists, self-absorbed tools, clueless bigots, closet cases, ex-gays, and war-loving patricians, and call Ann a hilarious comedienne, or, worse, peace-mongerer?

I say encourage those who support her to stop buying her books or rewarding her bad behavior. But other than that, don 't react, at least not much. Giving bad celebrities what they want is the worst form of Pavlovian conditioning.

What do you think? As you consider, enjoy Henry Rollins sentient video letter to Ann. While I share his sentiment, I appreciate his talented use of words and feisty energy more. They're a satisfying antidote to the celebri-spiraling Ms. C.