First, let me say that, by and large, I’ve always enjoyed Ann Coulter. Sure, there have been times when the things she says have been outrageous and bordering on the offensive (epecially to those of a liberal stripe), but the vast majority of the time, she has only been doing what she does best – using her sharp and quick wit to tell the truth as she sees it from the conservative point of view.

This past Friday, however, while speaking at a CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) gathering, Coulter got carried away and went over the line – way over the line. Closing her remarks to the audience, Coulter said:

… “I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word “faggot,” so I – so kind of an impasse, can’t really talk about Edwards.”

(Hat tip: Nathan Nelson at Red State)

While I think I understand what she was trying to do – make an off-the-cuff crack about Grey’s Anatomy star Isaiah Washington’s checking himself into rehab over (allegedly) calling a gay co-star by the same name – her comment was stupid, ignorant, and hateful, to say the least.

This is exactly the kind of thing that turns people off about politics and political discourse in this day and age. I don’t know how we’ve gotten to such a point where people can say things like that and think it’s funny; perhaps it’s just a reflection of just how coarse our culture has become over time. But, resorting to that kind of gutter language to get a laugh or prove a point – no matter what side of the political fence you might be on – is not only over the top, but blatantly offensive as well.

Look, I’m all for free and open political discourse, but there’s simply no place for that kind of talk in this day or age. Coulter’s remarks are offensive, ill-advised, and beyond contempt, and should be condemned by all conservatives.

Thankfully, it’s not just me and Nathan who think so – Michelle, Captain Ed, Hugh Hewitt’s Dean Barnett, and A Voice of Reason are on board as well. And well they should.