More Ann Controversy: Coulter Anti-Semitic?

Patterico seizes upon this from her book:

Liberals use the word science exactly as they use the word constitutional.

Both words are nothing more or less than a general statement of liberal approval, having nothing to do with either science or the Constitution. (Thus, for example, the following sentence makes sense to liberals: President Clinton saved the Constitution by repeatedly ejaculating on a fat Jewish girl in the Oval Office.)

Patterico then writes:

Here’s what I find especially interesting about that passage: why did Coulter find it necessary to include the word “Jewish� in that last sentence?

We have all sorts of Coulter apologists populating the comments here, so I am sure someone can explain this to me.

To me, every word in that sentence is designed to show how repugnant and disgusting Clinton’s actions truly were. I mean, just look how bad his behavior was. He didn’t just kiss her; he ejaculated! Not on a woman, but a girl! Not just once, but repeatedly! Of all places, in the Oval Office! And she was fat!

And to top it off, she was Jewish!

It's possible, but I don't think so.

I think what Patterico is missing is that comedy often relies upon unnecessary specificity to be funny.

This "joke" isn't funny:

John F. Kennedy had sex with attractive women. Bill Clinton seems to only have infidelities with dumpy women.

This one is:

John F. Kennedy was bangin' movie stars. Bill Clinton gets aroused during the shift-breaks at the Culver City Fuddruckers.

Well, maybe it's not that funny. But that's a badly-remembered Colin Quinn joke. What makes it funny (to the extent it's funny at all, and if I've screwed it up, I'm sorry) is the unnecessary but terrific detail about "Fuddruckers."

I mean, he could have said "Trailer Trash" or something. But it's the "Fuddruckers" that makes it a joke.

Woody Allen used to do this all the time. He wouldn't say he was dating a woman; he'd specify he was dating "a [socio-ethnic type] majoring in [odd course of study in college] from [major "Women's Ivy" school or NYU]."

Anyway, while I do see that the mention of Monica Lewinsky's Jewishness as a seeming put-down, along with other put-downs (fat, the implication she's a whore), it also serves the purpose of a bit of comic specificity.

I would have avoided it, myself. It's not really that funny, and, as is lately the case with Ann, the comedic or rhetorical value of the barb is far outstripped by its likelihood of giving offense.

But as evidence of anti-Semitism? I don't think so. Just more evidence the woman is kind of thoughtless in her writing. Dangerous but oblivious, like Godzilla on Rufies.

Allah weighs in, more on Patterico's side, if tepidly so.

posted by Ace at 04:41 PM

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