Teasing yet another (manufactured) Ann Coulter controversy, ABCNews.com practically suggested that Coulter is an anti-Semite, and when you follow the bread crumbs, you'll find Media Matters the culprit behind the half-baked cake. "The columnist suggested that the U.S. would be a better place without Jews," teased a headline in the rotating news summary on ABC's Web site (see screencap at right).

Yet in context, it's quite logical to conclude Coulter means that, as a Christian, she would like everyone to embrace Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, hence securing them eternal life in Heaven. Grounded in historical Christian teaching, her desire for all to believe in Jesus (and hence be Christians) is not a racist or genocidal point-of-view, but a loving, religious one, however awkwardly stated it may have been in her recent interview.

The front page tease takes readers to a blog entry at Political Punch by ABC reporter Jake Tapper. The Tapper item in turn links to an article and transcript at Editor & Publisher, furnished by, surprise surprise, Media Matters.

To his credit, at no point in his blog did Tapper himself characterize Coulter as a closet anti-Semite or anything of that nature, although he does take a swipe at Coulter as a hypocrite:

Ann Coulter is making the rounds on cable these days saying that Jews need "to be perfected" like Christians -- like, I suppose, her?

One wonders about even blogging about her, given the things she says, but after-the-fact, after she's been broadcast, it's probably important to know what people like her are saying to mass broadcast audiences.

I cannot tell you how many conservatives I've spoken to who want her to go away, who think she twists what conservativism is and is a horrible representative for their cause.

Off to South Carolina right now to spend some time with the Giuliani campaign in that key early primary state.

More later!

Actually Jake, it seems Ann actually knows a bit more about the Bible than you. But don't take my word for it, here's what Jesus taught (and he was teaching fellow Jews) [Matt. 5:43-48 ESV]:

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Linguists and theologians would also say that "perfect" doesn't necessarily mean without any sin or wrongdoing, but connotes spiritual maturity and completeness.

Regardless of the debatable finer points of theology, the bottom line is it's pretty clear the media foodchain on this one -- Media Matters>Editor & Publisher>ABC News/Jake Tapper -- and that for whatever reason Coulter was not given any benefit of the doubt or her claims examined in light of any references in Christian Scripture.

—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters