CNN Contributor on Ann Coulter: ‘At Some Point, You Have to Punch the Bully in the Mouth’

CNN contributor Roland Martin jumped on the Elizabeth Edwards bandwagon during an appearance on Thursday's "American Morning," and launched two fronts of attack on Coulter for her recent comments about John Edwards. First, in reply to co-host Kiran Chetry's question on whether Elizabeth Edwards should have even dignified Ann Coulter with a phone call, Martin invoked the schoolyard. "I think she should have, because at some point, you have to punch the bully in the mouth."

Roland Martin, a columnist and talk radio host, makes frequent appearances on "American Morning," which are also broadcast on his Chicago-based radio show. After Martin discussed Coulter's "track record" of "outlandish comments," as he put it, Chetry posed the question that brought out his schoolyard comparison.

CHETRY: "It brings up an interesting point, though, because clearly, she doesn't care, because she does this all the time. And this has become her schtick, if you will. But then, why would Elizabeth Edwards even dignify that with a response? I mean, do you think she should have called in to the show, and even engaged Ann Coulter?"

MARTIN: Well, no, I -- I think she should have, because at some point, you have to punch the bully in the mouth. And that's exactly what Elizabeth Edwards did. And so, you don't let people just continue to get away with some of these crazy comments. And so again, it wasn't a problem. In fact, by Elizabeth Edwards calling, it's causing other people to be critical.

Shortly after making this comment, Martin continued by bringing into the discussion an apparent friend of Coulter's, Bill Maher, and another "commentator" who was canned for his controversial remarks, Don Imus.

MARTIN: And another point, Kiran -- this is critically important -- far too many political folks always want to go, 'Oh, I was just kidding. I was being comedic.' Bill Maher is a satirist. He's a comedian. That's what he does. She is -- she is not in the same boat. So, I find it amazing when somebody gets in trouble and says, 'Oh, I was simply being a comedian....

CHETRY: Right...

MARTIN: ...I mean, she's trying to use the Don Imus defense.

CHETRY: But Bill Maher is also somebody who is a comedian, yet is extremely political, has an extreme point of view, and shares it.

MARTIN: Well, of course, but again, I think you could make the same comment regarding Chris Rock, when you listen to some of his stuff as well. Again, but we know what we are getting from Bill Maher. We are not looking...

CHETRY: I think we know what we are getting with Ann Coulter.

MARTIN: Yes, but she is a -- she does present herself as a journalist, as a columnist, as a commentator. We see her differently than we do a Bill Maher. She's not a comedian, so, you know what? Cut the jokes, Ann.

Apparently, Martin hasn't read any of Coulter's actual written material, since they're often full of satire.

One thing that has consistently missing from those on the Left that have commented on the latest Ann Coulter controversy is that while they go after her for being a "bully" or for "the debasing of political dialogue," they neglect the foul attacks on Christianity that former campaign staff of John Edwards campaign made when they were bloggers.

Another thing that has been neglected is that Elizabeth Edwards herself attacked her own neighbor as a "rabid, rabid Republican" who lives on a "slummy" property and "when he doesn't like somebody, the first thing he does is pull a gun out."

I guess Elizabeth Edwards can criticize Coulter when she "debases political dialogue," but she isn't above debasing her own neighbor.