Rahm Emanuel Calls Ann Coulter a ‘Hatemonger’ on House Floor

It really has been fascinating to watch the left-wing hysteria this week over Ann Coulter’s new book “Godless: The Church of Liberalism.” Of course, from a publicity standpoint, Coulter must be thrilled about all the free attention these folks have given her.

Yet, maybe the most telling example of liberal disgust with Coulter came from Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Illinois) who actually took some time on the House floor to discuss his outrage over this book. In his minute-plus diatribe, he referred to Coulter as a “hatemonger.” Emanuel even likened Coulter to terrorists stating that, “The hate she spews is the same kind of hatred we're battling in the war on terror.”

Emanuel concluded by chastising Republicans for not speaking against the conservative author asking, “Does Ann Coulter speak for you?"

What follows is a transcript of this speech, and a video link, both courtesy of Crooks and Liars.

Emanuel: Mr. Speaker, as United States citizens, we are blessed with many freedoms, among those is the right to freely speak our minds. While Freedom of Speech is one of the things that makes our country great, it also means we have to endure the words of a hatemonger like Ann Coulter.  In her new book, the goddess of the Right slanders the 9/11 widows, writing, and I quote, "these broads are millionaires, lionized on TV and in articles about them, reveling in their status as celebrities and stalked by grief-razors [sic]. I have never seen people enjoying their husbands' deaths so much." Lest Mrs—Lest Ms. Coulter forget, more than 3,000 Americans were killed simply because they lived in the United States.  

That doesn't matter to Ms. Coulter because she's doing it to enrich herself. But there is something more sinister in Ms. Coulter's words:  The hate she spews is the same kind of hatred we're battling in the war on terror. As a country of thought and reason, I urge all of us to reject it.  I must ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: Does Ann Coulter speak for you when she suggests poisoning [..] Supreme Court Justices or slanders the 9/11 windows—widows?  If not, speak now.  Your silence allows her to be your spokesman.  She should apologize to all of us who've lost our fellow citizens [unintelligible]