Political commentator Ann Coulter wielded a wealth of wit and facts to share her conservative message with a crowd of about 400 people at the Sparks Building when she visited Penn State Thursday night.
Coulter began by discussing her new book, “Mugged: Racial Demagoguery from the Seventies to Obama.” She said white liberals are responsible for black oppression, despite taking credit for granting black equality. Although often labeled racist, Republicans advanced the civil rights movement, she said.
After a jury acquitted O.J. Simpson of the murder of his ex-wife, America became a healthier country for black people, Coulter said. They were held responsible and treated like adults, Coulter said.
All that changed when Americans elected President Barack Obama, she said. Liberals began to claim racism again, Coulter said.
“We had a dozen years of paradise, and then Obama came and brought it all back,” Coulter said. “A half-black Hawaiian born in 1961 — that was supposed to show America is no longer a racist country.”
Monica Huskins (freshman-international politics) said Coulter really made a point that Republicans were supportive of black people, even though Democrats seem to have them under their wing.
Huskins said she’s read at least six of Coulter’s books.
“I like how she has such personality and always says what’s on her mind,” Huskins said.
Not everyone was happy about Coulter’s visit. About a dozen members of Students for a Democratic Society stood outside the entrance to the lecture hall in Sparks to oppose Coulter’s message. A few held a large banner bearing the words, “Respect existence or expect resistance,” while others held individual cardboard signs in dissent.
Wendi Barnett (junior-anthropology) said it wouldn’t make sense not to protest.
“She’s extremely radical. If she were to talk and be more respectful, if she were civil about things, I’d be able to listen to her and respect her opinion,” Barnett said.
Two University Park police guarded the lecture hall as a precaution, and Coulter brought her private security guard, said Penn State College Republicans Chairman Jordan Harris.
Everyone was civil, he said, and that’s what he was expecting. Harris (senior-history and economics) said he’s pleased the students had the opportunity to protest.
“I’m very happy to have people engaged,” he said. “That’s been my position from the beginning.”
Coulter also railed against President Obama’s health care plan. America will descend into a poor, weak country if “Obamacare” is not repealed, Coulter said. The economy has gotten so bad that Obama is telling his base he promised hope and change, but not hope and change overnight.
“I’ll promise you hope and change overnight, and that night will be November 6,” Coulter said.
