More importantly, why would anyone assign credibility to a woman who any sane person would instinctively cross the room to get away from at a cocktail party?
So I can certainly sympathize with the U. of O. students who chose to protest this dreadful person's presence at their campus. I would have too. But there is a vast difference between objecting to or even protesting a public speaker and threatening violence. Which makes me really wonder about this:
Ann Coulter’s speech in Ottawa cancelled
Right-wing antagonist Ann Coulter cancelled a University of Ottawa address last night after organizers decided it wasn’t safe to speak.
The move followed boisterous demonstrations outside that sponsors of the appearance feared could turn violent.
“There was a risk there could be physical violence,” said Canadian conservative activist Ezra Levant, who was scheduled to introduce Ms. Coulter.
Let me get this straight - the organizers decided it wasn't safe for her to speak? Organizers, as in Ezra Levant?!
Am I the only person to smell a PR stunt here?
Levant claims that "police advised [the event] was untenable for safety reasons". I would very much like to have that verified by the actual police, because the amount of mileage Coulter and Levant are about to get out of this ("BANNED IN CANADA!") is likely going to more than make up for the money they were getting out of the Ottawa speech.
UPDATE: I would say that this pretty much confirms my theory -
Right-wing firebrand Ann Coulter, who was forced to cancel her speech to the University of Ottawa Tuesday night over fears for her safety, says she’s the victim of a hate crime under Canadian laws.
She said she’s hired Canadian conservative activist Ezra Levant to prepare a human-rights complaint that will test how equitably these hate-crime laws are applied.
Quid pro quo.
FURTHER UPDATE: I can' find it right now on the CBC site, but one of their reporters who was there is stating that there were maybe 1,500 people there (Levant is claiming 2,000), but only a couple of hundred of them were actual protesters. The rest - some 1,200 by her guess - were Coulter supporters and curiosity seekers lined up around the building just waiting to get into the hall. The hall only had a capacity of 400, so there was some frustration at the inefficient and disorganized process of verifying who had and had not pre-registered.
She also reported that the protesters themselves were rowdy but hardly threatening, and that the police were present, but only to investigate the pulling of a fire alarm.
And then there's Ezra's performance as he announced that the speech was to be cancelled. The video is here - I'll let you judge his acting abilities for yourself. I'm thinking Bill Shatner should play him in the movie.
STILL MORE UPDATES: Our intrepid Kady O'Malley has confirmed that it was not, in fact, the police who shut the event down, despite what Coulter and Levant are claiming. She has also been unable to find a single mention of rocks, sticks, tar or feathers on Facebook, Twitter or anywhere else, except for the endlessly repeated claims by Coulter supporters that threats were made. Google it yourself - there's nothing.
It's all very interesting - go read.
I agree, her staff cancelled the event, and on CBCNN this morning, I thought I heard Hannah Thibideau tell Heather that while on Parliament Hill, one of her security people told Jim Abbott that the event may be cancelled...
ReplyDeleteGuest, yeah Kady O'Malley has confirmed that bit about the event being cancelled (security staff said this about 5:15 PM).
ReplyDelete...that is security staff said at 5:15 that the event might be cancelled.
ReplyDeleteMakes me wonder why security staff would mention the speech may be cancelled, even though, from what I've been reading, there was only a small crowd at the hall entrance during that time?
ReplyDeleteThings that make you go, "Hmmm..."
ReplyDeleteOf course it's a stunt. This is why people need to ignore her. Without a noisey audience, she's no one.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't everyone simply ignore this hag instead of giving her the very thing she (and Levant) wants - the publicity of controversy. AC has fallen on tough times. According to the CBC's Neil MacDonald, she can barely command a $10,000 appearance fee which, in the US, is chump change. That's how Levant was able to get her to come up here at all.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't everyone simply ignore this hag instead of giving her the very thing she (and Levant) wants - the publicity of controversy. AC has fallen on tough times. According to the CBC's Neil MacDonald, she can barely command a $10,000 appearance fee which, in the US, is chump change. That's how Levant was able to get her to come up here at all.
ReplyDeleteCheap price tag for revitalising one's brand.
ReplyDelete