米政治評論家が大統領選候補者をゲイと批判、波紋呼ぶ

米政治評論家が大統領選候補者をゲイと批判、波紋呼ぶ
2007.03.04
Web posted at: 18:00 JST
- CNN/AP

ワシントン──保守派の論客である米政治評論家アン・カルター氏が、２００８年米大統領選への出馬を表明しているジョン・エドワーズ元上院議員（民主党）をゲイと決めつける内容の発言をしたことで、与野党の有力政治家や同性愛者団体から非難の矛先を向けられている。

カルター氏は２日夜に当地で開かれた第３４回保守派政治行動会議年次総会で、大統領選出馬を表明している民主党員について語った中で、「『ファゴット』（同性愛者を指す隠語）ということばを使ったら、リハビリに行かなければならない。ある種の行き詰まりを感じるので、エドワーズ氏について話すことはできない」などと述べ、会場の喝采を浴びた。

エドワーズ氏は自身のウェブサイトで「非アメリカ的で弁解の余地がない」とカルター氏の発言を批判。「われわれは米国で平等のために戦い、多様性を受け入れてきた。（カルター氏の）悪意ある発言は、政治的討論やわれわれの社会では一般に受け入れられない」として、偏見に反対の声を上げることは道徳的責任だと指摘した。エドワーズ氏はそのうえで、「カルター氏対策費」として今週中に１０万ドルの募金を呼びかける映像をサイトに掲載した。

共和党から出馬宣言したジョン・マケイン上院議員は、カルター氏の発言は「非常に不適切」とコメント。エドワード・ケネディ上院議員（民主党）は声明を発表し、カルター氏に謝罪を求めるとともに、現場にいた総会出席者らがカルター氏の行動を非難するべきだと述べた。

名誉棄損に反対する米同性愛者団体の関係者は「下品で受け入れ難い」とカルター氏の発言を厳しく批判。現場の聴衆の喝采についても、「総会で奨励された差別的政策の根底に、同氏の醜い偏見があることの重要な暗示」との認識を示した。また、民主党全米委員会のハワード・ディーン委員長は共和党への書簡で、カルター氏の発言を非難するよう呼びかけた。

カルター氏は米紙ニューヨーク・タイムズに対し、発言が冗談だったと釈明。「ゲイがエドワーズ氏のようだなどと言って侮辱したことはない」としている。

Coulter under fire for anti-gay slur
POSTED: 1131 GMT (1931 HKT), March 4, 2007

Story Highlights
• Coulter condemned for referring to John Edwards as a "faggot"
• Edwards attempting to raise $100,000 in 'Coulter Cash' for his campaign
• Comment was made by Coulter at 34th Conservative Political Action Conference
• CNN has reached out to Coulter and has so far had no response

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Prominent politicians from both parties and a gay-rights group on Saturday condemned right-wing commentator Ann Coulter for her reference Friday to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards as a "faggot."

"Ann Coulter's use of an anti-gay slur yesterday was un-American and indefensible," Edwards said in a posting on his Web site, www.johnedwards.com.

"In America, we strive for equality and embrace diversity. The kind of hateful language she used has no place in political debate or our society at large.

"I believe it is our moral responsibility to speak out against that kind of bigotry and prejudice every time we encounter it."

Edwards' campaign posted the video on their Web site, and asked readers to help them "raise $100,000 in 'Coulter Cash' this week to keep this campaign charging ahead and fight back against the politics of bigotry."

Coulter made her comment in Washington during an address to the 34th annual meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference, during which she gave her opinions about the Democrats' slate of presidential hopefuls.

"I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, but it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I'm - so, kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards, so I think I'll just conclude here and take your questions," said Coulter, whose comment was followed by applause.

CNN has reached out to Coulter's representative, and received no response.

But the New York Times reported that she responded, in an e-mail, "C'mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting that they are like John Edwards. That would be mean."

A spokesman for Sen. John McCain, a Republican presidential candidate, called Coulter's comments to the conservative group "wildly inappropriate."

In a written statement, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, said, "Ann Coulter's words of hate have no place in the public sphere much less our political discourse. Not only should she apologize but those who participated in the conference with her should denounce her shameful and divisive actions."

"Ann Coulter's use of this anti-gay slur is vile and unacceptable," said Neil G. Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, "and the applause from her audience is an important reminder that Coulter's ugly brand of bigotry is at the root of the discriminatory policies being promoted at this gathering."

In a written statement, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean called on Republicans to denounce her remarks. "There is no place in political discourse for this kind of hate-filled and bigoted comments," he said.

During a question-and-answer session, Coulter referred back to the issue of gays by alluding to the bid for the Republican presidential nomination being made by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

"I do want to point out one thing that has been driving me crazy with the media -- how they keep describing Mitt Romney's position as being pro-gays, and that's going to upset the right wingers," she said. "Well, you know, screw you! I'm not anti-gay. We're against gay marriage. I don't want gays to be discriminated against."

She added, "I don't know why all gays aren't Republican. I think we have the pro-gay positions, which is anti-crime and for tax cuts. Gays make a lot of money and they're victims of crime. No, they are! They should be with us."

A spokesman for Romney called Coulter's use of the slur "offensive."