The American Spectator

p> THE COULTER WAR br> Re: Lisa Fabrizio’s War of Words : /p>

As difficult as it is to accept, Lisa Fabrizio’s advice today is proper and warranted. Specifically, conservatives should refrain from name-calling, word-twisting and mud-slinging as these are the tactics of the less accomplished among us. By that, I mean the emotion driven, half informed and gullible adherents to liberal politics.

It is difficult because natural instinct when slapped is to slap back, when shot at to shoot back and when grievously insulted to insult back. Massively. However, the cultural and political battle here will not be won by trading verbal brickbats; it will be won with facts, logic and common sense. Speaking truth to the misguided often makes them think private thoughts that can change their outlook. Of course, some will never be won over by logic, but insults make this a certainty and only invite a like response.

p>Ann Coulter is free to call John Edwards anything she chooses, but strong words have consequences and she must face those consequences. I like to think Ronald Reagan might have totally dismissed Edwards by referring to him as “well-dressed” or “good-looking” while all the time meaning “foppish fool.” br> — Deane Fish br> Altamont, New York /p>

Lisa Fabrizio writes “Every time I write a column that even remotely mentions homosexuality and history’s disinclination to regard it as a commendable lifestyle, I am inundated with email accusing me of hateful gay-bashing and labeled a homophobe.”

That is because virtually all political or social thought and commentary are now framed in hyperbole, and even if you do not think or write in hyperbole, the “appropriate” hyperbole is presumed for you. In the context of commentary on homosexuality, if you fail to think and write in support of 100% equality in every conceivable respect, the only alternative, which will be automatically imputed, is that you must prefer they be chased down streets with baseball bats. In such a world, a middle ground will not be rationally discussed.