Marc Cooper needs a remedial class on the First Amendment

Journal - Opinions

I was listening to a recent edition of KCRW's Left, Right, and Center that was being guest-moderated by Marc Cooper of The Nation Magazine. An odd choice to be certain because the usual moderator appears to be reasonably centrist whereas Mr. Cooper's statements and writings clearly show him to be left-leaning.

During the program's usual rant session at the end of the show, Mr. Cooper chose to attack Ann Coulter with a quick barrage of insults and derogatory names. But Mr. Cooper was able to feel good about himself by chastising a group of students who heckled and booed her during a speech she was giving at the University of Connecticut. He wrapped up his rant saying "Shame on her for her repulsive views. Double-shame on the students who need a remedial class on the First Amendment".

The students' behavior was certainly rude, but it hardly rose to the level of a denial of Constitutional rights. The students had every legal right to voice their disagreement. If they are in need of a remedial class, it should be a class in manners and etiquette.

However, Mr. Cooper should probably join the students in their study of the art of civility. The aforementioned rant was lightly veiled as a criticism of the students, but the real target of his acrimony was Coulter herself. He called her names, he called her views repulsive, but not once did he back up his rancor with a single fact. This is the tactic of a coward. He knows that her publicly stated views are defensible, some may even be completely valid. So instead of honestly debating her views, he labels her with some diminutive terms and then changes the topic to one where he can take the moral high ground.

Triple-shame on you Mr. Cooper for your spinelessness.