12 October 2007
Jewish Democrats in the United States have asked news networks to drop the conservative commentator Ann Coulter from their programs after she had said that Jews should convert to Christianity to be "perfected." On Monday, Coulter told CNBC talk show host Donnie Deutsch that her dream America would "look like New York City during the [2004] Republican National Convention. In fact, that's what I think heaven is going to look like." Coulter added: "People were happy," she said. "They're Christian. They're tolerant. They defend America."
Deutsch, who is Jewish, asked her if that meant Jews should convert. Coulter said yes and later added, "We just want Jews to be perfected, as they say." Deutsch said that was offensive, and Coulter later clarified: "We consider ourselves perfected Christians. For me to say that for you to become a Christian is to become a perfected Christian is not offensive at all."
The National Jewish Democratic Council has now launched an online petition to CNN, Fox News, MBC, CBS and ABC, urging them to no longer use her as a commentator. "While Ms. Coulter has her freedom of speech, you have the freedom to exercise better judgment," the petition says. "You wouldn't put people who claim Martians roam the earth to frequently comment on science. It is time to stop putting Ms. Coulter on the air to comment on politics, thus giving her free publicity and attention."
