Louisiana Newspaper Decides to Keep Ann Coulter -- 'For Now'

By: E&P Staff The Times of Shreveport, La., announced that it's keeping controversial conservative columnist Ann Coulter. But Executive Editor Alan English didn't sound too enthusiastic about it.

"I'm not so sure we'll keep Coulter's column for the long haul, but she'll remain a Sunday Times columnist for now," English wrote yesterday. "Just as you choose to read any column or story, including this one, you can choose to read her diatribes and be entertained by her rhetoric -- or not."

The Times received nearly 500 e-mails after Editorial Page Editor Craig Durrett announced early last month that the paper was thinking about dropping Coulter. According to English, the 10% or so of the e-mails that were from local readers ran about 60% to 40% for retaining Coulter. "This honest request for input results in an honest response," English wrote. "She will stay for now."

He added: "The Shreveport-Bossier City response to the question of whether Coulter should stay was predominantly met with 'if you drop her, I'll drop you.' At least one self-identified liberal thought we ought to keep her because she presents a vivid example of intolerance that the reader often found on the far right. ..."

English also said of Coulter: "A few weeks back, we began to question the value of what she brings to the newspaper as she designated Rep. John Murtha as inspiration for fragging (the wounding or killing of fellow soldiers) and called for the deaths of some journalists. Opinions of these subjects aside, there is a level of civil discourse we hope to foster on our pages. Providing a platform for anyone to lob threats irresponsibly -- even in hyperbole -- isn't for our community.

"Her 'shock-jocking' often falls below a level of taste for us. I have said she is the Howard Stern of political commentary. Certainly both have made some useful political points occasionally, but then even a blind squirrel can find a nut sometimes."

He added: "No one gets a lifetime appointment to appear as a columnist on our pages. Nor do we wish to provide a forum for self-serving columns, as some of Coulter's tend to be when she either publicizes her latest book or chooses to settle personal scores in what should be public-serving and responsible commentary."

And English said: "As we move forward, I anticipate we will grow tired of Coulter's rants and sometimes low-quality hyperbole that borders, again, on a strong sense of self-promotion and sandbox name-calling."

Coulter, whose column runs in about 100 papers via Universal Press Syndicate, was dropped last month by two dailies -- The Augusta (Ga.) Chroncle and The Gazette of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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Related E&P stories:


-- Augusta Editor Explains Why He Dropped Coulter Column

-- Coulter Jokes to Reporter About Mailing White Powder to 'NY Times'

-- Universal Says It Doesn't Think Coulter Plagiarized

-- Mixed Reader Reaction to Shreveport Paper's Possible Coulter Drop

-- 'NY Post' Cites Evidence That Ann Coulter Plagiarized Parts of Book, Columns

-- Universal Executive Responds to 'E&P' Column on Ann Coulter

-- Dave Astor: Enabling Ann Coulter