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There were dozens of policy panels at this year's CPAC dealing with matters of substance like immigration, the United Nations, entitlements, and Internet freedom, but most of those only drew, at best, a couple hundred attendees. Coulter and the presidential candidates drew the biggest crowds. Indeed, the ballroom was jammed with thousands, including many young people, when Coulter performed her routine of one-liners and insults. The "joke" about Edwards being a faggot was greeted by laughter and some applause. My jaw dropped to the floor as one student, during the question and answer period, seriously asked Coulter for some career advice. Another wanted to know how she could get Coulter to her college campus for a speech.

For her part, Coulter protested the invasion of her personal privacy when a left-wing journalist managed to grab the microphone long enough to ask how she had become an advocate of the sanctity of marriage while breaking off three wedding engagements of her own.

I was hard-pressed to understand why Coulter made the Edwards comment, even if it was intended as a joke, when the candidate has a wife and children and has not been the subject of rumors that he is gay. I can only conclude, once again, that the epithet was intended to shock. Coulter garners attention and makes money at the expense of serious conservatism. In this case, Edwards is using Coulter's comments to generate sympathy and make money--"Coulter cash"--for his own campaign.

Behind the scenes of this year's conference was a struggle between foreign policy expert Frank Gaffney and anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist, involving whether Suhail Khan of the Islamic Free Market Institute would be elected to the board of the American Conservative Union, the host of CPAC. Khan, an engaging and friendly fellow, told me he didn't understand why Gaffney, president of the Center for Security Policy, had waged a campaign to keep him off the board. Gaffney wrote a piece, "Khan Job," attacking Khan for alleged ties to Islamic extremists. Khan, with the support of Norquist, won.

We had criticized last year's CPAC for including Soros-funded pro-drug groups like the Drug Policy Alliance. In a major victory, CPAC organizers expelled them this year. The ACLU, whose presence last year sparked controversy as well, was allowed back in, but was so isolated in the exhibit hall that many conservatives didn't even notice they were there.

There appears to be growing conservative sentiment to give Coulter the ACLU treatment or worse. Citing Coulter's comments, for example, Amy Ridenour of the National Center for Public Policy Research says it would be better not to have a CPAC than to have one that presents conservatism as a hostile, people-hating ideology.

Michelle Malkin reacted by writing on her blog that "With a single word, Coulter sullied the hard work of hundreds of CPAC participants and exhibitors and tarred the collective reputation of thousands of CPAC attendees."

Ironically, Coulter's "joke" about Edwards was presented in the context of saying that if she used the word "faggot" to describe him, she would have to go into rehab. The idea of getting Coulter some professional help doesn't sound so funny to me.

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Cliff Kincaid is Editor of Accuracy in Media and can be reached at cliff.kincaid@aim.org.

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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