I've been extremely hard on Coulter in the past (below you will see why), but in this case, I have to give credit where credit is due. Ann is right on here, and in confronting the lunatics she has actually shown some courage and integrity for a change.

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Welcome to reality Ann, I'm sure your stay will be brief as those of us who live here have never seen you here before.

For those of you who do not know, Ann Coulter came out strongly against the conspiracy theories that suggest that President Obama is not a natural born citizen. See the video here:

If the embed doesn't work, click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYQr2a4vqqg 

Not only did Ann come out strongly against it, she called those who believe in the conspiracy "Just a few cranks out there... like when networks bring out the three remaining klanners on network TV". I've been extremely hard on Coulter in the past (below you will see why), but in this case, I have to give credit where credit is due. Ann is right on here, and in confronting the lunatics she has actually shown some courage and integrity for a change. She couldn't resist some of that old Coulter'esque hyperbole with "The last three remaining Klanners", but we'll give her a pass on that this time. Don't I wish it were true, one only has to go to the Southern Poverty Law Center, http://www.splcenter.org/index.jsp website to see what the truth is regarding the numbers of people in racist hate groups.

In leaving behind the realm of the Right Wing Nuts, albeit momentarily, Ann has left her base behind. Prominent among her, perhaps now former, base were the folks at Free Republic www.freerepublic.com who up until now defended her vigorously even when she uttered some of her more crazy statements, like:

- (Speaking of Muslims) We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity.

"I'm more of a man than any liberal." (which is a curious statement considering that Ann has dated several Liberal men and is reportedly dating one now. I'm going to stop my commentary there before I get into trouble)

- (Speaking about wanting Jews to convert to Christianity) "We just want Jews to be perfected, as they say."

- "If we're so cruel to minorities, why do they keep coming here? Why aren't they sneaking across the Mexican border to make their way to the Taliban?" (I guess Ann is referring here to the secret molecular transportation device in South Texas that beams one directly to Taliban controlled regions of Afghanistan)

- "If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democrat president. It's kind of a pipe dream, it's a personal fantasy of mine, but I don't think it's going to happen."  (This self-hating theme occurs/recurs frequently in Coulter statements. It makes one wonder if Ann realizes she is asking to be disenfranchised.)

"If I'm going to say anything about John Edwards in the future, I'll just wish he had been killed in a terrorist assassination plot."

"We need to execute people like (John Walker Lindh) in order to physically intimidate liberals."

"The swing voters -- I like to refer to them as the idiot voters because they don't have set philosophical principles. You're either a liberal or you're a conservative if you have an IQ above a toaster." (Can we get the next couple of GOP Presidential nominees to take Ann on the road with them to Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania?)

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Given that history of statements, going for the reality based and reasoned approach is a stunning departure for Ann.

The Freepers at Free Republic are furious that Coulter has refused to join them on this insane trip to conspiracy land. The thread to discuss her comments on "Birthers" immediately jumped to over 200 replies, see http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2301269/posts . Mind you, everything Ann has done in the past has been met with unqualified support on Free Republic. Here are some of the responses to her saying Obama's citizenship is not in question:

"Ann Coulter has an opinion. Whoop-de-doo."

"So how do you know Ann? Are you going to believe Obama who lies with impunity every day? So you take a liars word for it. Go it."

"She went from calling Duncan Hunter the ideal candidate to Mitt the bottom feeder Romney. Can't make a much wider swing than that." (Does that mean Mitt shouldn't try to attend the upcoming Freeper convention?)

"So Ann has another Liberal boyfriend? Ann dating Bill puzzled me for a long time, and now she is starting to behave like some of the other women who once claimed to be Conservative."

"ANN DRANK THE FOOL AID!!!! "

and my favorite because it says so much by a poster named Paulycy:

"Don't flame me, I'm just trying to think this through because this doesn't sound like an Ann Coulter position at all."

You are right, Paulycy, this does NOT sound like an Ann Coulter position. It is entirely too reasoned and normal and it misses an opportunity to take a fact-challenged cheap shot at a Democrat (although as I said, the hyperbole is still there). Never fear Coulter supporters, at the next available opportunity, I am sure we will see the return of the real Ann, she'll make a completely outrageous attack on a Democrat or Democrats and her brief flirtation with reality will soon become a distant memory. However, I'm willing to be proven wrong. I've heard this reality thing can become addictive.

Authors Website: http://www.ibtimes.com/blog/steven-leser_103/bio/

Authors Bio:
A political blogger for the International Business Times, Steve Leser is a hot national political pundit. He has appeared on MSNBC's Coundown with Keith Olbermann, Comedy Central's Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Russia Today's (RT) Crosstalk with Peter Lavelle. But, Leser is most known for his work as commentator and the progressive counterpoint on the very conservative FOX News cable network. Steve Leser has been frequently featured on Your World with Neil Cavuto, Bulls & Bears, and Cashing In against such FOX notables as Neil Cavuto and Stuart Varney. Leser gave the stirring live commentary on FOX as news broke of the resignation of Sarah Palin as Governor of Alaska.

Steve Leser is in demand in New York as keynote speaker for his authority on the power and machinations of Republican think tanks, the economy, health care reform and various other political topics.

Leser is also a political organizer and has held positions within the Democratic Party including District Chair and Public Relations Chair within county organizations.