Well, Ann Coulter – love her or hate her (seems to be little gray area) – is at it again.

On Friday, March 2, Coulter gave a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in which she made the following comment:

I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, but it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word ‘faggot,’ so I’m – so, kind of at an impasse, can’t really talk about Edwards, so I think I’ll just conclude here and take your questions.

— Ann Coulter, CPAC

Coulter – whose remark was met with applause at the conference – immediately came under fire for her remarks, and both Republicans and Democrats denounced the statement, and many asked for an apology.

Coulter replied to the firestorm with an email to the NY Times, in which she reportedly wrote the following:

C’mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting that they are like John Edwards. That would be mean.

— Ann Coulter, email to NY Times

There have been – and I’m certain will continue to be – demands that she apologize, but what’s the point? (Edward Kennedy, [D] Mass. – “Ann Coulter’s words of hate have no place in the public sphere much less our political discourse. Not only should she apologize but those who participated in the conference with her should denounce her shameful and divisive actions.”)

I can see the calls – such as those from Howard Dean and John McCain – for leaders to denounce (or stand behind) the remarks; however, I see no reason for an apology.

What ever happened to:

I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it.

— Francois Voltaire

No, I don’t agree with what she said, and her explanation to the Times is just schoolyard.

But if that’s what she believes – or wants to stand behind – so be it.

She’ll be offended by what I said about my being offended by what she said.

So I should apologize to her?

See how quickly this gets silly?