CONSERVATIVE BLOGGERS: `AGE OF ANN HAS PASSED'

Right-of-center bloggers, led by James Joyner of Outside the Beltway are calling for an end to the shenn-ANN-igans.

Saying that Ann Coulter is doing damage to the conservative movement with her "reckless language," the bloggers have sent an open letter to organizers of last weekend's Conservative Political Action Conference asking that Coulter not be invited back again.

"Coulter’s vicious word choice tells the world she cares little about the feelings of a large group that often feels marginalized and despised. Her word choice forces conservatives to waste time defending themselves against charges of homophobia rather than advancing conservative ideas." --James Joyner

Joyner says Coulter has gone too far and it is time to do more than shake a finger at her.

"Denouncing Coulter is not enough. After her "raghead" remark in 2006 she took some heat. Yet she did not grow and learn. We should have been more forceful. This year she used a gay slur. What is next? If Senator Barack Obama is the de facto Democratic Presidential nominee next year will Coulter feel free to use a racial slur? How does that help conservatism?"

In the letter, endorsed by other conservative bloggers, Joyner says CPAC organizers should keep Coulter off their roster of speakers next time around.

"CPAC sponsors, the Age of Ann has passed. We, the undersigned, request that CPAC speaking invitations no longer be extended to Ann Coulter. Her words and attitude simply do too much damage."

It would seem at least one of the sponsors of CPAC, The National Center for Public Policy Research, is in tune with the bloggers' sentiments. The center's president Amy Ridenour expressed disgust for Coulter's comments on her blog.

"It would be better, in my opinion, to not have a CPAC at all than to have one that presents conservatism as a hostile, people-hating ideology. We conservatives have enough trouble overcoming the false things that are said about us without paying for a platform upon which we shoot ourselves annually in the foot."