So now its official. In addition to being a lying, racist, right-wing hack who will say just about anything to stir up some controversy, we now know for a fact that Ann Coulter is also a serial plagiarist. We've been complaining about Coulter's noxious mixture of venom and stupidity for what seems like an eternity, but now that we have some actual evidence that Copycat Coulter is a serial plagiarist we might just be able to do something about it. Now is the time if we want to stop her from spewing her venom.
And I've got a plan.
Charges that Coulter is a plagiarist have been circulating around the web for a while (for example, see
here,
here, and
here [warning: very rude language from the Rude Pundit.) As you probably know by now, however, a pattern recognition expert named John Barrie recently ran some of her work through a computer system he developed and documented some clear examples of plagiarism. The New York Post then picked up the
story, prompting Justin Rood over at
TPMmuckraker.com to call Universal Press Syndicate, which distributes Coulter's newspaper column to about 100 papers, and ask if there would be any consequences. After hemming a bit on the issue, UPS has decided to contact Barrie and review the charges.
Progressives have been complaining about Coulter for a long time. Just a few days ago, for example, our own Mary Scott O'Connor posted a great rant, which I encourage everyone to read. (And don't forget to show Mary some love by clicking through to her blog.) But we need to do more than complain. We need to neutralize Coulter's ability to spread her toxic filth, and we need to do it now. Clearly, the Post story provides a rare opportunity to do some serious damage to Coulter's ability to spew her poison. The media seems willing to tolerate her hateful lies, but they may not be willing to tolerate her documented plagiarism. If we jump on this, and fast, we may actually be able to put a serious dent in her career.
Here's what I think we should do:
1) Brand her as the plagiarist she is. I suggest we follow the Post's example and all call her "Copycat Coulter." Its catchy, easy to remember, and devastating. From now on, every time you refer to her please call her Copycat Ann or Copycat Coulter. If we say it frequently enough it will get embedded in the popular mind and stick to her like glue. The time to brand her ass is now. Some photoshop action wouldn't hurt either.
2) We need to pressure UPS to drop her column. Doing so would be a major, major blow to her career. I see two ways to do this: contact UPS directly, of course, but more importantly: pressure the newspapers that subscribe to her column to complain to UPS about her work, or better yet to stop buying her column alltogether. I was really struck by the following bit from Rood's piece about contacting UPS:
So what happens when a columnist is found using other's words without attribution? I called Universal Press Syndicate, which distributes Coulter's column to over 100 newspapers.
What's the story? I asked Kathie Kerr, the company's media relations chief. Is your company considering any action against Coulter? Will there be any fallout? "I think [Coulter] is the one that needs to address this," Kerr told me at first...
So is there an investigation into Coulter's writings? "Not that I know of," Kerr replied. She promised to get in touch with Coulter's editor and call me back.
Also, Kerr told me that so far, none of the papers carrying Coulter's column have called to complain about the plagiarism, or to drop the feature.
That's the key. If we get newspapers that carry her column to complain about the plagiarism to UPS, or better yet to drop the column because of the charge, then UPS might just get nervous enough to can Copycat Coulter's ass.
So, what we need is:
A) A list of newspapers that carry Coulter's column, with contact info.
B) People to write letters to the editor complaining about both her noxious filth and her plagiarism. I think the basic frame should be: "Enough is enough. First Copycat Coulter insults the 9/11 widows [etc etc], and now we learn that she is a plagiarist? How can your newspaper publish the work of a confirmed plagiarist? I demand an apology from your editor!"
C) We need the Copycat Coulter meme to go viral. We need all the bloggers to write on this, we need insulting graphics springing up all over the place, and we need everyone to start raising a massive shitstorm with all the media outlets that let her show her plagiarizing face on television. Start yelling. Loud.
The newspapers and the letters to the editor are especially important. Most newspapers can't afford to lose subscribers right now, and they spook easily. That's the real exploitable point. I tried finding out which papers carry her column, but haven't had much luck. Post newspapers that carry Copycat Coulter's column in the comments, and I'll update the diary.