Right-wing political pundit Ann Coulter is being criticized for making references to Democratic presidential candidates John Edwards and Barack Obama that members of both parties have described as bigoted and "indefensible."
Coulter was commenting on the Democrats' slate of presidential hopefuls at a speech in Washington at the 34th annual meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday.
"I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards," said Coulter, "but it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I'm . . . kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards, so I think I'll just conclude here and take your questions." Her comment was followed by applause.
In a posting on his website, Edwards said Coulter's use of an anti-gay slur on Friday was "un-American and indefensible."
"In America, we strive for equality and embrace diversity. The kind of hateful language she used has no place in political debate or our society at large.
"I believe it is our moral responsibility to speak out against that kind of bigotry and prejudice every time we encounter it," reads the posting.
The New York Times contacted Coulter about her comment, and the newspaper said she wrote back: "C'mon, it was a joke. I would never insult gays by suggesting that they are like John Edwards. That would be mean."
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean called on Republicans to denounce Coulter's remarks and for Coulter to apologize.
"Ann Coulter's words of hate have no place in the public sphere much less our political discourse" said Kennedy in a statement.
"There is no place in political discourse for this kind of hate-filled and bigoted comments," added Dean.
A spokesperson for one Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, told CNN that Coulter's comments were "wildly inappropriate."
Known for her no-holds-barred style of political punditry, Coulter stirred up even more controversy Friday when she aired her views on Obama.
"I think Democrats have hit on the perfect candidate with Barack Obama, or as I call him, B. Hussein Obama," said Coulter.
"B. Hussein Obama is half white, half black, he has a background that's part atheist, part Christian, part Muslim. So there's something for every Democrat to vote for," she said to laughter.
"The liberal Democrats can vote for the atheist. The Bob Byrd Democrats can vote for the white guy. The black Muslims can vote for the black Muslim. And the African Americans can vote for Hillary."
