Gonzales and Coulter honored with ‘Sitting Duck Award’

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales may be under siege for the improper firing of eight U.S. attorneys for not trumping up charges and harassing Democrats, but he is still raking in awards and accolades.

Gonzales won the uncoveted annual "Sitting Duck Award" for being an easy target, from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists last month. Gonzales was the clear winner for either being a liar or having no idea what’s going in the AG’s office, and when he was asked to explain his role in the firings to a Senate Committee, Gonzales said, "I don't recall" or "I have no recollection" 64 times, drawing the disbelief from even Republican Senators.

The thing that really caught my attention was last year’s winner. Previous winners have included political commentator Ann Coulter, who was recognized in 2006 for "cheapening political discourse in America" and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in 2004.

“Cheapening political discourse in America?” Surely they jest. Cleary University is set to pay racist hatemonger Ann Coulter $30,000 to speak for 90 minutes to spread her unique brand of hate speech at the school’s Economic Club Speakers Luncheon Series in the fall. In the face of outrage and protest over her appearance, Cleary President Tom Sullivan says the series is to “enrich the community by hosting speakers who can share a broad spectrum of business, social, political, intellectual, and cultural experiences." He has defended her appearance by blaming bloggers for the fuss, but Mr. Sullivan now needs to add every newspaper columnist to his list.

That take by Mr. Sullivan appears to be in direct conflict with every newspaper columnist in America who said Coulter “cheapens political discourse.” Coulter’s appearance kicks off Cleary University Founders Week Celebration. I wonder what award they will give her.