Ann Coulter Calls President Obama The ‘R-Word’ After Debate, Stands By It

Ann Coulter, conservative pundit, is not known for shying away from expressing controversial ideas and opinions on the national stage — but many were angered by an offensive tweet the TV personality and writer sent last night about the third and final presidential debate.

GOP contender Mitt Romney adopted a softer stance than incumbent opponent Barack Obama, and according to Ann Coulter, Romney was a gentleman. Coulter herself did not espouse the same grace in her assessment of the Republican hopeful’s performance.

The blonde Republican media star took to Twitter to commend her candidate, and offend the families of many with disabilities as she expressed herself. On the microblogging service, Coulter garnered a bunch of retweets and angry replies when she tweeted:

“I highly approve of Romney’s decision to be kind and gentle to the retard.”

As of now, more than 1,108 people have “favorited” Coulter’s “retarded” tweet.

Politicker quoted a man named Dan Niblock, who is a father to a small child with Down syndrome. Niblock appealed to Coulter two weeks ago to stop calling people with whom she disagreed “retarded,” and the blog quotes the dad as having said:

“I want Ann Coulter to apologize for using a form of hate speech that is particularly searing to people who have special needs. This isn’t the first time she has tweeted the word ‘retarded’ to insult her rivals, and she needs to stop. Her behavior is not acceptable.”

Coulter has responded, but not to apologize or use another word to articulate her disagreement. Instead, she says:

“The only people who will be offended are too retarded to understand it.”

Coincidentally, we’re sure, Coulter is also promoting a brand-new book, Mugged. Do you think use of the word “retarded” in the way Ann Coulter is in the habit of using it is offensive, or is it a part of the vernacular that is common enough that it doesn’t bother you?

I highly approve of Romney’s decision to be kind and gentle to the retard.

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) October 23, 2012