Apparently John Edwards is a bundle of broken sticks bound together for sufficient fire burning.

The potential presidential candidate, according to the self-righteous journalist Ann Coulter, is a faggot.

Once again, Coulter, who some call the spawn of Satan himself, has provoked controversy and has spoken for every bigot in America.

At the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, the right-wing pundit said, “I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word ‘faggot,’ so I – so kind of an impasse, can’t really talk about Edwards.”

Her comment was met with gasps of humor and cheering.

Anyone with a brain cell outside the conference met her comments with shock and anger.

The definition of faggot Coulter was using is obvious (she was calling Edwards a homosexual, not commenting on his ability to sustain a fire) but just as ridiculous.

This isn’t the first time the public has had to cringe about the fact that such a backward person could come out of the American school system. Coulter is notorious for unleashing her “brilliance” with no regret – she’s informed us that women should not have the right to vote and that all who follow Islam should be doggedly pursued until they convert to Christianity.

But her latest cry for attention hit a new low. This is a case of political mudslinging turned into political fire throwing (pun intended), and most of the public has decided it’s tired of the mud blinding them. Conservatives should accept it.

Coulter’s remarks need to be condemned, not just by angry student journalists, but by Republican politicians who laughed along with one of the most hated women in America. Such stereotypical and offensive language should not be used in political discussion.

Not only did Coulter call up an unfounded and unimportant aspect about a presidential candidate, she managed to ostracize an incredible portion of the nation.

The word “faggot” should be, and is to many people, just as offensive as the n-word. It is meant to demean and hurt. Even though Coulter will say she was simply slamming Edwards, the implications of her speech are much worse.

The conservative conference and those who laugh right beside Coulter are promoting hate. They are promoting a language that has provoked violence and hate crimes. She was simultaneously saying this hateful word is OK and funny. Tell that to Matthew Shepard’s family. Tell that to anyone who has suffered being called a faggot on a daily basis.

Edwards is fighting back, however. His campaign set a fundraising goal of $100,000. All the money donated is being called “Coulter Cash” to show her, and those like her, that he will not be intimidated.

All the candidates should work to turn the mud into mud pies just like Edwards, but the point is that this style of political bashing needs to change. We hope left- and right-wing pundits alike are smarter than Coulter, and her type of idiocy isn’t a sign of things to come in the race for the White House.

Knock on wood – or John Edwards, if you so desire.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board.