And now I will tell you my Ann Coulter story.

Fall 2003 to Spring 2004 I went to UNC Chapel Hill, which has a smashing school of journalism. Ann Coulter was invitied by the school as a special speaker on behalf of the College Republicans. She charged six thousand dollars to speak.

The school footed the bill. Granted, six grand isn't that much for a big school like that, but it was half of someone's tuition for a full semester on campus.

In March of 2004, Helen Thomas spoke in our lecture hall as a part of a special series of speakers for journalism undergrads. She charged nothing. Helen Thomas was a pioneer in journalism, specifically for women, but also for everyone else because of her directness, her honesty, and her tact.

Ann Coulter will never be half the journalist of Helen Thomas, and yet she exploits the profession, lacking integrity, intelligence, and really throws the code of ethics out the window. Mudslinger is probably the only term she's deserving of.