Coulter: "I never heard of Scooter Libby until 10 minutes ago"

On the October 27 edition of Fox News' The Big Story with John Gibson, right-wing pundit Ann Coulter said she did not understand why the investigation into the alleged leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity "would have any effect on the White House." At the time, White House senior adviser Karl Rove and I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, were reportedly in legal jeopardy in connection with the case. Libby has since been indicted for obstruction of justice, false statements, and perjury. Coulter reasoned: "If he [Rove] is indicted, I feel for him personally. It has nothing to do with Bush and the Republican Party. He doesn't need Rove again, and I never heard of Scooter Libby until 10 minutes ago."

Coulter then responded to host John Gibson's question about indicted former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) by saying, "I think that is not going to inure to the Democrats' benefit, to be having this obviously political prosecution of a political enemy, that just shows them to be the fascists that they are."

Later in the segment, Coulter identified District of Columbia appeals court judge Janice Rogers Brown as her "favorite" candidate to replace withdrawn Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers. When Gibson asked why Brown was Coulter's favorite, Coulter responded: "She has a well thought-out, conservative judicial philosophy. She is eminently qualified. And most importantly -- not most importantly, but importantly -- she is a black woman, and that will drive the Democrats so crazy, we might not even be able to execute them in Texas, which is a darn shame."

From the October 27 edition of Fox News' The Big Story with John Gibson:

COULTER: And as for Rove and Libby, I don't know. I don't understand why that would have any effect on the White House. He doesn't need Rove anymore. I feel sorry for Rove personally -- I don't know what's going to happen. If he is indicted, I feel for him personally. It has nothing to do with Bush and the Republican Party. He doesn't need Rove again, and I never heard of Scooter Libby until 10 minutes ago.

GIBSON: What about DeLay? His picture is on the screen, as well.

COULTER: I think that is not going to inure to the Democrats' benefit, to be having this obviously political prosecution of a political enemy. No, that just shows them to be the fascists that they are.

[...]

COULTER: And by the way [Bush], if he sends up someone that we have been clamoring for, the deep bench of right-wing --

GIBSON: Some names?

COULTER: Well, my favorite, Janice Rogers Brown.

GIBSON: Why is she your favorite?

COULTER: She has a well thought-out, conservative judicial philosophy. She is eminently qualified. And most importantly -- not most importantly, but importantly -- she is a black woman, and that will drive the Democrats so crazy, we might not even be able to execute them in Texas, which is a darn shame.

—J.S.