MSNBC hyped Coulter interview in which she attacked Pres. Clinton as a "latent homosexual"

Summary: MSNBC hyped Ann Coulter's interview with CNBC's The Big Idea host Donny Deutsch, during which she said of former President Clinton: "[T]hat sort of rampant promiscuity does show some level of latent homosexuality." The interview, characterized by MSNBC as "must-see TV," coupled with an upcoming appearance on Hardball with Chris Matthews, will mark at least the sixth and seventh times NBC, or one of its cable news channels, has hosted Coulter since the publication of her latest book, Godless.

The July 26 edition of MSNBC News Live highlighted right-wing pundit Ann Coulter's taped interview with CNBC's The Big Idea host Donny Deutsch, set to air on that day's edition of The Big Idea. MSNBC featured a clip of Coulter's interview, during which she said that former President Bill Clinton exhibits "some level of latent homosexuality." When asked by Deutsch if she was indeed calling Clinton a "latent homosexual," Coulter replied, "Yeah," and mentioned, apparently in support of her claim, "passages" she had "memorized" in the so-called Starr Report -- former independent counsel Kenneth Starr's report to the House of Representatives, resulting from his investigation into the Monica Lewinsky controversy.

MSNBC anchor Amy Robach characterized Coulter's interview with Deutsch, as well as her scheduled appearance on the July 26 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, as "must-see TV, featuring the one and only Ann Coulter."

Despite her vitriolic attacks on the 9-11 widows, highlighted by NBC's Today host Matt Lauer, Coulter's appearances on the July 26 editions of The Big Idea and Hardball will mark at least the sixth and seventh times NBC, or one of its cable news channels, has hosted Coulter since the publication of her book, Godless: The Church of Liberalism (Crown Forum, June 2006) and come at a time when other media outlets are dropping Coulter's syndicated column. The Gazette of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, recently decided to stop publishing Coulter's syndicated column as did The Augusta Chronicle in Georgia and Yes! Weekly a Greensboro, N.C., newspaper, as noted by Greg Sargent on The Horse's Mouth weblog. Media Matters for America has started a petition urging the media to stop providing Coulter and her ilk a platform to launch baseless and venomous attacks of this sort.

From the July 26 edition of MSNBC News Live:

ROBACH: Well, no one has ever accused Ann Coulter of holding back on what she really thinks. Now, she's sharing her theory on Bill Clinton's sexuality. In a taped segment on tonight's edition of CNBC's The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, Coulter said she believes the former president's behavior shows, quote, "some level of latent homosexuality."

[begin video clip]

DEUTSCH: Off the air, you were talking about Bill Clinton. Is there anything you want to say about Clinton?

COULTER: No.

DEUTSCH: No? OK. All right. Did you find him attractive? Is that what it was?

COULTER: No!

DEUTSCH: You don't find him attractive?

COULTER: No. OK, fine, I'll say it on air.

DEUTSCH: Most women find him attractive.

COULTER: No.

DEUTSCH: OK, say it on air.

COULTER: I think that sort of rampant promiscuity does show some level of latent homosexuality.

DEUTSCH: OK, I think you need to say that again -- that Bill Clinton, you think, on some level has -- is a latent homosexual. Is that what you're saying?

COULTER: Yeah. I mean that sort of just completely anonymous -- I don't know if you read the Starr Report. The rest of us were glued to it. I have many passages memorized. No, there is more plot and dialogue in a porno movie.

[end video clip]

ROBACH: The Coulter interview can be seen in its entirety tonight on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, that's at 10 p.m. Eastern on CNBC. Coulter will also be a guest on Hardball tonight at 7. That's right here on MSNBC. A night of must-see TV, featuring the one and only Ann Coulter.

This is just the latest of Coulter's attacks on Clinton. She has previously called the former president "a very good rapist," and claimed that he "molest[ed] the help."

—S.S.M.