At the risk of a surge of double and triple negatives, it's not for no reason that Ann Coulter has never spoken at a Center of the American Experiment event. And it's no accident that the head of a major conservative organization in Washington reportedly said a while back that he doesn't even want her setting heel in his building.

Folks on the right often criticize folks on the left for not criticizing one of their own when they say something thoroughly offensive and stupid. To avoid countercharges, let it be known that I wasn't a fan of Coulter and her style before last weekend and I'm even less so now, as her reference to presidential candidate John Edwards by the full two-syllable, homosexual-slur "F" word was galaxies beyond the pale. It was ugly and she ought to be ashamed, and frankly, I'm not too thrilled that her audience of conservative activists in Washington didn't make their displeasure immediately clear.

Why was her jab at a joke so unacceptable? Because decent people just don't talk like that, or at least they shouldn't. And no, this is not because of overly sensitive, politically correct touchiness.

But Coulter also was wrong because she was counterproductive. Conservatives are more inclined than liberals to challenge emotionally saturated initiatives, such as the drive for same-sex marriage. There's not the smallest doubt in my mind that the overwhelming majority of us who oppose same-sex marriage do so honorably, as we simply (or not so simply) fear that such a radical change in our most important institution would not be in the best interests of society generally and children especially. But making such a case is increasingly hard if high-profile conservatives talk dirty.

Actually, I had planned on writing a piece this week about tolerance and conservatism, but not this one. Rather, I've been intrigued by how well Rudy Giuliani is doing with Republicans across the country, social and religious conservatives evidently among 'em. You know the latter guys I'm talking about. All those Christians thumping without time, mercy or American place for anyone outside their parochial fold. Alliteratively speaking, all those "Religious Right" types. Most odious and bloodiest of all, all those bearers of another very bad and scarlet "F" word (think Mussolini).

Sure, it's 20 months to Election Day, and by no means are all religious conservatives enamored with America's Mayor. Not by several stretches. But for now, isn't it more than a little elucidating that so many of them appear open to supporting a presidential candidate who doesn't line up with them precisely on abortion, gun control and gay rights; who has been married three times; and who, for picturesque measure, has been famously photographed (I'm on real fragile ground here) wearing a dress?

Save for Coulter, what in the world is close-mindedness on the right coming to these days?

Oh, by the way, a well-known political/religious activist in Minneapolis of the larboard persuasion (that means left) recently declared at a community meeting on the North Side that American Experiment is anti-black and ultra-right-wing, not to mention "Klan-like." My biracial daughter already has written him a respectfully nasty letter. Maybe some of my liberal friends will follow up, too.