Ann Coulter is searching for a liberal.
The political commentator and writer is issuing a challenge to the “polemicists of the left,” according to the American Conservative Union, to debate her at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.
“The CPAC stage – and Ann Coulter – stands ready for a serious liberal willing to defend the creeping socialism of Obama’s America,” the event organizers plan to announce on Monday afternoon.
CPAC, the annual gathering of conservatives, is scheduled for March 6-8 at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort & Convention Center outside Washington.
Organizers noted CPAC’s history of how the late conservative columnist Robert Novak and veteran television journalist Sam Donaldson used to engage in an “ever-popular rhetorical slugfest.”
The American Conservative Union, which organizes CPAC, is asking liberals to contact them if interested in taking Coulter up on the offer.
“Challengers should contact the ACU or Tweet or Facebook their willingness to participate using the hashtag #CPAC2014,” the organization said in a release that will go out Monday. “In the case of multiple challengers, Ann Coulter and the ACU will select an opponent.”
“We’d welcome the chance to watch this kind of debate over the fundamentals of the American experiment again,” said Dan Schneider, the executive director of the American Conservative Union. “We’re confident in Ann — is there a champion of the left that is unapologetically supportive of their world view?”
CPAC is known for drawing the country’s biggest names in conservative politics. Confirmed speakers for this year’s event include Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and businessman Donald Trump.
UPDATE: Despite the announcement from the ACU, Coulter wrote on Twitter that she does not want to debate a liberal at CPAC but rather give a “short” speech.
False. I want to speak as I always do. RT @AlexPappas Ann Coulter looking for ‘serious lib’ to debate at CPAC http://t.co/BcWGMLDsY8
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) February 24, 2014
I want to debate a lib ON TV- not in front of a 99% cons crowd. Ann Coulter looking 4 ‘serious lib’ to debate at CPAC http://t.co/ZX26myaGZT
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) February 24, 2014
That would make me as wimpy as Ed Schulz. RT @AlexPappas Exclusive: Ann Coulter looking for ‘serious liberal’ to debate her at CPAC
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) February 24, 2014
I prefer hostile audiencesRT @AlexPappas Exclusive: Ann Coulter looking for ‘serious liberal’ to debate her at CPAC http://t.co/BcWGMLDsY8
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) February 24, 2014
UPDATE II: Despite her initial reluctance, it appears Coulter has agreed to actually participate in the CPAC debate. The American Conservative Union plans to announce Tuesday that she will spar with The Daily Caller’s Mickey Kaus. Coulter confirmed the news on Twitter.
“We’re excited to announce that Mickey Kaus will debate Ann Coulter at CPAC 2014,” said Dan Schneider, the executive director of the American Conservative Union. “Ann and Mickey are both dynamic political observers and we look forward to continuing the Novak and Donaldson tradition at CPAC.”