Ann Coulter Slams Sarah Palin as 'Charlatan' Republican

COMMENTARY | If you thought you were among the few in thinking Sarah Palin was a poseur promoting an image to turn a quick buck and enjoy the limelight, you have an ally. It is in the unlikely form of liberal-basher Ann Coulter, who recently categorized Palin among the "con men and charlatans" within the Republican Party.

Coulter, the controversial bestselling author of "Demonic: How The Liberal Mob is Endangering America," usually directs her more acidic comments at liberals and Democrats, but at the Indian River County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner in Vero Beach, Fla., she had something to say about conservatives:

"One of the ones promoting that [a brokered convention] is Sarah Palin, who has suggested herself as the choice. I think as long as it's between us girls -- I've been observing something about her. I don't think it's likely to happen. I don't know what these people are cheering for."

And Coulter is absolutely correct. It's not likely to happen. Palin is too polarizing. Even a majority of conservatives don't want her running for president. She's seen as a quitter by some (resigning her Alaska governorship halfway through her first term) and an attention seeker by others (reality shows, speaking engagements, Fox News contributor, etc.).

But it doesn't mean she'll have no influence at the Republican National Convention, especially if no candidate gets the required 1,144 delegates to win the GOP nomination on the first ballot. Then it is anyone's nomination to win, possibly eliminating the people's choice.

So Palin pushes the idea of a potential candidacy. It keeps donations flowing in from her more fanatic followers, much like a manipulative televangelist conning her congregation.

Coulter is not conned.

Coulter continued to seemingly single out Palin, explaining that the Republican Party has allowed too many in its midst to influence its politics through the! use of celebrity status. She says Democrats have somehow learned to keep those who make embarrassing mistakes away from the public eye. She also took a swipe at pledge-signing Republicans, saying the only pledge she would sign would be one that stated that if not nominated, there would be no book deal or Fox News job.

Still, Coulter is a known Romney supporter. Palin recently voted for Newt Gingrich. That doesn't mean Coulter's words hold less weight, just that they might be tempered with strategic purpose.