Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Republican author and pundit Ann Coulter is not known for being a nice person. In the past she has called feminists "stupid," referred to Democrats as a "liberal mob" and pretty much insulted anyone who doesn't agree with her. So, it was hardly surprising she didn't care who she offended when she tweeted "I highly approve of Romney's decision to be kind and gentle to the retard."
Criticism of her choice of word exploded online with people questioning her "hatred" and "ignorance." Coulter did not back down though -- instead doubling down and seeming to enjoy the negative attention when she appeared on FOX News radio. Just when it seemed this would become another left/right screaming match -- another voice emerged.
John Franklin Stephens is a 30-year old Down Syndrome man -- who wanted to let Coulter know what she saw as a throw away insult -- means much more. In an open letter he wrote: "I thought first of asking whether you meant to describe the President as someone who was bullied as a child by people like you, but rose above it to find a way to succeed in life." And "I wondered if you meant to describe him as someone who has to struggle to be thoughtful about everything he says, as everyone else races from one snarkey sound bite to the next." Finally, he asked her why she doesn't choose her words more
Stephens soon eclipsed Coulter as the focus of the story -- with his letter going viral on Facebook, and sites like Buzzfeed, Mashable, the Daily What and Gawker. Tonight? He will appear on Piers Morgan on CNN to talk not only about his new Internet celebrity -- but also to talk about the ongoing Special Olympics campaign to "end the word."
