Sue McLain-Moore: Looks like Modesto taxpayers invested $68,461 in Coulter’s book tour

Regarding the April 28 speech by author Ann Coulter, I can find no transcript of her speech. What I have been able to find is a tweet by Opinions Page Editor Mike Dunbar quoting Coulter, “Sorry, California, we’re going to have to let you secede” and another posted by Jay Barmann on www.sflist.com stating, “It’s not just the governor. If I could push succession on you, I’d really be doing the rest of the country a solid.” I cannot imagine that members of the Republican Party of Stanislaus County were not left scratching their heads at that one.

All Coulter was really doing was creating a media spectacle in order to sell her book, “In Trump We Trust.” Basically, the city of Modesto has invested $68,461 in her book tour. Stanislaus County Supervisor Jim DeMartini feels the city should pay for his event’s security while maintaining a policy of requiring other events to pay for their own.

I see a city that would do better in repairing our dilapidated streets than paying the security tab for a privately delivered speech that cannot be accessed. All I have learned is that there was nothing free about her speech.

Editor’s note: The Republican central committees of Stanislaus, Merced and San Joaquin counties hosted Ann Coulter and paid for security at the venue. Additional security was provided outside the venue, on city property, by the city of Modesto.

This story was originally published June 16, 2017 at 4:11 PM with the headline "Sue McLain-Moore: Looks like Modesto taxpayers invested $68,461 in Coulter’s book tour."