Coulter and Carville go toe-to-toe at Washington and Lee Mock Convention

By: Jarett Henshaw | WSLS 10
Published: February 09, 2012

LEXINGTON, VA --

Democratic pundit James Carville and Republican Ann Coulter are known for not pulling punches. So it was fitting that boxing gloves were placed on each podium for the pair's debate to open Washington and Lee University's Mock Convention on Thursday evening.

It didn't take long for Coulter to take a swing.

"That last ten minutes was that all about super PACs. (laughs) Because I have no idea of this blather,” said Coulter.

She even made quick work of one heckler saying, "I think that's a supporter of James.”

One of the bigger issues of the night was the balanced budget amendment proposed by 6th District Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Roanoke Co.).

"In times like this, it would be idiotic for the government to run a significant deficit," said Carville. "The idea that you should run, what you should do is in good times, the government should cut back. And in bad times, the government should crank it out."

"I think James Carville is wrong," Coulter countered. "I don't think the government should be spending more than it takes in. And again, I'd sight Ron Paul (R-TX) on this. The more the government spends, the more inflation goes up. That's a tax on everyone.”

Both speakers predicted Mitt Romney to become the Republican presidential nominee, but had very different takes on him.

Coulter says Romney is her top choice.

"He rejected driver's licenses for illegals. He had an English immersion program for legal immigrants. He worked with the federal government in allowing state troopers to enforce immigration laws. He's the only Republican candidate that wants a fence on the border,” said Coulter.

Carville thinks the former Massachusetts governor just doesn't fit in with Republicans.

"Let me tell you something. Mitt Romney is like trying to give a dog a pill. They keep spitting this pill up, and they keep trying to stick this pill down this dog's throat. Eventually Ann Coulter and all of them are going to hold this dog down and stuff it down the throat. But these right-wingers don't want that Romney pill,” said Carville.