"If the press really thinks Obama is Lincoln, they ought to treat him like they treated Bush, 'cause that's how they treated Lincoln. His critics compared Lincoln to an ape; they called him an illiterate baboon"

Ann Coulter’s statement draws a connection between the contemporary media’s treatment of politicians and the historical reception of Abraham Lincoln. By referencing the way Lincoln was criticized, being compared to apes and insulted as an “illiterate baboon”, she highlights that even revered leaders often suffered deep-seated hostility and ridicule in their time. The underlying implication is that harsh press scrutiny is not unique to any one figure or era; rather, it is a recurring feature of public life, particularly for those who occupy high office.

Coulter juxtaposes the media’s attitude toward Obama and Bush, suggesting that if the press truly saw Obama as a figure comparable to Lincoln, then they should subject him to equally intense criticism. The reference to Bush underlines her perception that the press was highly adversarial toward the Bush administration, often scrutinizing his words and actions with skepticism if not outright derision. Therefore, she argues, if fairness or consistency were the guiding principles, Obama should be scrutinized just as vehemently, since Lincoln, retrospectively a figure of national honor, was originally met with widespread contempt by detractors.

Her use of inflammatory historical examples serves a dual purpose: to remind audiences that public adulation for Lincoln emerged long after his presidency, and to suggest that modern media bias can distort perceptions of contemporary leaders. As such, Coulter questions both the selective reverence for certain figures and the narrative control exercised by the press. By equating the historical disparagement of Lincoln with the treatment of more recent presidents, she invites a reevaluation of media fairness and the pressures leaders face from commentators and journalists. Ultimately, the comment serves as a critique of media double standards, referencing history to shed light on present biases and treatment of political figures.