When we opined that much of the conservative establishment hates John McCain, we knew we were sort of stating the obvious.

But Ann Coulter has really upped the ante.

The conservative pundit even says that, should McCain be the GOP nominee, she’d back Hillary Clinton instead - even campaign for her.

Is this for real, or just “stirring the pot” as Ann Coulter says she likes to do (we could think of some alternate descriptions)?

Watch the clip and see for yourself…

Ann did not comment on a potential McCain-Obama race.

A video is worth a thousand words.

And perhaps a hundred times that many dollars.

Prominently featured on John Edwards’ presidential campaign website is a video of conservative commentator Ann Coulter insulting him using a gay slur.

With just one click of the mouse, you can hear the slur and donate to John Edwards at the same time.

On Friday, Coulter, a writer and columnist known for provocative remarks, told a Conservative Political Action Conference audience in Washington:

“I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards,” Coulter quipped, “But it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word ‘faggot,’ so I - so kind of an impasse, can’t really talk about Edwards.”

We’d hate to hear what she has to say about Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Coulter’s absurd remark has almost immediately prompted the Edwards camp to capitalize on it by soliciting $100,000 in “Coulter Cash” to “show that inflaming prejudice to attack progressive leaders will only backfire.”

Conservatives were none too pleased with Coulter.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, remarked: “Frankly, I would have loved to hear Ann expose and dissect the radical agenda of Sen. Edwards instead of resorting to cheap name calling.”

Seriously. Who calls a presidential candidate a faggot? You consider yourself an intellectual, yet the best you can do is drop the f-bomb? You’re not doing wonders for your image as a crass, conservative blowhard who appeals only to the lowest common denominator, Ann.

Hopefully, the 2008 campaign can involve an exchange of ideas among intelligent individuals who don’t set gay rights back a quarter century.