Conservative columnist and author Anne Coulter has a new book to promote, so she’s been on all the talk shows lately. Never one to shy away from controversial topics, and certainly never one to take the middle ground on an issue, this round of self-publicity has drawn the most fire over her opinions on single mothers. Single mothers, according to Anne,  raise rapists, strippers, runaways, and murderers, and are responsible for all of societies’ problems. Ironic then that she’s dressed as a call girl on the cover of the latest epic rant, Guilty: Liberal “Victims” and their attack on America.

I appreciate that Anne Coulter has worked out that the more controversy she generates, the more books she sells. But stirring up anger and resentment against a group of women who are by and large hardworking, nurturing, loving mothers, is doing society more harm than the very small minority of single moms who fit the stereotype that Coulter is peddling.  She keeps ranting, and encouraging people to vote for politicians who won’t fund programs to assist single moms with childcare, employment and healthcare, and single moms will continue to struggle and fall of the bottom of the ladder, and their children will suffer.

And what about the fathers who abandon their responsibilities, who number far in excess than neglectful single mothers?

It’s wrong to label every single one of the approximate one-third of American mothers who are raising kids without the children’s father in the home.

Many serial killers – Ted Bundy being the most notorious – have been raised by single mothers with absent fathers, but others like Jeffrey Dahmer, the Hillside Stranglers, and David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam” were all raised by married couples.

And conversely, Barack Obama was raised by a single mom. John McCain divorced his first wife, leaving her with full custody of their one child and two adopted children. And Sarah Palin’s unwed daughter is now an mom to baby Tripp.

And there’s me too. Is my son is going to grow up to be a murderer, rapist or stripper? He just learned to take his pants off and as toddlers do, has great enthusiasm for demonstrating his new skill, so he seems to have the qualifications for the last one. He’s also very good at building block towers and can recognize letters and numbers so I think it’s more likely he’ll be in construction or some kind of regular job that defies Anne Coulter’s expectations.

Coulter was on The View on Monday, getting into it with Whoopi Goldberg in particular, herself a single mom. If you’d like to fling something heavy at the computer or worship her outspokeness, you can catch it again on YouTube.

What do you think?

Everyone knows what the policy is in China when it comes to having children. It’s tough to judge them too harshly I guess, as they have to find some means of controlling their population. I sometimes wonder though just how far the Chinese government is willing to take it. With the world population continuing to grow, many people speculate that we are on our way to not being able to sustain it. I’m not too big on Doomsday theories myself, but is it possible that other nations may soon impose stricter laws restricting people’s reproductive rights?

Take for example, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar who already have 17 children, with another baby due in January of 2009. With Michelle just 42, there is the real possibility that the Duggars are not done having babies quite yet.

Recently a few celebrities weighed in on the discussion of family size. See who shares your opinion on whether or not a family can be too big.

The View co-host, Whoopi Goldberg feels that nobody has the right to judge. She says, ‘I think it’s to each their own and none of our business. If people want to have 30 kids and can afford it, it’s none of our business. Some people are very wealthy, only have one child and that’s too much for them. Some people have 18 children and they have it together?’

According to The Grand Dame of Dish, Liz Smith, ‘Doesn’t the number of children a family chooses to have fall under the “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” clause? Isn’t it a private matter, so long as a family can cope, care for and control in a healthy manner?’

Actress Lily Tomlin put it this way, ‘I’ve seen it written in information about overpopulation that “People are a good thing. Overpopulation isn’t.’

While it is in fact a private issue, maybe it’s not such a bad idea to view it in the context of the health care system, and programs like welfare. If a family is really able to care for a large number of children that is one thing, but those that aren’t would be forced to rely on others to meet the children’s needs.

What’s your view on this issue? Should any family be criticized for its size?