Americans have waited too long for the right to vote on abortion, and the United States Supreme Court continues to drag its feet on the issue, said controversial columnist and best-selling author Ann Coulter, speaking to a packed house of more than 2,300 at the Schuster Performing Arts Center on Sunday night.

Her speech was part of Dayton Right to Life's Viva la Vita 2006 and included closing remarks by Republican gubernatorial candidate J. Kenneth Blackwell, Ohio's secretary of state.

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Luigi Procopio (left), Dore Procopio (center) and Libby Ballengee, all of Dayton, protest across the street from the Schuster Center before Ann Coulter's speech Sunday. Photo by Peter Wine for the Dayton Daily NewsClick to enlarge

Coulter took shots at Democrats for their "crazy" ideas and support for gay marriage and abortion rights. She called the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision a joke.

"The only way we will have the right to vote on abortion is if Bush puts another Clarence Thomas in the Supreme Court," Coulter said. "The court keeps getting away with murder because we keep letting it get away with murder."

Before the speech about 50 people, all but a handful opposed to Coulter, gathered outside the Schuster. Margaret Knapke called Coulter a hypocrite who claims to be pro-life but is pro-war and trivializes the loss of civilian life in Iraq.

Protester Michael Bashaw said he's concerned about "Coulter being a spokesperson for the moral high ground."

"This is perhaps the most divisive period in our country's history, and we don't need people of her ilk dividing us even more," Bashaw said.

"We need someone who can bring us all together, despite our differences."

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ituray@DaytonDailyNews.com.