Conservative author and columnist Ann Coulter was greeted like a rock star at the annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner on Saturday night as she delivered a fiery speech, denigrating Democrats from Barack Obama to Jimmy Carter.

She came out swinging, telling the room full of Republican faithful that she thinks it’s time for them to take the gloves off.

“We pride ourselves on not fighting dirty,” Coulter said to the audience of more than 1,000. “I think it might be time to start fighting dirty.”

The annual fundraiser was held by the Denton County Republican Party at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Coulter spent most of the speech talking about specific members of the Democratic Party, like Bill Clinton and John Kerry, and how the policies they support are, in her opinion, bad for America — especially their foreign policy.

“We’re building a democracy in this godforsaken country [Iraq],” she said. “And liberals just want to give up after three years.”

She also drew large applause when she directed her ire at France, saying it is weak and cannot be trusted.

Radio talk show host and Dallas Morning News column and Dallas Morning News columnist, Mark Davis, emceed the event. U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, addressed the audience, as well as, Attorney General Greg Abbott, state Sen. Jane Nelson and state Rep. Kenny Marchant.

The main theme of most of their speeches was the fact that Republicans hold every elected office in Denton County.

 “There are more elected Republican officials in Denton County than there are Republican voters in Travis County,” Abbot joked.

Marchant said he was glad that the Denton County Republican Party is still strong, considering Republican losses in the state last November.

“Denton County is the kind of county that makes Democrats quake in their boots,” he said.

MONTY MILLER JR. can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is mwmiller@dentonrc.com.