Edwards Must Not Surrender to Rightwing Attack on Feminist Bloggers

Submitted by Bob Fertik on February 7, 2007 - 10:42pm.

John Edwards

Liza Sabater asked me to join the blogswarm urging John Edwards to stand up to the rightwing Swiftboat-style attack on two feminist bloggers he recently hired, Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan.

What thought crime did these bloggers commit? They used bad words. Well, so did Dick Cheney, the Vice President of the United States, who famously told Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) on the Senate floor, "Go f*** yourself."

When rightwingers like William Donahue, the self-appointed head of something called the "Catholic League," start attacking progressives, Democratic leaders like Edwards should reply in kind:

"Go Cheney Yourself."

Yes, the New York Times and the Washington Post will get the vapors. My reply to them would be the same:

"Go Cheney Yourself."

Edwards mighta caved...

Submitted by CactusPat on February 8, 2007 - 7:00am.

Rob Kall reporting Salon claiming Edwards caved...

The right-wing blogosphere has gotten its scalps -- John Edwards has fired the two controversial bloggers he recently hired to do liberal blogger outreach, Salon has learned.

The bloggers, Amanda Marcotte, formerly of Pandagon, and Melissa McEwan, of Shakespeare's Sister, had come under fire from right-wing bloggers for statements they had previously made on their respective blogs. A statement by the Catholic League's Bill Donohue, which called Marcotte and McEwan "anti-Catholic vulgar trash-talking bigots," and an accompanying article on the controversy in the New York Times this morning, put extra pressure on the campaign.

Speculation from sources that the two bloggers might be rehired was bolstered by Jennifer Palmieri, a spokeswoman for the Edwards campaign, who said in an e-mail that she would "caution [Salon] against reporting that they have been fired. We will have something to say later."

"I did not like fascists when I fought them as a diplomat for 23 years and I don't like them now in my own country." - retired American diplomat Joe Wilson

Not fired

Submitted by cloudancer on February 9, 2007 - 4:21pm.

The two bloggers that posted anti-catholic messages have NOT been fired. Edwards spoke with them and while he did not agree with their messages he did not see any reason for firing them as long as there are no additional issues while they are representing him.

Donahue on the other hand is a true bigot and IMHO does not deserve a say in this matter.

"We need a President that is fluent in at least ONE language."

The Media Is Fighting For Their Lives, Russert and Libby ect.

Submitted by Dan Dent on February 9, 2007 - 2:08pm.

The statements made by the bloggers were clearly
emotional and probably do not reflect the views of the
authors. The media is fighting for their lives due to
being part of a massive Bush Propaganda Campaign this
is where journalists become propagandists and stop
reporting the news and start reporting political propaganda
from Republican Politicos. There is some real tension
between the media and Edwards, Dean and myself over
journalists becoming propagandists and trust me they
will fight like hell.