Bill Donahue on the Rampage

On February 6, 2007 Bill Donahue, the President of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, demanded the immediate firing of two female bloggers hired by the Edwards campaign. Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan were hired by the Edwards campaign last week to be official bloggers for the Presidential hopeful. However, Mr. Donahue and his organization researched the women's previously written blogs and found comments that he thought to be lewd and derogatory in nature.

According to Mr. Donahue, the women have gone as far as criticizing the Pope and the Catholic church because of views on homosexuality, abortion and contraception. Marcotte, who blogs on Pandagon wrote in one blog in December of 2006, "The Catholic church is not about to let something like compassion for girls get in the way of using the state as an instrument to force women to bear more tithing Catholics" as cited by Mr. Donahue. McEwan, who blogs at Shakespeare's Sister, had blogged on February 21, 2006 about how religious conservatives don't understand about "keeping your noses out of our britches, our beds and our families?"

Mr. Donahue then appeared on the Tucker Carlson show on MSNBC on February 7, 2006 to discuss the blogger situation. MSNBC would not repeat most of the comments written by the women in their blogs, because of the supposed profanity and lewdness used. However, Mr. Donahue stated that the women made comments against not only the Pope, but the blessed Mother (Virgin Mary) as well. The comments written about Mary supposedly dealt with things such as orgasms and sperm. Also, Ms. McEwan had supposedly written in her blog in December 2006 about "religious Christians being lousy MFers," among other things. Mr. Donahue also elaborated on the character of the two women by calling them "two little brats".

Later in the interview, Mr. Donahue went on to compare what the bloggers wrote to the use of the "N" word. "If they had use the N word, even once in their career, they would have been gone by now," Mr. Donahue stated.

Toward the close of the interview, Mr. Donahue showed a slightly bigoted side himself by stating, "If you take a look at some of the stuff on the blogosphere that's said about Christians in general, Catholics in particular, it's absolutely mind boggling. Muslims are given more respect." He then immediately began to pack-peddle so he would not be seen as a bigot himself and said, "Look, I don't want Muslims to be disrespected. I'm simply saying, in a country that's 85 percent Christian, that was founded by Christians, you would think that we might at least be able to catch up with Muslims."

Mr. Donahue and the rest of the country were waiting to see what the fallout would be from the bloggers open ranting. On February 8, 2007, Mr. Edwards released a blog statement on his website stating the he did not condone the writings and actions of the two women, and he was personally offended by the posts. He then stated that "Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but that kind of intolerant language will not be permitted from anyone on my campaign, whether it's intended as satire, humor, or anything else."

"But I also believe in giving everyone a fair shake. I've talked to Amanda and Melissa; they have both assured me that it was never their intention to malign anyone's faith, and I take them at their word," said Mr. Edwards. "We're beginning a great debate about the future of our country, and we can't let it be hijacked. It will take discipline, focus, and courage to build the America we believe in."

So since the Presidential hopefully refused to fire the two women, Mr. Donahue decided to fire back in a report from Fox News on February 9, 2007. Mr. Donahue has decided that they will launch a campaign next week to point out the "the double-standards that Edwards is the kingmaker of." Mr. Donahue believes that since the women were not fired for their web postings, Mr. Edwards is then promoting anti-Catholicism.

Mr. Donahue once again showed signs of his true nature when stating Mr. Edwards is "Nothing more than David Duke with a blow-dried haircut." He then went on to call the two women bloggers "anti-Catholic vulgar trash-talking bigots".

The two women have released blog statements on the Edwards campaign site. Ms. McEwan stated, "Shakespeare's Sister is my personal blog, and I certainly don't expect Senator Edwards to agree with everything I've posted. We do, however, share many views - including an unwavering support of religious freedom and a deep respect for diverse beliefs. It has never been my intention to disparage people's individual faith, and I'm sorry if my words were taken in that way." Ms. Marcotte also said her "intention is never to offend anyone for his or her personal beliefs, and I am sorry if anyone was personally offended by writings meant only as criticisms of public politics."

On the flip side another Catholic group, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, released a statement saying they completely satisfied with Edwards' actions and comments on the situation. "We accept Senator Edwards' assurances that he too was offended by comments made by recently hired staffers and that religious intolerance has no place in his campaign," said Alexia Kelley, the Executive Director of the group.

Kelley went on to say, "We hope this unfortunate incident will initiate a deeper conversation on the part of all presidential candidates regarding the broad range of issues and values of primary importance to the Catholic community, including the Iraq War, a concern for the poor, human life and dignity, the availability of health care, and a commitment to the common good."
The controversy caused by the two bloggers for the Edwards campaign has sent waves through the entire Blogosphere. Other bloggers are now being singled out for comments they have made in the past and there current affiliation with candidates or even potential candidates. Now the country will begin to witness a new level of mud-slinging that takes place in cyberspace. But all we can do for now is sit back see what comes to fruition from all of the accusations that are already flying.

*Sources*

-ABC News Online. URL: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2854587. Nedra Pickler for AP. (2007 Feb 06).

-Tucker Carlson Show MSNBC. URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17049495/. Transcripts. (2007 Feb 07).

-Fox News Online. URL: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,251009,00.html. Greg Simmons. (2007 Feb 08).