Pandagon via CNN via YouTube
Amanda Marcotte, one of the two embattled bloggers for the John Edwards campaign, has resigned following the flap over her pre-Edwards blog postings harshly critical of the Catholic church's stance on birth control and abortion, which, along with fellow blogger Melissa McKewen of Shakespeare's Sister (who made reference to President Bush's "wingnut Christofascist base") earned swift and furious denunciation from the Christian Right, specifically voiced by Catholic League president Bill Donohue, who called them "anti-Catholic, vulgar, trash-talking bigots." Right, now you're caught up.
On her personal blog, the widely-read and highly-opinionated Pandagon, Marcotte posted a typically outspoken entry specifically noting her resignation, clarifying her initial position and helpfully framing the incident in terms of Scripture, quoting from John 8:1-11 wherein Jesus says "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone." Way with words, that one. Funnily enough, it turns out that Mr. Donohue has a history of casting stones, specifically in comments like saying Hollywood "is controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular." Also funnily, those comments were somehow left out of the initial reports on the matter (see CNN's report, which is also missing (a) a sense of blogosphere context but not (b) the vague implication that, somehow, Clinton blogger Peter Dau from Salon's Daou Report had objectionable material in his blog record, too. CNN: WTF?).
Marcotte, meanwhile, explained her resignation in practical terms, citing her inability to do her job: "It was creating a situation where I felt that every time I coughed, I was risking the Edwards campaign... I signed on to be a supporter and a tireless employee for them, and if I can't do the job I was hired to do...then I won't do it." This is probably the best solution for the Edwards campaign, who dodges a bullet without having to antagonize the netroots or navigate thorny free-speech issues; and it's probably best for Marcotte, who will no doubt continue to write sharply and freely at Pandagon (and who will probably see a few plum assignments come her way thanks to the raised profile). As for how it bodes for the place of the blogosphere in mainstream political life, we'd wager it represents the necessary growing pains of that process as the vernacular of the blogosphere meets the carefully-packaged world of professional politicking. Unfortunately for Marcotte, she was the first one in the way, so the first to be thrown under the bus. As for the other vulgar, trash-talking bigots in question — we doubt there are any resignations coming down the pipe anytime soon. But hey, we're willing to be surprised; judge not lest ye be judged.
Announcement [Pandagon]
A Blogger for Edwards Resigns After Complaints [WaPo]
CNN, MSNBC aired Donohue's criticism of Edwards bloggers without noting his bigotry [Media Matters]
Background:
"Situation Room" Report on Marcotte, Edwards et al [CNN via YouTube]
