Among the current Democratic presidential candidates, John Edwards appears to be the favorite with a large section of the liberal blogosphere. Edwards, who is running a populist campaign about the "Two Americas," posed on the front yard of a damaged New Orleans home to announce his candidacy. He is catching the usual right wing flak for his liberal message and his personal wealth. Now they have found a way to castigate his campaign for being against religion - through a couple of bloggers.
Two liberal bloggers from Pandagon and Shakespeare's Sister joined John Edwards' presidential campaign and have already run afoul of the candidate for their stance against religious conservatives. Holy cow! Did they think that their irreverence towards religion was going to go unnoticed by either party? Forget the wrath and glee of the right wing wackos. Check out Edwards' tepid respone in defense of his campaign volunteers.
"The tone and the sentiment of some of Amanda Marcotte’s and Melissa McEwan’s posts personally offended me. It’s not how I talk to people, and it’s not how I expect the people who work for me to talk to people. 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. 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."
Read Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwen's responses here and the story in a Time Magazine article. Yes, Edwards is keeping the bloggers on his volunteer roll for now. But how much rope will he give these fiery ladies before he throws them off the bus for past indiscretions on their blogs? Not much I would guess. But how will blogging fans react, should Edwards chicken out? The last paragraph in the Time article reads:
"If Edwards has got cold feet, Marcotte could be out of a job. Even if she survives, though, her supporters have made it clear that they have their own agenda. When she announced that she was moving to the Edwards campaign, hundreds of supporters wrote in to Pandagon to congratulate her. Buried in the pile of warm wishes, however, was a warning of sorts: "Congratulations," wrote a user named MAJeff, "and best of luck. Well, best of luck until we've decided you and your candidate are not pure enough for us and we all turn on you."
one party system of government when it comes to war and religion.
Sigh ! Depressingly true.
Unfortunately, Edwards is going the Kerry way in being ultra-defensive in response to right-wing shrill. I would have respected him if he showed some more backbone.
On a related note, here in the NC triangle area, Edwards is catching a lot of flak for situating his campaign office in a posh Chapel Hill neighborhood.
Posted by: BongoP'o'ndit | February 09, 2007 at 07:43 AM
I was quite surprised by how quickly the left blogosphere got behind Edwards even before the slate of candidates had solidified.
I am not overly impressed by any of the current Democratic candidates in the running. As for the Dems growing a backbone (especially when it comes to national security and religious issues), I am afraid that the establishment bigwigs saw to it that it won't happen when they ousted Dr. Howard Dean from the operation room. He was one of the few people who could have given the party a much needed spinal implant.
Posted by: Ruchira Paul | February 09, 2007 at 11:01 AM
I live behind the HQ and I am dirt-poor. It is not posh, it is a modern mixed-use urban village. No other place in Chapel Hill beats the appartment rent per square foot and usability.
Posted by: coturnix | February 09, 2007 at 11:54 AM
Edwards is shedding the softie,breck girl image though...here's video proof:
http://minor-ripper.blogspot.com/2007/02/john-edwards-gets-tough-with-matt-lauer_08.html
Posted by: MinorRipper | February 09, 2007 at 04:19 PM
Dean himself removed his own spine a few days before the end of 2003, when he decided that he had to make religious statements to win. Up until then he had been "fairly secular"; from that point onward, he was a "committed believer," who in 2006 would go on the 700 Club and affirm the Democratic Party's opposition to single-sex marriage.
Posted by: Alon Levy | February 11, 2007 at 07:10 AM
Alon:
I seem to also remember that Dean did kow-tow to the religious right a bit towards the last part of his campaign although his heart didn't seem to be in it. It is disheartening to note what politicians will do to realize their ambitions. But all in all, Dr. Dean is still among the "brave" in a party which is mind numbingly craven when it comes to competing with the rabid Republicans on patriotism, God and middle east politics.
Given the mistaken notion prevalent in America that religiosity equals morality, Jerry Falwell's "Lucifer" will have a better shot at winning an elected office than an honest and competent atheist. After all, the Devil believes in God.
Posted by: Ruchira Paul | February 11, 2007 at 10:28 AM
As far as I'm concerned, Edwards is now in H. Clinton territory. He publicly berated these two bloggers for their past statements, as if he was somehow surprised by them, despite having hired them in the first place because of their high profile status in the blogosphere!
He was good enough to give them a "second chance" by not firing them. Yeah, color me impressed. Is he trying to make a watered down "I'm incompetent argument" on lack of knowledge rather than simply agreeing that the Catholic Church is anti-choice? Okay, Edwards, you're incompetent instead of spineless, is that really how you want to play it?
Hello... Obama. Who I still know nothing about, because the media is too busy arguing about the level of his blackness. Can we get an Al Gore in here, please?
Posted by: Joe | February 13, 2007 at 07:27 PM
I am so ready for Al Gore!
Posted by: Ruchira Paul | February 13, 2007 at 11:18 PM
Update: Edwards has accepted Amanda Marcotte's resignation:
http://pandagon.net/2007/02/12/announcement/
Posted by: Joe | February 14, 2007 at 07:26 AM
That didn't take very long, did it? As I had predicted, there was no way Edwards was going to take the heat. BTW, I am not impressed by Edwards' now "courageous and contrite" stand on Iraq. It is very easy to denounce it, now that he is no longer in the government. I know that Edwards is looking good to many Democratic voters but I am not yet sold.
Amanda Marcotte is still putting on a brave face. She insists that she wasn't "fired" but "resigned" to deflect controversy. Whatever.
Posted by: Ruchira Paul | February 14, 2007 at 09:44 AM
Yeah, I'm not impressed. I guess the best thing I can say about Edwards-- or any of the Dems I've seen so far-- is "John McCain is worse." Which is kind of like saying that John Kerry was a better candidate than President Bush.
I second your "whatever" about Amanda. Wow, a political blogger is spinning something. How uncommon.
Posted by: Joe | February 14, 2007 at 05:38 PM