But in her segment on the Edwards story, which aired on the February 7 edition of The Situation Room, CNN correspondent Mary Snow included a clip of Donohue slamming the bloggers, while making no mention of his own "inflammatory" comments.
Likewise, on the February 7 edition of MSNBC's Tucker, host Tucker Carlson allowed Donohue to accuse the bloggers -- whom he described as "two little brats" -- of "speak[ing] in the most disparaging way" about Catholics. Donohue went on to assert that "[i]f they had used the n-word even once in their career, they'd have gone by now" and claimed that he does not "want Muslims to be disrespected." But at no point in the interview did Carlson bring up Donohue's own insulting comments toward Muslims and other minorities. Nor did he challenge Donohue regarding his defense of Gibson following Gibson's anti-Semitic remarks.
Further, Snow's CNN report was followed by a segment from Internet reporter Jackie Schechner on the number of presidential campaigns "reaching out to prominent bloggers to try to drum up support." Schechner noted that McCain had hired Patrick Hynes, a blogger for the conservative AnkleBitingPundits.com, as an "e-consultant." But while host Wolf Blitzer had said Schechner would be offering "some context" regarding the Edwards controversy, she made no mention of Hynes' own controversial record, including his apparent past description of Chelsea Clinton as "hideously ugly" and his strong support for the Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth, whose baseless smears and attacks against 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry (D-MA) McCain denounced as "dishonest and dishonorable."
This is not about Edwards vetting his staffers after the fact. This is not about a candidate purging pottymouths. It is about a candidate showing whether he is a leader who can stand up to the opposition party-- the shrill, ugly voices of the nutjob extremists (Michelle Malkin another right wing extremist operative has also joined in this attack job.)
A strong, confident leader will handle this kind of attack like he would a handful of gnats, even though his "handlers" might get hystrionic about it.
A tough, able leader will support his staffers and get on top of the attack by making it clear who the attackers are.
This is a test for John Edwards. If he passes it, he'll have built some strong bridges with progressives. If he fails it, and fires the bloggers, it is likely he will lose the progressive blogosphere. And that will probably cost him the primary. If he manages to win the primaries, there's no doubt the progressive blogosphere will get behind him. The question is-- will his loss of support in the primaries cost him the opportunity to go head to head with the Republican candidate.
The good news is, John Edwards is NOT firing the bloggers. Apparently, Salon was wrong.
Edwards blogged on his campaign site announcing that the bloggers were not fired.
Amanda Marcotte blogged here response to this event, and her associate, Melissa McEwan also blogged about their blog postings that Donohue had commented on.
Bottom line-- John Edwards was tested. He faced a challenge with some similarity to the Swiftboating Kerry faced-- an assault upon him and his team by right wingers. He showed grit and character and flexibility and has earned newfound respect and trust as a candidate who stands for something.
Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump speeches and debates. He recently retired as organizer of several conferences, including StoryCon, the Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story and The Winter Brain Meeting on neurofeedback, biofeedback, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology. See more of his articles here and, older ones, here.
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A few declarations.
-While I'm registered as a Democrat, I consider myself to be a dynamic critic of the Democratic party, just as, well, not quite as much, but almost as much as I am a critic of republicans.
-My articles express my personal opinion, not the opinion of this website.
For a Democrat to try to "be all things to all people". The right spends very little time getting the Dems to chase their own tail. Maybe this comes from eight years of Clinton fighting the swarm of rats that followed him throughout his presidency. Whatever the reason, the Dems don't have the werewithal to just lets things like this "play out" and end up in histoy's dumpster.
by
Timothy V. Gatto (348 articles, 177 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 575 comments)
on Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 6:14:01 AM
pondering why Democrats appear so fearful of right wing smears. Right is right, truth will out and the only reason to be fearful of the slanders of so many who are clumsy and ham handed in their attacks, who ignore veracity in favor of sophomoric distortions, is a fundamental distrust of the American people.
I have come to conclude that, living daily as they do with corruption and slimyness, our legislators lose the faith in the electorate and believe all are like those with whom they associate, and eventually become.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2388 comments)
on Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 7:10:35 AM
They said it was going to be the longest, dirtiest election season ever.
Sitting back and waiting for it to play out isn't the answer; John Kerry proved that.
Not only does every smear have to be immediately countered, Dem campaigners have to go on the offensive, prepare for possible attacks and get their own attack machine in gear.
by
Sandy Sand (131 articles, 0 quicklinks, 166 diaries, 1230 comments)
on Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 11:10:50 AM
According to Raw Story, Edwards has not caved in, which would have really done him in in terms of testosterone, since he already has a weak rep after letting Cheney smear him to his face in 2004 on TV without a strong comeback.
by
Mac McKinney (42 articles, 60 quicklinks, 142 diaries, 961 comments)
on Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 3:15:10 PM
I think John ought to find a backbone if he hopes to go anywhere. I can think of plenty of things that I could say that might not be favorable to Catholics. Christ didn't teach Catholicism he taught a form of Judaism that in the end rubbed the high Jewish priests the wrong way. They killed him because he was a threat to their power.
I believe this powerful church has held many inquistions rampantly killing those who might habor some opposition to the church. They probably would kill Christ if he didn't conform to their power structure. Wasn't that part of what he taught. He threw the money changers out of the temple and the power structure of his church had him executed. His body died and his spirit lived.
I believe there is something truly special in the story. I think all religions see the same truth from different perspectives and anyone belief that degrades all other beliefs that differ from their interpretation surely is in need of practicing humility.
He needs to stand for freewill not bow to munipulation.
by
Sleeper (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 272 comments)
on Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 4:27:34 PM
I have liked your site so much I signed up, a first. Your personal touch is what did it. I'm an X pat of many years and whoee the times are not boring. I think of it like lancing a boil, you've got tho have the puss before the healing. Stay strong, the puss is ugly but the healing will be sweet, yours in optimism. Davy from Rafford by Forres Scotland
by
davy (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 241 comments)
on Friday, February 9, 2007 at 3:42:25 AM
