A Modest Proposal: Obama and Clinton Tell Donahue They're Not Anti-Catholic, Just Anti-Idiot

[BurtWorm]

So they will ignore Donahue and his trained seals for the rest of the campaign. (Anti-bigot would work just as well.)

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/2/13/10733/1003

Getting separated from the herd.
by Kagro X
Tue Feb 13, 2007 at 07:49:31 AM PST

Think the Edwards campaign's blog troubles ended with Amanda Marcotte's resignation? Think the Edwards campaign's blog troubles end with Edwards?

Think again.

As predicted, right wing activists have detected in the sheepish silence of the other Democratic presidential campaigns an opportunity to separate yet more top contenders from the herd, and turn Democrats against Democrats.

First on the block: Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Congratulations, geniuses. And best of luck to you.

The self-proclaimed "Catholic-based advocacy group" Fidelis has sent essentially identical letters to Clinton (PDF) and Obama (PDF), demanding that they:

publicly condemn the anti-Catholic and anti-Christian blog posts by Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan, who serve as official bloggers for the John Edwards for President Committee, and call for their immediate dismissal.

And what happens if Clinton and Obama refuse? Why, they'll be attacked as "anti-Catholic and anti-Christian," of course. Or at least, that's the unarticulated threat implicit here:

As one of the leading candidates pursuing the Democratic nomination for President, I believe you are in a unique position to make clear that anti-Catholic and anti-Christian bigotry of any kind should not be tolerated by any candidate. By taking up this issue publicly, you will be able to distinguish your candidacy from Mr. Edwards, while acknowledging the respect due people of faith in America, and in particular, Catholics and Christians.

[Missy M]

1. The last line is very telling....

"the respect due people of faith in America, and in particular, Catholics and Christians. So the presidential candidates must make sure anti-Catholic and anti-Christian bigotry should not be tolerated, does that mean other religions are fair game?

[BurtWorm]

2. Here is Donahue about to spew out of the top of his head about "secular Jews" on MSNBC

http://mediamatters.org/items/200702100005


BEINART: If you wouldn't mind letting me finish, Mr. Donohue. You have made anti-Jewish, anti-gay comments --

DONOHUE: I didn't say a word. What are you talking about?

BEINART: Bill Donohue has made anti-Jewish, anti-gay comments --

DONOHUE: No, I haven't.

BEINART: -- which are as bad as what these women -- you said that the secular Jewish Jews in Hollywood hate Christianity. That's a horrible, bigoted --

DONAHUE: Wait a minute. Wait, wait.

BEINART: -- statement, so it seems to me the question becomes --

DONOHUE: Peter. Peter --

BEINART: -- what is our standard here?

DONOHUE: Peter, the Jewish Forward said in 2004 that Jews run Hollywood. Are they anti-Semitic?

BEINART: You said they hate Christianity, Mr. Donohue.

DONOHUE: Oh, we like the movies that are coming out of Hollywood. They're very nice to Catholics.

BEINART: No, no. Did you say that or not?

DONOHUE: They're very nice to Catholics.

BEINART: You said that secular Jews in Hollywood hate Christianity.

DONOHUE: What world do you live in? What world do you live in? Have you seen what they -- what movies they make about Catholics?

BEINART: Yeah. Do you defend that statement?

DONOHUE: I defend the fact -- there's two parts to the statement. One part is, right out of the Jewish Forward: Jews run Hollywood. If you think it's the Chinese, make your case. And do they make nice movies about Catholics, or do they make lousy movies?

BEINART: You said they hate Christians.

DONOHUE: What kind of a -- well, oh, I'm telling you --

BEINART: You say -- you made a blanket statement about secular Jews in Hollywood that hate Christians.

DONOHUE: No, I'm talking about -- no, I'm talking about the movies that come out of Hollywood, and the predominant ones -- you got Scorsese. He's not Jewish. It's the people in Hollywood. There's a mindset about this, and I think you should talk to The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, which have said that the Hollywood studios are dominated by Jews. I tried to even qualify it more than that.....

[Missy M]

3. What he is saying is Hollywood doesn't make nice movies....

about Catholics because it is run by Jews. Talk about bigotry. Hollywood tries to make movies that people want to see, that is their main goal and it has nothing to do with religion or Catholics. I'll bet if Hollywood made movies showing the extremes of religions not Catholic or Christian he would be loving it. For him to demand what he is demanding of the other presidential candidates is downright blackmail.

[BurtWorm]

4. Donahue ought to have his many, many bigoted remarks

against Jews, Muslims and gays and lesbians shoved down his throat. Hard to believe the guy actually was a college professor with advanced degrees.

[Missy M]

5. I'm glad he's not teaching anymore...

Between him and Bush, it goes to show higher education doesn't necessarily make you smart.