If you’ve been following this story on this blog, this is the latest: Amanda Marcotte has resigned from the Edwards campaign.  She explains why here:

I was hired by the Edwards campaign for the skills and talents I bring to the table, and my willingness to work hard for what’s right. Unfortunately, Bill Donohue and his calvacade of right wing shills don’t respect that a mere woman like me could be hired for my skills, and pretended that John Edwards had to be held accountable for some of my personal, non-mainstream views on religious influence on politics (I’m anti-theocracy, for those who were keeping track). Bill Donohue—anti-Semite, right wing lackey whose entire job is to create non-controversies in order to derail liberal politics—has been running a scorched earth campaign to get me fired for my personal beliefs and my writings on this blog.

In fact, he’s made no bones about the fact that his intent is to “silence” me, as if he—a perfect stranger—should have a right to curtail my freedom of speech. Why? Because I’m a woman? Because I’m pro-choice? Because I’m not religious? All of the above, it seems.

Regardless, it was creating a situation where I felt that every time I coughed, I was risking the Edwards campaign. No matter what you think about the 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 because Bill Donohue doesn’t have anything better to do with his time than harass me, then I won’t do it. I resigned my position today and they accepted.

WaPo covers the story here.

What probably prompted Amanda’s resignation was her post on her blog yesterday — a review of the movie "Children of Men".  Somewhere in the middle of that long post, Amanda wrote:

The Christian version of the virgin birth is generally interpreted as super-patriarchal, where god is viewed as so powerful he can impregnate without befouling himself by touching a woman, and women are nothing but vessels.

This is relatively tame stuff for Amanda, but enough to send Bill Donahue, the conservative Catholic who has been hounding the Edwards campaign to fire Marcotte, into a tizzy.

I understand Amanda’s reasoning for leaving the Edwards campaign — I’m merely sad that the right-wing noise machine has claimed another victim.

UPDATE:  In a subsequent post entitled "People Who Claim To Love Jesus Write Me", Amanda shares some of the hate emails she has been getting from self-proclaimed "moral" religious people.  A sample:

Amanda,
after reading your vile screed against Catholics and the Holy Spirit, I just had to see what you looked like. (I envisioned you eyebrow-less, with no visible pupils, and a blank, dead stare.) I see I was correct about the blank, dead stare, but other than that you’re not too bad. I then thought maybe you were mad at God (and by proxy Catholics) for making you ugly, but now I’m figuring you’re just mad at him for making you a woman.

And…

Problem with women like you, you just need a good fucking from a real man! Living in Texas myself, I know you haven’t found that real Texan yet. But once your liberal pro feminist ass gets a real good fucking, you might see the light. Until then, enjoy your battery operated toys b/c most real men wouldn’t want to give you the fucking you deserve b/c the shit that would come out of you ears.

And…

i like the way you trash talk i don’t particularly want to have sex with you but i would like a blow job.

And…

It’s just too bad your mother didn’t abort you. You are nothing more than a filthy mouth slut. I bet a couple of years in Iraq being raped and beaten daily would help you appreciate America a little. Need a plane ticket ?

And…

YOU RACIST WHORE. FAT UGLY BITCH. SUCK MY LONG COCK ASSHOLE I HOPE YOU KIDS NEVER LIVE AND YOUR PARENTS DIE A TRAGIC DEATH YOU ASSHOLE BITCH!
I HOPE YOUR WOMB IS BARREN AND YOUR CAREER PLUMMETS TO HELL YOU BITCH

Again — these are emails from self-proclaimed moral, religious Catholics who believed that Amanda Marcotte, because of her "potty mouth" and anti-Catholic views, should not have been blogging for the Edwards campaign.

People can have a legitimate disagreement with Amanda’s views — she is a self-proclaimed feminist who thinks that the policies of many major religions, including the Catholic Church, encourage the degradation of women and women’s role in society.  She sees these religions as breeding grounds for outright hate against womenhood.  After reading those emails, can anyone seriously argue that Amanda’s viewpoint lacks merit?  I think not.

The expected response from the religious right will undoubtedly be: "Well, these people writing to Amanda don’t speak for US!"  But sadly, they must speak for them — because if Amanda’s personal views inure to the Edwards campaign (even as Edwards disavows them), then these vile emails are (by the same logic) the views of Donahue, the Catholic League and their ilk.  Own it, boys.

RELATED:  It is, by the way, an institution like the Catholic League could lose its tax-exempt status for shit like this.  Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code gives tax-exempt status to:

Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.

Pandagon writes: "One thing I would certainly NOT expect is that anyone would go here[PDF], using the above as a template (or not), and stick that fucker in the mail. I certainly would be shocked if anyone were to alert all their friends and loved ones to behave similarly."

UPDATE:  Shorter Nathon Tabor on L’Affaire Marcotte and the general principle of blogging: "I’m all for freedom of speech.  Except when bloggers say things that offend me.  But otherwise — really — I’m all for it.  Except there should be limits when I’m offended."