Both Shakespeare’s Sister Melissa and Pandagon’s Amanda have resigned from the Edwards compaign. Amanda’s site is down, but at Shakepeare’s Sister, Melissa had this to say:
I regret to say that I have also resigned from the Edwards campaign. In spite of what was widely reported, I was not hired as a blogger, but a part-time technical advisor, which is the role I am vacating.
I would like to make very clear that the campaign did not push me out, nor was my resignation the back-end of some arrangement made last week. This was a decision I made, with the campaign’s reluctant support, because my remaining the focus of sustained ideological attacks was inevitably making me a liability to the campaign, and making me increasingly uncomfortable with my and my family’s level of exposure.
I understand that there will be progressive bloggers who feel I am making the wrong decision, and I offer my sincerest apologies to them. One of the hardest parts of this decision was feeling as though I’m letting down my peers, who have been so supportive.
There will be some who clamor to claim victory for my resignation, but I caution them that in doing so, they are tacitly accepting responsibility for those who have deluged my blog and my inbox with vitriol and veiled threats. It is not right-wing bloggers, nor people like Bill Donohue or Bill O’Reilly, who prompted nor deserve credit for my resignation, no matter how much they want it, but individuals who used public criticisms of me as an excuse to unleash frightening ugliness, the likes of which anyone with a modicum of respect for responsible discourse would denounce without hesitation.
This is a win for no one.
(Also see this ABC Story for more)
I don’t think any supporter of both would be disappointed, and I admire both of them for taking this stand. They would never be able to speak freely as part of Edwards’ campaign, but now they can use their voices and their popular blogs however they see fit, and no one can shut them up now.
As for this quack Donohue or that tedious and dull Malkin claiming victory, small minds must get gratification where they can. Frankly, the rest of the country could care less what these two carp in a small pond think.
My only concern is if Amanda and Melissa are going to suffer some financial repercussions from this event. If so, I imagine many of us would be willing to donate a few bucks to help them get settled back home.
Amanda’s announcement.