Second Blogger Quits John Edwards Campaign 

RALEIGH, N.C. —  A second blogger working for Democratic presidential prospect John Edwards quit Tuesday under pressure from conservative critics who said her previous online messages were anti-Catholic.

Melissa McEwan wrote on her personal blog, Shakespeare's Sister, that she left the campaign because she was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the level of attention focused on her and her family.

"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," she said Tuesday night.

McEwan's resignation comes just one day after another blogger, Amanda Marcotte, left the Edwards staff for similar reasons. ...

***

A Shred More Class
Confederate Yankee

Melissa McEwan of Shakespeare's Sister has followed Amanda Marcotte in resigning from the John Edwards Presidential train wreck:

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. ...

I don't think I've read enough of her blog to know much about McEwan, but I can say this: she exhibited more class and dignity than Marcotte, even as I find it somewhat ironic that someone who calls my fellow Christians "christofascists" accuses others of unleashing "frightening ugliness, the likes of which anyone with a modicum of respect for responsible discourse would denounce without hesitation."

They did denounce the frightening ugliness, Melissa. You should know.

You wrote much of it yourself. ...

***

Second Edwards Blogger Resigns 
Lorie Byrd

Melissa McEwan has now submitted her resignation from the Edwards campaign. ...

I certainly don't count this as a win for anyone. Edwards comes closest to winning since the bloggers will not be officially with the campaign, although the hire itself, and the fact that Edwards did not fire the bloggers, keeps him from declaring this a win. ...

One point I do want to make clear is that anyone claiming these bloggers should not have been held to account for the profanity-laced anti-Christian statements they made on their personal blogs might have a point if they had been hired to do graphic arts designing Edwards campaign logos or something like that. Instead, they were hired for their blogging. The fact that Edwards' campaign hired them on the basis of their blogging, but seemed to be shocked to learn the content of that blogging tells us a lot about the state of the campaign. ...

***

"Christofascist"-bashing blogger resigns
Michelle Malkin

The other John Edwards nutroots shoe drops.

As usual, guess who's getting blamed. More blame-the-messenger hysterics and hyperbole at--where else?--HuffPo.

Bryan Preston responds to McEwan's claims of hate mail and death threats:

Blogs in general have a collective new dent thanks to the promotion of two of its worst to positions where they would attract mainstream coverage and attention. The credibility of better, more reasonable bloggers on both sides will suffer for this episode. And to the extent that the two actually received threats, it’s deplorable and unacceptable. Around here at Hot Air, we know that feeling all too well.

Once again, the Associated Press plays spin doctor for the nutroots--blaming conservatives for turning "Christofascist"-basher Melissa McEwan into a victim while ignoring increasing criticism from religious liberals and Democrats: ...