Not even close.

The Edwards blogger issue continues. The issue is, as I said yesterday, what the attitude of these bloggers says about Edwards. Really.

The direction these conversations are taking in the blogo- and pundi-spheres seems to be in one of "Well…look at your side!"

This is pretty classic skirting-the-issue, in my book. Er, I’m not talking about Ann Coulter or some John McCain staffer or whover else gets brought up. The only way that is legitimate is if you can prove the people with whom you are dialoguing have said in the past, "Gee, I wish George Bush would hire Ann Coulter or the guys at Little Green Footballs" or whatever bogeyman you’ve got on hand.

It’s the same extremely irritating, distracting (as it is fully intended to be) dynamic that’s employed when we’re talking about the abortion issue and someone busts in and sniffs, "Well, that’s nice, but why aren’t you all against capital punishment?"

The answer to which is…"Er…and how do you know we’re not?"

Or someone says, "Oh, yeah, care about life before birth…why don’t you care about life after birth?"

To which a group of 10 prolife activists with their probable collection of adopted children, handicapped children, work at Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul or the local free clinic, will say…"Um….I don’t know…tell me."

As Mark has said in his response to an increasingly interesting exchange with the Catholic Alliance folks, who cares what Bill Donohue says or has said in the past about anyone? What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?

(By the way, though, Donohue did roundly criticize Bush in ’00 for speaking at Bob Jones U. Anyhoo.)

The issue is these two bloggers, the official Edwards ’08 bloggers, and their attitudes toward Things Catholic (and traditional Christian, in general. Other Christians, you know, believe in the Virginal Conception of Christ, too….). They’re on the Edwards team? Edwards is behind them? Presumably because he’s fearful of the reaction of the Kossites and such if he lets them go?

As I said…for the files.

But please, go visit the Curt Jester. Who has recreated Jack Chick comics with exact quotes from the Edwards Bloggers:

There is a sense abroad, as well, that Edwards’ determination to stick by these bloggers and their assurances that no harm was intended, is discomfiting some who might define themselves as religious left. If you’ve not already seen it, do check out this piece for a good examination of that.

As the flap over alleged anti-Catholic writings by two John Edwards campaign bloggers devolves into a shouting match between conservative religious voices and liberal bloggers, some members of the “religious left” say they feel — again — shoved to the margins of the Democratic Party.

“We’re completely invisible to this debate,” said Eduardo Penalver, a Cornell University law professor who writes for the liberal Catholic journal Commonweal. He said he was dissatisfied with the Edwards campaign’s response. “As a constituency, the Christian left isn’t taken all that seriously,” Penalver said.

Update:

David Hartline of the Catholic Report made some phone calls:

Senator Edwards Staffer #1  What is your question for the senator?

Dave Hartline   Would Senator Edwards have been this forgiving if someone had made a similar disparaging remark about an African-American, Asian-American or Muslim-American? (was told to hold on and was transferred)

Senator  Edwards Staffer #2   I understand you have a question for me. I would be happy to answer it.

Dave Hartline  Would Senator Edwards have been this forgiving if someone had made a similar disparaging remark about an African-American, Asian-American or Muslim-American? (was told to hold on and was transferred)

Senator Edwards Staffer#3    I am sorry you have been hold. I would be happy to answer your question.

Dave Hartline  Would Senator Edwards have been this forgiving if someone had made a similar disparaging remark about an African-American, Asian-American or Muslim-American?  (was told to hold and this time sent to an answering machine where once again I identified myself. I left a message and haven’t been called back)