I read the infamous post. I also read his apologia. I wasn't one of the people who took offense -- in fact, I felt the same way. But I'm also a contributor to the John Kerry Blog, and have had the displeasure of witnessing a veritable brouhaha over there.
I don't know why I am built this way, but I am: when I read/see/hear something that offends me, I don't generally get in a huff about it. In fact, most things I've been offended by have caused me to seek more information -- either to insulate myself against the offending statements (or movie, or images, or lyrics, or whatever), or to better articulate for myself why I am offended.
99.99% of the time, I am more offended by the attempt to censor the offensive than I am by the offensive itself. For example: there have been some pretty offensive rap songs released in the past decade. They were misogynous, they aggrandized violence and materialism, et cetera. I found the people who "sang" these particular songs generally offensive in demeanour, as well. HOWEVER: I am hugely offended by the suggestion that they do not have a right to express these disgusting and unimaginative views. I am hugely offended when people like Bill O'Reilly stir up their audiences into false frenzies over artists those audiences would never even KNOW about were it not for the Bill O'Reillys of the world.
What does this have to do with Kos and his "offensive" post? Do I have to spell it out? It's his blog, it's his opinion. This site, in particular, has been a huge supporter of John Kerry's campaign. If the Kerry campaign feels it necessary to disassociate itself from the vast resources of the Daily Kos (and, by extension, Eschaton, who is withdrawing his support of Kerry's fundraising in solidarity with Kos), then I guess that's the Kerry campaign's prerogative. I also happen to think it's their loss.
I'm not interested in lockstep thinking. If I were that kind of a sheep, I'd probably be a Republican. I understand the concept of toeing the party line and all that, to a point. But this little dust-up over ONE BLOG POST, not even on THIS blog -- well, talk about a tempest in a teapot. And I agree with whoever said John Kerry probably knows a lot more about these mercenaries than we do -- and wouldn't it be nice if he'd step up and bring it to the national dialogue.
Sorry, folks, I agree with almost everything Dave1021 has said today -- including the "let's grow a spine" thing. I AM a little impatient, I AM a little discouraged. The Bush Administration has been drowning and we've been standing on the dock watching -- instead of jumping in and HOLDING THEIR HEADS DOWN.
I think what happened to those four men's bodies was disgusting. I also think we played right into their hands. Images like that are supposed to get you emotionally kerfuffled. It always works. I can just hear them in their back rooms -- "Drag American bodies through the streets -- it works every time."
I'm not writing this in a particularly linear fashion, I'm afraid. I am very disapppointed in the decisions of not only the Kerry campaign but all the others to withdraw their association from the Daily Kos, a terrific voice for liberal America. (Come to think of it, I've been pretty disappointed in Kerry's refusal to accept the liberal moniker proudly and take back its meaning for all of us.) This molehill has sure become an unnecessary mountain. Who MAKES these decisions? Do they talk it OVER for a while? Do they run through the possible scenarios of repercussions???
That said, I am also very disappointed in Kos and Atrios for their withdrawal of visible financial support (via fundraising) of Kerry. But they have a point. Kos has been denounced for speaking his mind -- in a moment of passion, no less, and after having explained himself quite well. It bodes ill for us all when the good guys practice de facto censorship to stave off the bad guys and their utterly predictable furor over someone actually exercising free speech that goes against the status quo with impunity.
Yeah, this was really long and unfocused. But I needed to say it.