THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT

Collins Campaign In Sexist Attack on Leading Blog

Firedoglake Calls for Apology and Firing of Collins Campaign Blogger

Washington, DC August 15, 2007 - On the same day that Susan Collin’s Senate reelection campaign chief of staff Steve Abbott was pronouncing that “we have long prided ourselves on our efforts to maintain a civil level of discourse over the course of spirited political campaigns,” Collins’ Director of Internet Strategy, Lance Dutson, launched a false and offensive attack against the highly respected blog, Firedoglake, best known for its groundbreaking liveblogging of the Scooter Libby trial.

Firedoglake’s founder, Jane Hamsher demanded an apology and the firing of Dutson for his characterization of the blog as “the foul-mouthed fem-blog FiredogLake.”

“I’m deeply offended that Senator Collins would speak about professional women in such a degrading and offensive manner,” said Hamsher. “It is well beneath the dignity becoming a sitting Senator to engage in such coarse and misogynistic rhetoric.”

Christy Hardin Smith, featured FDL blogger, said: “The sexist undertones used on Sen. Collins’ blog are appalling – the use of “fem-blog” is erroneous and dismissive. Citizens in this country have a right — an obligation — to hold those who ask us for our votes accountable. Women have just as much right as men to speak up for their country and their families, whether Senator Collins likes that or not.”

Firedoglake, one of the leading progressive blogs with over a half million readers per week publishes posts by Jane Hamsher, Christy Hardin Smith, Trex and Pachacutec — both male bloggers — and guest posts by an additional 4 women and 6 male bloggers. Firedoglake received critical acclaim with its in-depth coverage of the Valerie Plame case culminating in the blog’s live gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Scooter Libby trial – coverage that drew applause from leading journalism professionals. The New York Times, in a page one story noted that “the Firedoglake ‘live blog’ has offered the fullest, fastest public report available. Many mainstream journalists use it to check on the trial.”

Highly engaged in the political arena, Firedoglake joined with Crooks and Liars, Digby’s Hullabaloo and Down With Tyranny, to launch the Blue America Pac, which raised half a million dollars during the 2006 election cycle. FDL features weekly interviews with candidates and recently hosted online conversations with presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Chris Dodd.

// posted by montag @ 6:40 PM