I often agree with William Donohue on matters of religion and politics. Now that shouldn't surprise anyone, given that twenty years ago I was a candidate to head up West Coast operations of the Catholic League and was interviewed for the post by the group's founder, Father Virgil Blum, SJ at the League's original headquarters in Milwaukee.

But Donohue and the League get this one exactly wrong.

Over 120 blogs have been credentialed as members of the media for the Democratic National Convention; those who have received credentials are allowed to cover the Convention at the Pepsi Center. While most of them offer legitimate commentary, some do not.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue is protesting two of the blogs:

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“Both of these blogs should be cut immediately from the list of credentialed sites. Neither functions as a responsible media outlet and both offend Catholics, as well as others. To allow them access to the Democratic National Convention sends a message to Catholics they will not forget. We look for Leah Daughtry, CEO of the Convention, to nix them ASAP.”

Now the two blogs Donohue cites, Bitch PhD. and Towleroad are both profane and offensive by any reasonable standard, not just Catholic ones. But the reality is that they both have high readership among left-wingers. The same is true of a number of other bloggers that Donohue does not choose to seek to have banned. But given the nature of the blogosphere, that isn't surprising -- after all, the left side is noted for its angry, vitriolic, and hateful rhetoric.

Rather than seeking the revokation of blogging credentials, Donohue should instead be highlighting the numerous offensive, ant-Catholic bloggers that are credentialed.

After all, if he were to win his argument as it now stands, we would have demands for similar censorship by the RNC. CAIR and Muslim groups would be well-within their rights to demand the banning of bloggers who have taken a strong line against extremist Islam. Those who oppose our immigration laws would be demanding that bloggers who oppose border-jumping immigration criminals be banned. Supporters of gay marriage would be demanding the banning of bloggers who support traditional morality.

H/T Urban Grounds