08/18/2008
Catholic League's Bill Donohue To DNC: Pull Towleroad Credentials
Today, The Catholic League's Bill Donohue, the mouthpiece of a right wing religious group who spends most of his time using his office to attack free speech, progressives, and gays, took it upon himself to call out the DNC for the diverse range of media it has chosen to credential at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Donohue called on the Convention CEO Leah Daughtry to "nix" Towleroad and feminist blog Bitch Ph.D.'s media credentials at next week's convention. According to Donohue, we are the "most offensive" of the more than 120 blogs offered credentials.
Just today, Daughtry touted this year's delegation as the most diverse Convention in Party History in a press release: "Opening the door of the political process to people who have never taken part in the past has been the bedrock of our planning for this Convention since we arrived in Denver one year ago...it’s only fitting that our delegates represent that same core value and Barack Obama’s unparalleled ability to bring more new people in to the electoral process than ever before."
Bill Donohue's Catholic League, unfortunately, is a right wing radical religious group masked as an advocate with no business meddling in the machinations of U.S. politics. Most Americans believe that the separation of church and state makes America strong.
Once again using the shameful tactic long used by right wing groups to link LGBT subject matter solely with sex, Donohue states: "Towleroad describes itself as 'A Site with Homosexual Tendencies.' Accordingly, it shows men in jock straps and underwear. It also has a post on Pope Benedict XVI that takes him to task for wearing a cape with ermine. Some of those who commented on this described the pope in a vile and profane way."
Our recent reference to the Pope pointed out the hypocrisy of the Catholic leader's wearing of fur, something that hasn't been done since the 60's.
In contrast, the Pope has deemed homosexuality an "intrinsic moral evil" and as recently as New Year's Day ranked same-sex marriage with nuclear arms proliferation, environmental pollution, economic inequality, abortion, and birth control as threats to world peace.
Yet we would never suggest that Catholics not be able to attend the Convention.
If Donohue is so focused on sex, his time would be better focused on healing the epidemic of sexual abuse against children by clergy in the Catholic church, and considering the facts on the use of condoms, which the Church has said have no effect on the prevention of AIDS, rather than attempting to influence American politics by limiting the Democratic ideals of free speech, inclusion and tolerance.
For some background on Donohue, check out this post at Media Matters.
Thanks to Pam's House Blend, Good as You, Joe.MyGod, Queerty, The Carpetbagger Report and others for your support.
Posted 6:51 PM EST by Andy Towle in Catholic Church, Democratic National Convention, Democratic Party, News | Permalink
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I wrote both Bill and the DNC to voice support of Andy, The Daily Kos, and Bitch Phd.
Honestly....the asshole needs a new hobby...besides pedophilia.
Posted by: Tex... | Aug 18, 2008 7:59:31 PM
On the list of major sins, I am pretty sure that worshipping a human being who is in no way connected to God is really, really high up there. Yeah, at the top actually.
Mr. Donohue might want to re-read his Bible (and not just the parts he likes this time) and think about where the Catholic Church and all of its "saints" and little statues and beads fit in with what he sees. My Bible tells me that those things are of the occult.
Posted by: paul | Aug 18, 2008 8:07:12 PM
at the risk of sounding trite, YOU GO GIRL!!!
Posted by: bading | Aug 18, 2008 8:28:59 PM
Andy, this is a high honor indeed -- the modern day equivalent of getting onto Nixon's enemies list. Although let's not conflate Donohue's lame-ass Catholic League's importance with a president. What a scumbag bigot.
Congrats Towleroad, you scrappy little media outlet, you!
Posted by: So Left I'm Right | Aug 18, 2008 8:54:24 PM
If my crazy memory serves me right, Donahue (the bad one) has always publicly supported republicans.
Why the hell does he care who is at the DNC?
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Aug 18, 2008 9:16:44 PM
Sorry.. In my comment I meant Donahue, not Daughtry!
Posted by: Mark | Aug 18, 2008 9:31:58 PM
Andy,
I read your blog daily. In my opinion it is better than all the News Corp, B-Sky, CNN outlets combined. Keep up the good work. This is truly an entertaining and informative site.
Posted by: Gavin Elster | Aug 18, 2008 10:03:43 PM
Bill Donohue is a bitter old queen who makes Jesus and Mary cry.
www.PinkSheepOfTheFamily.com supports you too!
Every gay man who cares about world events reads your blog because it is done beautifully and with integrity.
Keep up the good work, Andy.
Posted by: Beej the Pink Sheep | Aug 18, 2008 10:12:56 PM
Both the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church are rather irrelevant.
Posted by: john | Aug 18, 2008 10:24:13 PM
I bet this asshole tries to pick Andy up in a bathroom at the DNC.
Posted by: jerzeemike | Aug 18, 2008 10:27:55 PM
Actual email sent minutes ago to:
lg@catholicleague.org
Dear Mr. Donohue,
I don't get it. I don't think Towleroad.com is doing anything wrong.
What's wrong with men in under ware or jock straps? Don't Catholics wear them too?
And really, shouldn't the Pope stop wearing lady's clothing?
Chas.
Posted by: Chas | Aug 18, 2008 10:51:05 PM
"Group" is a stretch. As far as I know, the Catholic League is a very small operation, though they do get significant donations. Somehow they manage to dominate the debate in the media on Catholic issues.
BD should not have confused the post itself (which was merely snarky) with the comments made by our regulars, nor confused the political coverage on TR with the gay ephemera. It should be fun in Denver, though I'm a tad annoyed they won't allow any protests near the convention hall.
Posted by: anon | Aug 18, 2008 11:00:30 PM
Bill Donohue does not represent the majority of Roman Catholics in the United States. Many of us are kind, loving, and affirming people who unfortunately are lumped together with the likes of this guy. I am a gay Catholic, and I hope that I can remind Towleroad readers that the Church is flawed, but that Catholics do much for some of the most marginalized. I agonize that we are on the wrong side of GLBT issues, to say the least, but please know there are people within the Church working to change it.
Posted by: Mike | Aug 18, 2008 11:41:01 PM
Oooh - It is ON!
Posted by: GM | Aug 18, 2008 11:52:12 PM
fuck the pope. now there, offensive and disparaging.
Posted by: GOD | Aug 19, 2008 1:12:04 AM
You are either w/ us (free speech) or against us (terrorists). So Mr. Donohue as the man you voted for, Mr. Bush, said the terrorists attacked us because of our freedoms and by using such lame logic, you now support the terrorists. Yes towleroaders, you heard it here first, the Catholic "league" supports terrorism and is anti-American.
From the "league" of shut your fat a-hole you stupid idiot and go live in the middle east where you would like to take us back to.
Posted by: Mike | Aug 19, 2008 1:21:16 AM
Why does every Bill Donahue photo look like a pedophile's mug shot? That insincere, smarmy smile makes one's thighs protectively snap shut even if one wasn't molested as a child.
Ann Coulter could take lessons in sleazy from him.
Now if I could just purge the mental picture of him in a little black cocktail dress flirting with J. Edgar Hoover from my mind's eye...
Posted by: Atagahi | Aug 19, 2008 5:38:13 AM
Excellent Excellent retort
Thanks for having our backs
Posted by: George | Aug 19, 2008 7:55:38 AM
Andy, Andy , Andy
Have you been rattling the cages of the nice catholics again - shame on you, now you know what you should do; go and find that nice Mr D. at the convention and say sorry to him face to face (by the way please have it filmed for us all to enjoy).
Keep up the good work Andy.
Posted by: ARCH | Aug 19, 2008 9:11:04 AM
Andy, I think I love you about a hundred times more because you got on Donohue's shit list.
You're rockin' bigtime! Please keep up the good work!
Hugz,
-J
Posted by: Jeffrey | Aug 19, 2008 9:14:59 AM
Congratulations! If Donahue thinks you're offensive, it's a compliment. You're in very good company.
Posted by: sam | Aug 19, 2008 10:07:24 AM
Donahue epitomizes why I detest Catholicism and Catholics ... his Pope, Ratzinger/Benedict, is a former Nazi and protector of pedophiles, but it's pictures of guys in jocks that are offensive?!
Fuck Donahue, fuck the Pope.
Posted by: mike | Aug 19, 2008 10:59:29 AM
Congratulations, Andy! Here's to hoping you give a stroke to the Catholic Lea… er, Bill Donohue… er, fuck it, it's the same person. Keep those jockstrap shots coming!
Posted by: Tread | Aug 19, 2008 11:37:17 AM
Congrats on making the right enemies! You are getting noticed.
I <3 Towleroad
Posted by: SJ | Aug 19, 2008 12:02:00 PM
Mike, while I believe that he is close in many things to Nazi ideology, it is still wrong to call him a former Nazi. Look it up.
There are enough correct issues about this evil being.
Posted by: Chris | Aug 19, 2008 12:47:50 PM