Compassion Ought to Supercede Politics

But does it?

I remember when it was announced that Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Senator John Edwards, Kerry's running mate, had breast cancer. Across the conservative side of the blogosphere (that portion of it that I read, anyway), I read nothing but warm and sympathetic wishes for her recovery. Privately I prayed for her recovery, and I know that the Common Room Scholars expressed sympathy for her and her family as well. I didn't see anybody get ugly about it.

In fact, more than one conservative blogger excused Senator Edward's sour and unpleasant concession speech on the grounds anyone might be forgiven for almost anything if he'd recently learned of his wife's breast cancer.

So it was a little jarring to read Michelle Malkin about the DU reaction to Laura Ingraham's breast cancer.

Laura Ingraham is apparently, she's a conservative talk radio hostess, although I don't know if I've ever heard her.

The DU stands for the Democratic Underground, and it seems to be sort of the leftist counterpart to the rightist Free Republic. I've been to each of those websites approximately twice, and I don't think I've ever posted on either. The DU is definitely not suitable for youths and maidens of tender age.

Michelle says that DU posters are saying things like this about Laura Ingraham,

" She probably gave it to herself..."

"I don't pray for Nazis or other Totalitarian Scum"

"I hope she goes into remission and [expletive deleted by the DHM] chokes to death."

Mrs. Edwards posts to the DU from time to time, and to her credit, she attempted to encourage a more civil response, although sadly, in spite of all the well wishing she received from the conservative community, she also chose such an inappropriate time to talk about the supposed lack of compassion on the conservative side. Even more sadly, according to Michelle, the DU kids were back to spewing venom and death wishes shortly thereafter.