Surfette

On blogging, hate speech, Election '08 and life: What are your questions for Elizabeth Edwards?

Cross-posted on BlogHer.

If you could ask Blogger Elizabeth Edwards anything, what would it be?

Because you can. In ten days, Edwards takes the stage at BlogHer '07 in the final keynote discussion of this year's conference. She and I will talk for a few minutes and then we'll open up the microphones for a room-wide conversation. For those of us who cannot be there in person, I'd love to ask your question and credit you and your blog if the conversation goes in your direction. All you need to do is list your question below.

In a year when social media is dominating both the blogs for husband John Edwards' 2008 presidential campaign, and comments regularly. Whether or not you like Mrs. Edwards’ politics – and let me re-confirm immediately that BlogHer is a non-partisan organization – she has embraced the Web, using it to make an enormous amount of news in the past six months, some of it quite personal, some of it strategic and political. Here’s a sampling, including some of her own posts:

• March 3 ~ Denounces hate speech by Ann Coulter on the John Edwards ’08 blog, urges people not to “to sit silent in acceptance”


• March 22 ~ Announces that her breast cancer has returned


• April 4 ~ Continues campaigning for her husband despite cancer, to positive and negative reviews


• June 24 ~ Splits with her husband’s view on gay marriage


• June 25 ~ Asks Ann Coulter on live television to stop “the personal attacks” and later blogs it


• July 17 ~ Says Hillary Clinton is not as vocal a women's advocate as her husband


• July 19 ~ Says John Edwards' health plan would cover reproductive health, including abortions and birth control

So you tell me: What should we ask? Or not? Take it away -- comments are open here on BlogHer. You're also invited to leave your opinions below. Thanks.

Photo credit: Citymama. Elizabeth Edwards with Mary Tsao at a 2006 blogger meet-up in San Francisco.

July 4 Special: Women and Power (from Politics to iPhones)

Every week, I write a general newsletter to the BlogHer community. Here's a copy of this week's, with a few improvements that I, fumblefingers, managed to delete from the version sent out ~ Lisa

July 4, 2007

Hi everyone,

I think you've said it all this week:

Quotes of the week

"…I might lick the screen.”
- Contributing Editor HeatherB in iObsessed

"I think it's up to some women bloggers to take the lead and show their power."
- Contributing Editor Morra Aarons in Mother Jones

"We're getting in on the action, Canuck-style."
- Blogger Catherine of Her Bad Mother on the BlogHers Act CANADA initiative
Photo credit: Elizabeth  Perry

Here in the United States, it's Independence Day. I just strolled Main Street, past an open field and palm trees, to watch my little California coastside town's Fourth of July parade. It was idyllic -- hippies and vets mixing it up at the pancake breakfast, dogs wearing red, white and blue bandanas, children hooting and riding bikes tied with balloons.

But there was one moment when nobody talked.