Markos “Screw Them” Moulitsas appeals for civility: Daily Kos: ‘With us or against us’.

As I wrote yesterday, “Just doesn’t look right to be dissing the military when Kos is trying so hard to be the voice of the Democratic Party.”

There has lately been an alarming rise in diaries and comments that seek to impugn (without evidence) the motives of those they disagree with on various issues.

Yes, there’s the impeachment stuff, but this nasty rhetoric is also rampant in the primary war diaries.

This points to a serious breakdown not just on civility, but in the ability of people to properly debate various issues. As such, it presents a serious threat to the integrity of this site.

I much prefer it when the community moderates itself, and for the most part it does a good job of this. The libertarian in me prefers it that way. But sometimes, self-moderation isn’t enough. I’ll act swiftly and mercilessly when I’m pushed into defending the effectiveness of this site. And at this moment, my patience is wearing thin.

Reasonable people, including progressives, can disagree on many of the big issues we face today — from which candidate to support in the primary, to whether impeachment is the best way to hold this administration accountable, to the merit of gun control or free trade agreements, to how to handle immigration, to whatever else faces our nation. As a site, we strive to provide a safe haven for debate on these matters without it getting — as has happened of late — so damn ugly.

This is my one and only warning on the matter. I’ll try to be an optimist and hope that this is the last time I’ll have to address it. I won’t let this site become as nasty as your typical usenet forum, and those who encourage that sort of environment should consider themselves duly warned.

Remember, this is the guy who watched four American contractors burned to death and torn apart in Fallujah, then, while the bodies were still hanging from a bridge, wrote: “I feel nothing over the death of mercenaries. They are there to wage war for profits, screw them.”

Also see: Daily Kos Founder Issues Warning Concerning ‘Nasty Rhetoric’ at His Website - NewsBusters.org.