KKK defends the late Sen. Byrd: ‘He wasn’t a Klansman long enough to get his sheet broke in’

The Daily Caller ^ | 07/01/2010 | Kyle Peterson

[OldDeckHand]

As politicians and columnists across the country debate the life and legacy of the late Sen. Robert Byrd, the West Virginian’s membership in the Ku Klux Klan has been a sticking point for many. Today’s KKK, though, says Byrd did nothing to warrant such ire.

“He wasn’t a Klansman long enough to get his sheet broke in,” said Travis Pierce, national membership director for the Ku Klux Klan, LLC, one of several groups that uses the KKK name. “It’s much ado about nothing.”

It’s unknown how long Byrd held membership in the Klan. According to the Washington Post, the future senator joined in 1942, and later publicly stated that he lost interest after about a year, although in a letter dated 1946 Byrd wrote, “The Klan is needed today as never before, and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia.”

During his tenure, Byrd held the titles of Kleagle and Exalted Cyclops within the organization. What he did in those positions is somewhat difficult to pin down, since the Klan is a loose-knit organization, and roles differ between local chapters.

[OldDeckHand]

If these are the best character witnesses available, is the defense even worth mounting?

The actual title was truncated for space. It read...

KKK defends the late Sen. Robert Byrd: ‘He wasn’t a Klansman long enough to get his sheet broke in’

[Riley]

Democrats covering for Democrats. SSDD.

[Sister_T]

Who cares how long he was in the Klan? Point is, he was a member of that racist organization. Spin all they want, the man was in the Klan. ‘Nuff said!

[fish hawk]

Isn't that like the Taliban and Al Qaeda coming to the rescue of OBozo?

[Beowulf9]

Gee, If a person joined the Nazi party under Hitler for only a short time I guess that would mean he was really Jew friendly...

[Huskrrrr]

“The Klan is needed today as never before, and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia.”

What part of this statement do liberals not understand?

[guitarplayer1953]

How does this guy know how long KKK Byrd was in the Klan? It seems to me you have to be in it for a while to get such an exalted name as Byrd had.

[DecentAmerican]

This is just your prototypical liberal nutjob double standard and hypocrisy. Just look at how the NYtimes did the obituary different b/t Byrd vs. Thurmond. They are both racists, but one was lib, one was GOP. And liberals constantly forget that the KKK was formed as a paramilitary branch of the DEMOCRATIC party. It was the GOP who had as their original platform to abolish slavery.

the libnuts got bent out of shape with Rand Paul’s comments about the Civil Rights act, but they seem to forget that their exalted Byrd voted AGAIST the act in 1964.....so he’s not a racist, right?

So the libnuts defend Byrd, a card carrying member and leader in the KKK. Can you imagine all the hell that would break loose if Palin were to just talk to a KKK member in a grocery store?

NO MORE HYPOCRITES!!!

[mozarky2]

My BS meter is pegged out-if you want to really pi** off a Kluxer, call their robes “sheets”.

[circlecity]

“He wasn’t a Klansman long enough to get his sheet broke in,”

How'd you like that to be the epitath on your headstone?

[SaxxonWoods]

So the Klan is stating that it is a problematic organization and it’s better if politicians or anyone wanting a good public reputation doesn’t join.

Interesting.

[donna]

No justice, no peace!

Anyone remember Sen. Trent Lott and how the Republicans betrayed him for:

At the Thurmond birthday party, Lott said: “I want to say this about my state. When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn’t have had all these problems over all these years either.”

[Marty62]

You mean Sheets Byrd was po’d everytime we called him SHEETS?

GOOD.

[reg45]

After the funeral, there will be a reception at the Klan Hall. The menu for the evening:

Menu
• White bread
• White rice
• White sugar
• White wine
• Whitefish in white sauce

[LaineyDee]

You're right. No organization is going to pluck someone from the lower ranks to lead them if their mettle hasn't been tested.

Regardless of how long he was a member.....the intent was in his heart to join and keep those he considered "inferior" out of his neighborhood/town.

[traderrob6]

Doesn’t anyone else find it odd that a KKK honcho is defending Robert Byrd’s rep?

[LaineyDee]

Pointing out the absurdity with the absurd? :)

[Biblebelter]

Travis Pierce may be a member of the modern KKK, but his statement reveals that he really doesn’t know sheet about sheets.

[maxwellsmart_agent]

I never belonged to the Klan. I never belonged to any organization that was based on breaking people’s dreams. All people want to just be happy first. A people just released from involuntary servitutude were suddenly faced with a bigotry that would deny them their dream. That bigotry is hard to excuse. Hope God is all merciful, Senator Byrd.

[af_vet_rr]

Who cares how long he was in the Klan? Point is, he was a member of that racist organization. Spin all they want, the man was in the Klan. ‘Nuff said!

Not only that, but Byrd claimed to have been raised a Christian and that he was a life-long Christian.

You can't be a Christian and be a member of an organization like the KKK. You can be in the KKK and call yourself a Christian, but you are not a Christian, as you have clearly not learned and applied Christ's teachings.

If Byrd been born and raised a Christian, and had taken Christ's lessons to heart, he would have not only turned down the KKK, he would have publicly worked against them.