Senator Robert Byrd uncovered… point taken (reporter set straight on Byrd’s “admirable background”)

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | June 7 2003 | Mike Carlton

[dead]

With trembling hand and fluttering heart I read the fax from Media Watch. It was very polite. Was I aware that the United States senator Robert Byrd had once been a member of the Ku Klux Klan?

Had I known that fact when I referred to his "admirable background" in a piece I wrote about him last month? Did this change my view about that background?

Media Watch was keen to include all relevant facts and opinions on this matter, said the fax, just a bit pompously.

The program would appreciate my response by 10am Monday, June 9, 2003.

Well, the answers are no, no and yes. I was unaware that Byrd had indeed worn the pointy hood for two years from 1942. Plainly, that renders his background considerably less than admirable.

Digging further, it turns out that the senator was a good ol' fashioned nigger hater in his youth.

In 1945 he wrote to another senator that he would never go to war "with a Negro by my side. Rather I should die 1000 times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds."

Vile stuff, I grant you, although hardly uncommon in Americans of Byrd's generation. There is some evidence that Harry S. Truman was once a Klansman.

But Byrd's racism, past or present, does not, of itself, invalidate his criticism of the war on Iraq and the neo-conservative Bush Administration.

It just makes it much harder to support, that's all.

[eBelasco]

But Byrd's racism, past or present, does not, of itself, invalidate...

In the case of RATs, I'd say any past transgression deserves a permanent revocation of respect for, and consideration of ideas coming from, said RAT.

[Lazamataz]

Byrd would harp and harangue Bush for the Iraq war if it was shown that Saddam had an Iraqi nuke in Los Angeles harbor and was two days from detonating it.

Byrd is a befuddled, Alzheimer-ridden racist.

[jmaroneps37]

"There is some evidence that Harry S. Truman was once a Klansman." This as if we are to now excuse the West Virginia Kleagle because, well after all, Truman was such a good guy himself.
Nevertheless, it is interesting to watch the varied recations of media rats when the Net's never closing eye catches them in one fantacy after another.
At least this guy sort of apologized.

[cardinal4]

Vile stuff, I grant you, although hardly uncommon in Americans of Byrd's generation. There is some evidence that Harry S. Truman was once a Klansman.

Hmmmmm. Both democrats. Imagine that.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

But Byrd's racism, past or present, does not, of itself, invalidate his criticism of the war on Iraq and the neo-conservative Bush Administration.

The only reason conservatives bother to point out such things to liberals is because of the hurricane of condemnation the libs impose on Republicans for even the slightest, and sometimes imagined, transgression. The difference in Byrd's background and that of Trent Lott is like night and day but look what the Democrats did to Lott. Same with Bork, Thomas, et al.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Hmmmmm. Both democrats. Imagine that.

Since the klan was born as a response to the abuses during Reconstruction after the Civil War and the abusers were Republicans and the victims were Democrats, that is what you would expect. There may have been no Republican klan members but if there were they were in the North.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Digging further, it turns out that the senator was a good ol' fashioned nigger hater in his youth.

Now Byrd has determined that he can hate them and keep them on the plantion with welfare while appearing to be some sort of benevolent benefactor.

[Revelation 911]

There is some evidence that Harry S. Truman was once a Klansman.

is this even relevant ? - Truman is not a sitting senator

[Always Right]

Makes what Trent Lott said almost sound admirable.

[Russ]

"There is some evidence that Harry S. Truman was once a Klansman"

What and where is that evidence? I never heard that, or read that, anywhere.

I beg to differ with Mr. Carlton but the kind of "vile stuff" was not common in Americans of Byrd's generation. Byrd was, and is, a race-baiter of the lowest order. It can't be excused using the "everyone did it" line.

[The Wizard]

"with a Negro by my side. Rather I should die 1000 times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds."

how come I don't hear this on TV news?????(right)

[stop_fascism]

It would be interesting. Does anyone know anything about that claim?

It is amusing how nonchalantly liberals will slander other people to support their case. Clever how he says "some evidence", to maintain deniability. "I didn't say he was in the KKK, I only said there was some evidence". Pretty slimy.

[knuthom]

There is some evidence that Harry S. Truman was once a Klansman.

First I heard of this. Any truth to it?

[Tacis]

I believe there is a lot more out there. There were, in 1963, I believe, Congressional hearings of proposed civil rights legislation. Grand Exaulted Kleagle Byrd and Kleagle Gore had to speak against it. There is a record. I don't know how many federal documents respositories/despoitories retain hard copies that long, but the speeches were printed in the Congressional Record. Of course, you wouldn't expect any of the left-wing, liberal extremist media (NYT, for example) to dig this stuff out, but some one should.

[mr.pink]

Byrd would harp and harangue Bush for the Iraq war if it was shown that Saddam had an Iraqi nuke in Los Angeles harbor and was two days from detonating it.

Really?...that you'd reach so far in constructing such a ridiculous scenario is pretty funny.

The old senile dope just may have been right in many of his concerns over how this war was sold and justified. That congress people from both sides of the aisle are wondering if the pre-war Intel was cooked, and as a few of the likely cookers are attempting to distance themselves from their original sales points, leaves me thinking that Bryd was right about a few things.

[shotgun]

Vile stuff, I grant you, although hardly uncommon in Americans of Byrd's generation.

My dad was raised in dirt poor south east Missouri in the 1920's through 1940's and did not espouse these views. He was raised and thus we were raised to give everyone respect as a human beings.

[cksharks]

And your proof that this evidence was cooked to get the war is what? And when Bush drops the evidence on the table next week you are going to look as stupid as the old Klansman.And the only reason I responded to you was to be able to remind you of this .

[aristeides]

According to David McCulloch's life of Truman, Truman in 1922 went through some initial steps towards joining the Klan, but then backed out, allegedly because the Klan's anti-Catholicism was made clear to him.

[aristeides]

That quote presumably explains why Byrd -- who was in his twenties -- took care to avoid military service in WWII. Strom Thurmond, on the other hand, who was in his 40's, joined the Army and was the oldest paratrooper to land in Normandy on D-Day (although, be it said, he landed in a glider).