Former Ku Klux Klan and Senate Leader Robert Byrd (D-WV) Dead at 92

[bobbyw24]

Byrd was haunted throughout his political career by his brief stint in the Ku Klux Klan in the 1940s, and he acknowledged late in life that it would be a part of his obituary. Byrd briefly served as his local chapter’s leader, or “Exalted Cyclops.”

He would go on to filibuster the landmarks Civil Rights Act of 1964 for more than 14 hours, and he also opposed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Several years later, however, he voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

He would later cite his membership in the Baptist church as the cause of his conversion on race relations. The race issue never completely left Byrd, though. In 2001, he had to apologize for comments about “white niggers.”

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/105771-sen-byrd-dies-at-age-92

 

[cindy25]

his seat could be the key to who controls the senate, and he died before July 3 that seat will be on this years ballot

 

[qh4dotcom]

The Democrats are down to 58 Senate votes now....a little more cushion for the filibusters.

 

[cindy25]

the appointed senator will be a Democrat, as WV has a Dem gov.

 

[roho76]

Yahoo!!! This is the best news I have heard all day and it just started.

 

[qh4dotcom]

the appointed senator will be a Democrat, as WV has a Dem gov.

True, well until the new senator is sworn in they are temporarily down to 58 votes

 

[Cowlesy]

YouTube - Senator Byrd's Speech Opposing Iraq War 3/19/03 Part 1

Don't agree with all of it, but some of it.

 

[AuH2O]

It's not yet clear whether the appointed replacement will serve out the remainder of his term or whether a special election will need to be held.

 

[specsaregood]

We need a liberty candidate to quickly change his name to R. Byrd, register as a Democrat and get on that ballot!

 

[Cowlesy]

We need a liberty candidate to quickly change his name to R. Byrd, register as a Democrat and get on that ballot!

^^^^^^^^^^This.

 

[Scofield]

I think the title of this thread is a bit disrespectful.

The man was in the KKK before my father (who is 60 years old) was even born. He hasn't been connected to the Klan in what amounts to an entire lifetime. It's ridiculous to still grasp onto that piece of his history. The only reason it was included in the title was to slam him, not for any other purpose. Very tacky tactic and disrespectful to a man who just died.

I loathe the vast majority of Byrd's policies, but I'm not going to revel in his death or take pot shots at a guy who is no longer here.

 

[Brooklyn Red Leg]

Fuck him. He was a Statist, racist asshole. Good riddance.

 

[roho76]

I think the title of this thread is a bit disrespectful.

The man was in the KKK before my father (who is 60 years old) was even born. He hasn't been connected to the Klan in what amounts to an entire lifetime. It's ridiculous to still grasp onto that piece of his history. The only reason it was included in the title was to slam him, not for any other purpose. Very tacky tactic and disrespectful to a man who just died.

I loathe the vast majority of Byrd's policies, but I'm not going to revel in his death or take pot shots at a guy who is no longer here.

"Well that's like...your opinion, man" the Dude

Not me. I'll dance on his grave if I ever see it. Just like he did to so many others. Even though he voted against going to war in Iraq he has voted since to fund it and a vote to fund it is just as bad as voting for it in the first place. He has helped strip this country of it's greatness and should be frowned upon for it. Shame on him. Nature taking him out saves us on resources to try and have him thrown out or replaced. Now all we have to do is fund replacing his seat against some other statist hack.

 

[Nate]

Fuck him. He was a Statist, racist asshole. Good riddance.

+100000000000000000000000000000000000000

This world is a better place without him. This POS doesn't deserve ANY respect, even in death.

 

[HOLLYWOOD]

Byrd was the poster child/advocate of personal rights for the medically Brain Dead... since that's how he has served the past 5 years in the US Senate. Another silver-tongued devil lawyer.

Also proves that at least 51% of West Virginia voters are clinically Brain-Dead too!

This POS has stolen BILLIONS in American Taxpayer money to serve himself best. $27+ billion wasted as of 2008 just on that West Virginia V-22 Osprey failure.

Rot in hell Byrd

 

[Elwar]

I think the title of this thread is a bit disrespectful.

The man was in the KKK before my father (who is 60 years old) was even born. He hasn't been connected to the Klan in what amounts to an entire lifetime. It's ridiculous to still grasp onto that piece of his history. The only reason it was included in the title was to slam him, not for any other purpose. Very tacky tactic and disrespectful to a man who just died.

I loathe the vast majority of Byrd's policies, but I'm not going to revel in his death or take pot shots at a guy who is no longer here.

there aint no rest for the wicked

 

[fisharmor]

Fuck him. He was a Statist, racist asshole. Good riddance.

King of the pork.
The nicest rest stop I've ever visited is in West Virginia.



It's still not as good as a bad truck stop.

 

[bobbyw24]

I think the title of this thread is a bit disrespectful.

The man was in the KKK before my father (who is 60 years old) was even born. He hasn't been connected to the Klan in what amounts to an entire lifetime. It's ridiculous to still grasp onto that piece of his history. The only reason it was included in the title was to slam him, not for any other purpose. Very tacky tactic and disrespectful to a man who just died.

I loathe the vast majority of Byrd's policies, but I'm not going to revel in his death or take pot shots at a guy who is no longer here.

Hold on--he was calling poor white people "white nig--rs" as late as 2001

 

[Stop Making Cents]

It's ok for a Democrat to be a former member of the KKK, but if a Republican had been a former member, they'd be run out of town, the national press would have orgasms describing how evil and vile he is, and he'd be forced to resign and commit suicide.

 

[bobbyw24]

it's ok for a democrat to be a former member of the kkk, but if a republican had been a former member, they'd be run out of town, the national press would have orgasms describing how evil and vile he is, and he'd be forced to resign and commit suicide.

where is rachel maddow when you need her?