there are much better Democrats than Robert Byrd...

[k_jerome]

that could stand as President Pro Tempore. almost as bad as Trent Lott as minority whip.

[bluewave]

1. His past is bad but I like him.

He says what he thinks.

[k_jerome]

4. it is an understatement to say his past is bad. nt.

[bluewave]

15. I just prefer an honest person

He was a member of the KKK, yes. Filibustering civil rights, not good. I'm not a Christian, but I do believe in redemption. I think by loudly opposing the war and defending the Constitution against Shrub, he has (at least partially) redeemed himself.

[k_jerome]

23. you are entitled to your opinion...

i believe he has tried to redeem himself, but for his own gain, not from a change of heart.

[sammythecat]

37. With you on this.

I think he has been practically heroic these past few years opposing bush and the "war".

He has a bad past, but I think he sincerely regrets it. A SINCERE apology goes a long, long, way with me. I make my judgments on him, now, based on his recent past. I like him.

[G_Leo_Criley]

40. Redemption...

I believe in the transformative power of experience and redemption myself.

How many of us could stand to be judged by things we said 20, 30 40, 50 and more years ago, and to never be judged on how we'd stood up to experience and learned from it?

glc

[k_jerome]

41. he has used the n-word as recently as...

2001. i just don't think he has changed...i don't begrudge others their opinion.

[blm]

2. Kind of useless to discuss it, considering Pres pro Tem automatically goes to longest

serving senator of majority party.

[k_jerome]

3. it is a custom...

not a rule.

[G_Leo_Criley]

38. right you are blm...

glc

[babylonsister]

5. Oh, please, get over it. Robert Byrd, warts and all, is a patriot. We

know all about his history, that he's apologized for, so there's no need to bring it up.
Though he's pissed me off for some of his votes, he's a great Democrat.

[k_jerome]

6. i'm not worried about his warts...just his history of...

extreme racism.

[AlCzervik]

8. so you weren't worried about that same issue yesterday?

[k_jerome]

9. didn't know he would be the President...

but I did not like him yesterday, if that is what you are asking.

[AlCzervik]

12. but he was still in the senate yesterday so his history of

"extreme racism" didn't bother you when he wasn't in the leadership?

[k_jerome]

13. i have always not liked the guy...

just ignored him, as it seems many do. today he is in the news, so i commented. is that strange to you?

[blm]

11. Then you should petition Hillary and Reid to get rid of him.

They have more pull than anyone here.

Us crazy folks here at DU generally defer to custom when warranted.

[k_jerome]

14. the guy continues to get elected for some reason...

i wonder why?

[blm]

17. Maybe Hillary can find something Byrd said that offends Bush, condemn it and then use

the media to exaggerate it and try to marginalize his voice in the senate.

[k_jerome]

20. i think Byrd has marginalized himself with his racist tendencies...

that is my opinion though. you are entitled to yours.

[AlCzervik]

18. he brings home the pork. I think or hope Byrd is truly sorry for

his racist past and he and i are very far apart on most issues but i am willing to bet you won't hear him having any trent Lott like episodes, i'm so sure that i will offer my standard bet, if he does i will eat a Monnie owned Washington times starting with "Fat" Tony Blankleys' editorial page.

[k_jerome]

22. how about 2001 when he used the n-word?

i think he regrets his votes for political reasons, and those reasons only.

[JeffR]

32. Link?

Seriously. I must have missed this.

[k_jerome]

35. ...

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/03/04/byrd.slur/

[JeffR]

43. Thank you. For all the good Byrd has done since recanting his KKK ties

This is pretty disgusting. I wasn't aware of this until you mentioned it.

[k_jerome]

45. no doubt he has tried to repair his image...

i simply question his motivations for doing so.

[JeffR]

46. He's tried to repair his image

and - I believe - his thinking. Seems he hasn't been as succesful as many of us hoped. Sad.

[k_jerome]

48. i am not saying a person cannot change..

i just don't get that feeling from him. the incident in 2001 was troubling for me. he certainly votes in favor of civil rights now. a complex situation.

[Sydnie]

52. You have to consider the area that he represents

when considering his actions and even his choice of words. Look, a 90 year old man who comes from and represents an area of the country that is still using those types of words frequently can't (or shouldn't) be surprised to hear some of that still coming through.

I grew up there. My mother married a really backwoods man when I was in college. (My father passed away years before that and she met this "mental giant" and married him). She moved to a small rural area where they had an area that they openly called "nigger hill" because the only people of color in the whole county lived there, thus it was commonly referred to that way by all the other residents of the county ... yes, the whole county! This idiot once said that word in front of my small son and I told him flat out, if he ever wanted me to visit again with my children (and not doing so would have broken my mothers heart) that I never wanted to hear that word out of his mouth every again. He never did say it again in my presence, but I know that he said it when I wasn't around and didn't give a second thought about it.

Considering the culture in a large part of the area that Byrd represents, he has come out of the dark ages (as best a 90 year old man can) and raised his bar. Sometimes, he slips. Sometimes he votes in a way that seems contrary to us and our points of view, but for good or bad, he does represent the people that elected him and their wishes even to this day ... as long as it is constitutional.

I can cut him some slack having come from where he did, having known people like him that never have or ever will be any more enlightened than he was 60 years ago, and knowing that he represents all of the people from his state, those that have grown past this behavior and those that haven't. And yes, there are many of my generation and the next generation there that still think as he did 60 years ago. Believe it.

The man is 90 and as such has earned this honor. He is the last of the lifelong legislators.

[k_jerome]

53. i understand where he comes from...

it is just over the mountains from where i was born. that does not give him a pass in my mind, but he is lawfully elected. i cannot dispute that.

[Sydnie]

54. Well, we'll see how much of your life and your vocabulary

you will regret and wish to be forgiven for when you are 90 and how much you will have personally accomplished too. Then we can see if there is any comparison in mistakes versus accomplishments worth noting between you two. :eyes:

[k_jerome]

55. well, i happen to have seen it from the other side...

so i regret nothing except the way i saw my mother treated by those that vote the likes of Byrd into office.

accomplishments to make up for more than a lifetimes worht of hate means Byrd will run out of time years too soon.

[babylonsister]

16. Educate yourself about Byrd, then get back to me. nt

[k_jerome]

19. i know he filibustered historic civil rights legislation...

i am educated.

we all have opinions. you are entitled to your high opinion of Senator Byrd.

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. Educated about the fact that Klansman elected him their local leader?

It would seem he was more than just a member.

[k_jerome]

24. what gets me, is that he is elected by huge percentages...

each time, especially since he filibustered.

[babylonsister]

25. He hasn't denied it but regrets it. Here's a pretty in-depth article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/18/AR2005061801105.html

[k_jerome]

27. i'm sure he does regret it. it has held him back. nt.

[G_Leo_Criley]

31. sure thing...

Just think, Byrd coulda had a career if he'd done things your way.

Robert Byrd is endorsed by Ted Kennedy if you're looking for liberal credentials.

A lot of those older gents once held beliefs not consistent with what we'd have liked. Their records when voting tell you whether they can be counted on to be on our side NOW when it counts. Robert Byrd can be counted upon.

He votes like a man who has evolved in his beliefs. As has been mentioned, he knows his Constitution too.

glc

[k_jerome]

34. i'm not looking for credentials...

i have seen enough of his.

[cynatnite]

42. I thought he joined the KKK like 60 years ago when he was a stupid kid...

and has regetted it. At some point in a person's life I'm willing to let the past go when they're truly sorry for their actions. That's how I see it with Byrd.

You can bet you won't see Rumsfeld being apologetic for his murdering and torturing.

[k_jerome]

44. he wasn't a kid when he fillibustered the civil rights act...

nor when he used the n-word in 2001. i give him a pass no sooner than i give rumsfeld one.

[cynatnite]

47. I'll give him one well before rumseld...

He doesn't have thousands of deaths at his feet.

[karlrschneider]

7. Yes, and there are far worse ones as well.

...

[k_jerome]

10. for caucasians maybe...nt.

[kentuck]

26. On protecting your rights and knowledge of the Constitution...

There is none better, imo...

[k_jerome]

28. sorry, i don't like the tradeoff...

he is there however.

[4nic8em]

29. Not crazy about this guy's past either,

and I believe he has reformed himself from his earlier transgressions. However, watch him on the Senate floor, when it comes time to discuss Constitutional aspects of American rights, this guy can quote off the cuff and throw down with the best of them. Carries pocket version of Constitution in his coat pocket.

[k_jerome]

30. i do not deny his knowledge...just don't like his past. nt.

[4nic8em]

33. In the scope of things...

I don't like George Bush's past either..but I'll choose Byrd over him anytime. I am in agreement with you, Byrd's past is indeed an unrepairable part of his history.

[k_jerome]

36. i am not comparing the two, just expressing misgivings about Byrd. nt.

[4nic8em]

39. I understand,

and your misgivings are (I beleive) justified. I consider his past as "part" of this man in whole.

[Hippo_Tron]

49. There's no basis to deny him the job

President Pro Tempore is the most senior member of the
majority party, period.  It may be custom not rule, but the
Senate operates based on custom.    

[k_jerome]

50. it is shameful nonetheless. nt.

[Hippo_Tron]

51. I'd be concerned if we elected him majority leader, Senate custom means that he gets the job

We didn't even really elect him. It's just assumed that he gets the position and is elected by a unanimous consent resolution.

BTW, he was majority leader in the 80's.