What do you think of Sen. Byrd?

[La_Serpiente]

I posted an earlier thread about this here and was hoping that someone could explain not just Byrd's personal life, but how he overccame racism (or did he?)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=702872

I was wondering about Sen. Byrd and found his life somewhat controversial. I also really found his life amazing.

He was born in 1917 in North Wilkesboro, N.C. On his website he shares his entire life story.

Born in 1917 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Robert Byrd was left a virtual orphan by the death of his mother when he was only one year old. Brought to West Virginia by his aunt and uncle to be reared as their own, the future Senator grew up in various communities in the bituminous coalfields, mastering life's early lessons and graduating as valedictorian of his high school class in the depths of the Great Depression in the 1930's.

He spent his teen years growing up in the Great Depression. However, he also had an affection for the fiddle.



Here is the uncle who raised Byrd, Titus Dalton Byrd



Here is his biological mother who died of the influenza outbreak.



He was elected to West Virginia legislature and then ended up going to the Senate in 1958. When he got to the Senate, he enrolled himself in law school at American University. He got his law degree in 1963.



Pssss....recognize the other guy? Yes, that is the great President John F Kennedy.

here are more pictures:



Him and his two grand-daughters



Psss....He has a dog, not a cat



Psss....HEyHEY....this one is for you

Although Byrd has done many great things in his life, he does have a history with the KKK. He officially left the group in 1943, but, well in my view anyway, sympathized with them. He filibusterd the 1964 Civil Rights Act for more than 14 hours. He also opposed the nomination of Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas. Now, I am sure he reformed himself by the time Thomas came to the Senate, so I don't think he opposed him because he was black. I mean, Thomas wasn't the "best" canidate and there is a realistic reason why to vote against him.

I know that Byrd has changed over the course of his lifetime. I don't think that he is a KKK sympathizer nor do I think that he is a member of one. However, I am trying to find out what made him *change*. I find his life fascinating because he went from one end of the spectrum that was racist and bigotful to one that promotes peace and responsibility.

I am just trying to find out what made him change. When I tried to find out how he matured, I came across all these hate websites that were lambasting him for being a racist. Who were saying these things? Michelle Malkin. Ollie North. And some independent bloggers as well.

And how did they tie it into their columns? They brought out the lowpoints of Byrd's life and tied it into his opposistion to the war. In essense, they look for the worst things in people, not the best.

I believe that Byrd has rectified his past statements by supporting minorities and other things. I am just trying to find out when.

I also find it appaling that Ollie North would pass moral judgement on him even though he himself has the blood of thousands of Central Americans on his hands.

So if anyone has any information, please share it with me. Thanks.

Extra Note:

When I posted this other thread, I didn't really know anything about his life. His website is mainly a redacted history of his life. When I went to look on the internet for his life, all I found was the racist literature as I mentioned above.

Some people also took some offense to the posting of his pictures in a positive light. I disagree, mainly because I am assesing his entire life, not just his dark years. I also don't think I am being unfair because I detail where he has been a racist in his life.

I have also realize that his stance on GLBT rights is not the swell either. I am gay, but the point of this post is not to say he is an a-hole for being anti-gay rights. It is just to find out more about this person. Might I also note that although he voted in 2000 not to allow the a hate-crimes law based on sexual orientation, he did vote for one in 2002. Although he hasn't come around to gay marriage, there are many Democrats who haven't come around to gay marriage. His environmental record ain't that pretty either.
If you want to find out more about his stances, click here:

http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/Robert_Byrd.htm#Foreign_Policy

What I have also learned was that he did use the word "white nigger" unapoligetically. I don't know the history behind that use and would like to see the context of how he used it.

Another central question that has been on my mind is that can someone be cured from racism? Is it possible? Is it too late for Mr. Byrd because he was indoctrinated with the racist vitriol since he was a trial? I am just trying to understand how he has changed over the years, not attack it (I also condemn his involvement with the KKK, but that is not the central question here).

So just a question here, Do you think Byrd has changed himself?

[sangh0]

1. Where's the choice for

"Byrd is a corporate stooge who supports polluting the planet?"

[La_Serpiente]

2. That is not the question

sorry about that...I touch upon your dissent in this new piece. I changed it a little bit.

[dmkinsey]

5. Political Alliances

Allies can change based on the issue at hand. I mean, Bob Barr is opposed to the Patriot Act. I don't like him but if he wants to get rid of the PA I say good for him.
Same with Byrd. If he's speaking against the administration, Iraq war, rightwing judicial nominees he's my man. If he's speaking in support of mountain topping coal companies he's the enemy.
DMK

[durutti]

6. That's Almost All Democrats

And all independents (all 2 of them), and all Republicans.

[wtmusic]

3. Byrdie is the best

and (in my mind anyway) forgiven.

[Cocoa]

4. what about "I don't know"

an important option you left off. when asked to judge someone I think people should choose "I don't know" more than they do.

[Monte Carlo]

7. Byrd has a history.

In the end, I don't know to what degree Byrd has left his racist past behind him. The fact that he was in the KKK tells me that he was more than a spectator in the race wars. On the other hand, that was 60 years ago, and a lot can change in that time.

I am not from West Virginia, or even near it, so I really don't have detailed knowledge. All I know is that he is saying a lot of the right things these days. Maybe he's old and doesn't care what people think anymore, maybe he's got nothing to lose, whatever. I'm happy to count him as a Democratic vote in the Senate, but not much more.

[rucky]

8. If we're not sure...

...doesn't he deserve the benefit of the doubt?

the "epiphany" is a hollywood myth. when people change their core idologies, it usually happens over time & after much contemplation.

[bif]

9. A god among men (and women).

Too bad there aren't more Dems like him around.

[DuctapeFatwa]

10. Of course people can change. Politicians have to at least look changed

From time to time along the road of history.

I think Byrd is first and last a politician.

He was a racist when it was politically expedient to be so, and when it was not, he altered his votes accordingly.

I would be interested to hear accounts of his real life behavior that indicate that he underwent a sincere change of belief as opposed to a sincere desire to remain in politics.

My instincts tell me that George Wallace's "change" is more likely than Byrd's to have been a sincere one.

[Pastiche423]

11. Listening to The Senator

during the six week lead up to the war rag vote, he earned a very special place in my heart. He and he alone, stood up and fought for our Constitution then and has since.

He has grown from an ugly past, to a true stateman.

[bluestateguy]

12. I'd trade my 2 TX senators for him

Even if I could only have one senator for my state. Nobody has ever represented West Virginia as well as Byrd, or had the courage to say what needs to be said. Nobody can match his mastery of parliamentary procedure. He's not perfect, given his KKK past, his prickly personality and his votes on gay rights, flag burning and for John Ascroft, but the Senate could use more like him.