GOP plans attack on Byrd's liberal record if he runs in 2006

[davidinalameda]

What liberal record? The man voted for the bankruptcy bill; he's anti-gay; he's anti-choice--the only "liberal" thing he's done in the past 50 years was opppose Bush on Iraq and we saw how many "liberals" like Hill and Kerry fell in line and voted for the war

http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2005031115/

The GOP intends to defeat Sen. Robert Byrd by declaring him "the most liberal member of the Senate" if he runs for re-election as expected in 2006, a Republican official said.

"The National Republican Senatorial Committee believes that West Virginia has moved out from under Sen. Byrd politically," group spokesman Brian Nick said Thursday.

The GOP slapped the same tag on fellow Democratic Sen. John Kerry in last year's presidential race. But Nick said that was based on Kerry's votes for only a few years. As the Senate's longest-serving member at 47 years, Byrd offers a much larger voting record, Nick said.

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Apparently the title of "Most Liberal Member of the Senate"....

...is some kind of title which bears no actual resemblance to the actual voting record or length of service of a Senator.

[rodeodance]

22. wasn't the Kerry's title during the campaign?

[Jon8503]

2. And Besides: Why run from the liberal record if there is one,

just make a dam case for it and show where you are right. You don't need to run from being a liberal anymore than running from being a conservative.

Its all bullshit.

It is just the candidates we have had that jump at the least little thing about being liberal instead of defending their position and showing where it beats the other position.

[jayfish]

4. Making A Case...

doesn't fit neatly into 30-second sound-bytes. I guess neither does hemming and hawing or backtracking but that must be easier.

Jay

[fob]

21. Here's my case in 30 seconds or less

VO: Robert Byrd is the most liberal member of the Senate (Picture of ass that said that on screen)

Fade out to BLUE, Fade in to Robert Byrd

Byrd: "Having that fascist (insert name of ass that said "most liberal" quote here) call me liberal makes me damn proud and makes (insert name again) a damn fool. If (inh) want to argue political ideology they can contact my office to set up the debate. I suggest they bring someone with a brain with them so it'll be a fair fight."

Fade out with list of Byrd accomplishments over past 5 DECADES!!

[bunkerbuster1]

27. Oh, what this patriotic American would give to see such a spot.

Remember when our candates weren't timid and afraid of the word "liberal?"

ok, neither can I...

[smoogatz]

3. Lotsa luck

Byrd's been bringing home the federal bacon for three generations--his name's on half of the buildings in the state. West Virginians love him like South Carolinians loved Strom Thurmond. He'll lose his seat when they carry his withered corpus from the Senate floor in a body bag.

[RamboLiberal]

5. If WV residents vote him out they have to be really stupid

that man has brought tons of pork to his state. A junior senator could not accomplish that.

Those of us in PA are jealous of all Byrd delivers to WV. Heck when I drive over the state line in to WV, I'm on a beautiful highway named for Byrd.

[Emboldened Chimp]

20. Yep, it's all about the pork

He caters to the coal miners like nobody's business.

[wtmusic]

6. All this posing is bullshit if the media doesn't buy into it

Media independence is the only thing to worry about.

[Enraged_Ape]

42. Oh, they will. You know it.

They'll have Byrd looking like a white-haired Jello Biafra in the time it takes to say, "FOX News Alert!"

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. Most liberal member of the Senate?

How many can there be??? Didn't Kennedy and Kerry have the esteemed title foisted on them just a few short months ago? :crazy:

[Liberal Veteran]

10. This is what will happen.

Knowing that right wing radio listeners have the attention span of an infant with ADD...Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly, and all the right wingnut talking heads will start repeating the mantra of "most liberal senator" ad nauseum until it sticks inside their the tiny little cranium of their listerners who will repeat and proliferate the talking point at every opportunity and are totally oblivious to silly things like "facts" or "reality" or "proof".

And VOILA! In less than a week, Byrd becomes the most liberal senator ever.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

8. Could this have something to do with the interview yesterday...

on Haughty and Combs? I caught a few minutes of it, he said he is a born-again Christian, found Jesus in the 50's. Then he said that it seems to have changed meaning in the past few years, and the new Born-agains are not following the true meaning. (paraphrasing)

?

[rodeodance]

24. I listened to most of the interview --thought it was good --he is ashamed

that the Senate gave the Bush the military to make war on Irag--they just stood by and did not debate the issue.

[tanyev]

9. Who's the most fascist member of the Senate?

So many choices.

[Historic NY]

11. Byrd is known as the conscious of the Senate......

looks like no one wants him to remind them.

[ps1074]

12. Robert Byrd will win at least 65% of the vote in WV

The only politician that can beat him is ... the dead Robert Byrd. The dead Robert Byrd will get 75% of the vote in WV.

[freestyle]

13. But then how do they bring his former KKK membership?

The most liberal former klansman in the Senate? Byrd as liberal is a stretch. He has moved a long way from his racism, but is by no means liberal, as other posters have noted with his positions on other issues.

[last_texas_dem]

14. I know what you mean

What's it gonna be for the GOP: is it Byrd the backwards Dixiecrat white supremacist or the most liberal member of the Senate?

Logically, they shouldn't be able to have it both ways but I'm sure it won't stop them from trying...

I hope Byrd decides to run again and demolishes whatever worthless partisan hack they decide to put up against him.

[Judi Lynn]

15. In every instance, I suspect the poster who brings up his old association

with that murderous group. What was it, 60 years ago? He has explained he regrets it with his whole heart, and he seems genuinely heartsick that he ever was a member for that short time.

I'm not going to wrestle with some jackass who wants to keep going over and over it, and I won't. Byrd DOES have a long and distinguished record as an elected public servant, even though he has voted at times in ways that leave some people baffled, as in his concession to the credit card companies Wednesday or Thursday.

True fools will keep pecking away at his grave mistake in belonging to that human filth collection of hate-filled degenerates, even though it was brief. The people who keep bringing it up, in my complete view, are NOT Democrats, and have an agenda far closer to the agenda of racists themselves. They are interested in eviscerating a hard-working DEMOCRAT, not a brief Klan member.

I'm not going to argue or change my mind, so carp on without me.

[Bridget Burke]

23. The Republicans shouldn't keep bringing it up.

Some of their people probably think better of Byrd for that long ago episode in his life.

I agree that he's made some votes I don't agree with, but he does stand up & make himself heard on occasion. Besides, my own senators are John Cornyn & Kay Bailey Hutchison--there's no comparison.

[rodeodance]

25. Byrd admits and apologized for his mistake--which is more than than I

say for Bush who has yet to admit any mistakes much less apologize for them.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

33. True. Rethugs are toilet scum!

[freestyle]

26. I was bringing up that the repubs will bring it up

Although I can respect your suspicion. I know full well that Senator Byrd has repented and have enormous respect for him even if I don't always agree with him. He is one of the most brilliant speakers and writers ever. If I lived in West Virginia, I would vote for him.

Actually, I get quite annoyed at how easy it is for republicans to talk about stuff from over 60 years ago while Lindsey Graham gets a pass for what he said 6 days ago.

[shantipriya]

16. Byrd & Liberal

So what. To be a liberal is a noble thing!Liberals believe in taking care of society,environment,children.etc.So why should we run away from being called a liberal.

[zbdent]

17. Pre-emptory strike

Put up posters in any area that a Dem Senator will be facing re-election:

"Senator fill-in-the-blank will be labeled the most liberal senator ever . . . a title given to Ted Kennedy, John Kerry in 04, and anybody else the Republicans want out."

[demokatgurrl]

18. Oh good, bring it on-

they are still using that tired old meaningless B.S.

Howard Dean should run a mock contest, for the most liberal Senator.

[sandnsea]

32. Oh I'm stealing that

I'm going to make a thread in GD right now.

[bluestateguy]

19. Oh that should be entertaining

He has carried every county in West Virginia in his last two elections. Bring it on.

[otohara]

28. Why Not Put Out Release Saying GOP Will Attack All Dems

because that's what they do.

[Blue to the bone]

29. I wonder if he can actually live that long, have you seen him lately? n/t

[davidinalameda]

31. he keeps on surprising people

I was surprised when he ran in 2000

[iconoclastNYC]

30. Other other news...the sky is blue. N/T

[leQ]

34. "non-partisan National Journal"??? who do they think they're kidding?

not me. you?

[napi21]

35. I wouldn't worry too much about Sen Byrd getting re-elected

I can't say he's the most liberal Senator, but I can say he's probably the toughest! Bob knows how to fight, and if he's well enough to run again, the GOP doesn't stand a chance!

[TexasLawyer]

37. But that assumes the election results are not manipulated.

Judging by the 2004 general election, I would not be too sure about legitimate vote tallies in 2006.

[nickshepDEM]

36. Byrd wins with at least 65% of the vote no matter what...

[sadiesworld]

38. Ah...now Byrd's bankruptcy bill vote makes sense.

I had just assumed he was going to throw the towel in after all these years, but it appears he thought such a vote would protect him from a pub onslaught. Think again, Senator. All this bill did was piss off the people who work for, and donate to, your campaigns.

[lovuian]

39. I hope Byrd anihilates them!!!

He's Old but he's smart too!!!

[saltpoint]

40. The Rovians in the GOP will pretend that Senator Byrd --

-- is "liberal" but this sounds to me to be personal and not political.

They resent Byrd's eloquent and historical remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate on the Bush administration's ill-conceived and poorly managed assault on Iraq.

The Bush administration likes to bully anybody who disagrees with them. "Don't hear it -- smear it."

It's a vendetta. Byrd will sail to re-election.

[applegrove]

41. GOON SQUAD! Now they are going to coerce people to retire

from the Senate.

I think that must be some sort of crime - eh?

[Trish1168]

43. I once drank the kool aid and thought liberalism was bad

not in terms of social issues. I was always more liberal socially (pro-choice, anti-discrimination). But, I was a small government person (although, I felt that social security,medicare-medicaide and other programs were important). I thought that the dems did too much tax and spend.

Now my world is upside down. Certainly, the repubs borrow and spend, so there goes that issue (and this is far more dangerous to the economy than tax and spend). George Bush is so extreme (particularly with his war-mongering) and the republicans in congress are so full of vindictive nastiness and their bullying tactics are horrible. The bills they are passing have no debate and are written by the lobbyists. The dems are given no chance to even read the bills. I'm seeing consumer protections destroyed. The middle class is disappearing. And slowly and surely, they are turning this country into an extremist sort of theocracy. And all the while, people are sliding into poverty in record numbers, and all the safety nets are being taken away!!

As a blue-stater, I'm doing okay personally, and we are very lucky here in New England to have a decent job market. But I'm full of angst over these red-staters who are in a terrible mess. Why should I care, since they seem unwilling to open their minds? But I do care.

Now, I've changed. I no londer think that liberal is a pejorative. I am a liberal-progressive and proud.

I know I'm not alone. I have many friends who were slightly to the right of center who have done a sharp left turn in response to these people. This is why the dems are raising record amounts of cash (from individuals, something the GOP can't claim). The revolution has started, and the collective shift of the center toward the left is a sign. Don't lose faith or hope. I have faith.