Senator Robert Byrd with some of his friends

[book_worm]

I posted this in GD-Primaries because there is a thread attacking HRC for praising Robert Byrd, a former KKK member, but also long time Democratic Senator and member of the leadership--it is a GOP talking point that they are using, as usual:

Yet another anti-Hillary Clinton thread using GOP talking points. Oh my! Hillary spoke highly of Byrd--a former KKK member. Well, he was the Senate Democratic Minority/Majority Leader during the 80's. One of the longest serving members of the Senate. Most democrats voted for him to leadership roles and spoke highly of him--all knowing he once had been in the KKK (which he later renounced). It's attacks like this on Hillary Clinton, as if she is the only Democrat who ever said anything nice about Byrd, that make some Sanders supporters look silly.

President Barack Obama: He [Robert Byrd] was as much a part of the Senate as the marble busts that line its chamber and its corridors. His profound passion for that body and its role and responsibilities was as evident behind closed doors as it was in the stemwinders he peppered with history. He held the deepest respect of members of both parties, and he was generous with his time and advice, something I appreciated greatly as a young senator.

Vice President of the United States (and therefore President of the Senate) Joe Biden: "A very close friend of mine, one of my mentors, a guy who was there when I was a 29-year-old kid being sworn into the United States Senate. Shortly thereafter, a guy who stood in the rain, in the pouring rain, freezing rain outside a church as I buried my daughter and my wife before I got sworn in ... We lost the dean of the United States Senate, but also the state of West Virginia lost its most fierce advocate and, as I said, I lost a dear friend.

Who will ever forget Byrd's emotional reaction to his good friend Ted Kennedy's illness?

Obama eulogizes Sen. Robert Byrd under West Virginia skies:
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[Firebrand Gary]

1. This is a beautiful post book_worm.

I believe that the universe brings around everything that is deserved, I believe in karma. These hateful comments, driving wedges into our party will come back to the people making them. In this case, when Hillary cliches the nomination, all of the people will have to ask themselves; what could I have done better? They could have been kinder, they could have disagreed without being disagreeable. Instead some of them have chosen to be as mean and nasty as republicans, literally using many of the rw talking points. It will come back to them.

I think Senator Byrds video above is one of the greatest tributes to our incredible party. I'm grateful that we live in an era to have the technology to capture something so incredibly moving. Thank you for reming us....

[Lucinda]

2. KNR

[Rhiannon12866]

3. I remember Senator Byrd when Ted Kennedy died

That was heart wrenching...

[RockaFowler]

4. Thank you for posting this

I alerted on that particular post, and I wasn't the first. I can't believe it was allowed to stay. So disgusted.

[OldRedneck]

5. When Know-Nothings comment

I hear over and over -- mostly from Republicans, Tea Baggers, and Skinheads -- the old refrain "Robert Byrd was a Klansman."

Anyone making comments like that clearly has no idea of the reality of Southern politics back in the day -- a "Know-Nothing" trying to appear well-informed.

I grew up in Wilkinson County, Mississippi, in the 1950's. Wilkinson County was all but ruled by the Klan, as was much of Mississippi and the South, including West Virginia. If you wanted to run for office, you had to join the Klan, or, at a minimum, associate yourself with the Klan on some level.

Byrd himself explained this time and again. He admitted that, as a young politician running for local office, he joined the Klan then left it shortly thereafter.

My maternal grandfather refused to join or associate with the Klan in Wilkinson County -- that's why he carried a pistol and slept with a shotgun for 40 years.

Trent Lott was a different story. Lott was not a Klansman. Instead, he associated with the "White Citizens' Council," which later became the "Conservative Citizens' Council." Klansmen were rednecks who worked with their hands, chewed tobacco, and wore overalls. Citizens' Council members wore suits and sat behind desks. Lott never left the Citizens' Council; may still be entertaining them.

[SharonClark]

6. K&R

There are RW talking points like "Democrats are the real racists because they started the KKK". The RWers leave out the next line "they left the Democratic Party and joined the GOP when the Democrats supported civil rights".

Is is unfortunate that some DUers use similar crap against Hillary and other liberals. They drum into into their ignorant acolyte's heads who can spew it at will.

[MarianJack]

7. Remember strident Sanders suooprters' "logic".

If it's associated with Sanders, than it's all good.

If it's associated with HILLARY or anyone who doesn't share their blind and unquestioning loyalty to all that is Bernie, that it's all evil!

It is downright nauseating and I anticipate the upcoming hide for not following the new "BernieUnderground" litmus test!

PEACE!

[Thinkingabout]

8. When working with Congressional members deciding to work with members who have

High levels of strength is a smart move, Congress is a place where compromises are made, it works for getting accomplishments, not the do nothing Congress which blocks.

[Rose Siding]

9. Thank you. I loved him and DU used to call him The Senator

But that was way back when we all supported Democrats.