Why does Byrd get a pass on DU?

[cali]

He's a bigot. Sorry, but it's the truth. Remember his vote for DOMA, and he's got many other similar anti-civil rights votes. He has a lousy rating from the ACLU, and he's an oinker when it comes to earmarks. He just voted to confirm Southwick.

Feinstein who also voted to confirm Southwick, gets excoriated. Byrd gets a pass. There's some dissonance there as far as I'm concerned. Yeah, he voted against the IWR, but so did Senator Leahy, who has a far better record in the Senate, and yet receives much more criticicism than Byrd.

[IndianaJones]

1. bigotry is ok if you voted no on the IWR and carry a copy of the Constitution. nt.

[cboy4]

23. ......

:spray:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

111. So why does your candidate have an endorsement by a bigot on her website? nt

[YDogg]

2. no good reason, IMHO

[Skidmore]

3. All who voted for that bill are worthy of condemnation. Hillary

gets special condemnation because she is trying to sell herself as the hope of mankind at the present time. Those of us who don't buy that snake oil will continue to call her on it and not give her a pass.

[IndianaJones]

6. do you call Byrd on his racism and bigotry? nt.

[KoKo]

51. Racism and Bigotry? You are talking about the 1930's? And you weren't even BORN!

If you weren't whistling out of your ass you'd be funny!

[IndianaJones]

53. 1930's? Worship does blind. nt.

[underpants]

4. He doesn't and lord knows Feinstein doesn't

She and her husband, as often pointed out there, have made a MINT on this war.

Byrd gets credit here for saying the obvious while the day-to-day stuff is mostly missed here as elsewhere. Byrd votes the way that his constituents look at things or at least enough to not get them riled up. He is mostly a lock to get re-elected but he is also a big fund raiser for the other side that is why they have no interest in even trying to unseat him (Ted K. too)

[cali]

7. nope. you're wrong. he does get a pass. look at the reaction

over southwick. feinstein got for more criticism over it, and i mean far more. and byrds record on civil rights is just bad.

[Mass]

11. No, he does get a pass from many on DU.

[peacebird]

5. I think it may be due to his strong and vocal opposition to the war

He has written very eloquent op-ed pieces criticizing bushco and the war. Perhaps that colors peoples opinions?
:shrug:

[KoKo]

54. If they'd listened to Byrd and Kennedy ....we wouldn't BE IN IRAQ!

It's funny how interlopers want to ignore what Robert Byrd and Teddy Kennedy DID TO TRY TO STOP IRAQ INVASION.. Folks come here on DU and think there aren't people who KNOW...and did running threads of Byrd and Kennedy's Speeches and STALLING on the floor of the US SENATE!

Folks that want to trash what went on that's history...to grab some piece of something DISTORTED for their Own Candidate! :puke:

[IndianaJones]

88. If they'd listened to Byrd....no civil rights. nt.

[catmandu57]

8. Weren't you here in 02

Day after day in the well of the Senate, Byrd stood alone and thundered against going to war. He held aloft in his shaking hand his pocket copy of the constitution, challenging the shrub* and the dicK*. For that he gets a pass from me.

[IndianaJones]

9. so that trumps racism and bigotry? interesting. nt.

[cali]

12. So what?

Pat Leahy did plenty of speaking out against the war in that same well, and he's a far more honorable man than Byrd could ever was. Yet he gets bashed around here and Byrd doesn't. Regardless, being against the war is not an argument. He's a bigot. And he's demonstrated it repeatedly.

[Hippo_Tron]

90. Leahy gets bashed because he's in a key position as chair of the judiciary committee

And in the view of many on DU he isn't using his power in that position to block as many Bush appointees as he should. If Leahy were just rank and file on the judiciary committee there would likely be no criticism of him on DU.

[Beelzebud]

10. He doesn't get a pass from me. He should have retired years ago.

He had a big part of the "gang of 14" that "kept the powder dry" and confirmed to right wing bushists to the supreme court.

He's also a former KKK member, and I'll never get past that.

[cali]

14. Me neither. I can't get passed that.

And his record doesn't reflect that he's left all that hate by the wayside.

[KoKo]

66. Oh My! Ms Calli...you have NO HATE in your Heart?

Ms. Calli...you need to READ MORE...and POST LESS...and when you do that...we all would love to hear more from you. You are a great "leveler." But sometimes your "leveling" just doesn't give enough "links" for us "wonks" to give you the "creds" you seem to want us to.

Sorry...some of us are just beyond the rhetoric you spew. :shrug: It just "is" what it "is."

[Mass]

13. Not from me, but from many on DU, you're right.

Leahy, on the opposite, is often attacked when he does not deserve the attacks.

[tabasco]

15. Ok, let's condemn Robert Byrd even more!

WTF is your purpose with this post?

[cali]

16. why does it upset you so?

And it obviously does. Does it bother you when other Senators are criticized here? What is it about criticism of Byrd that you find so onerous?

[tabasco]

LMAO. I have better things to do than get upset about which Dem Senator gets flamed the most.

Apparently, you do not.

[IndianaJones]

24. where has he been condemned before? nt.

[tabasco]

35. The search function is your friend. n/t

[cali]

37. yes, very ocassionally he gets

criticized. Generally speaking, he's given a pass. Do a search and you'll find more in praise of him than critical.

[FormerDittoHead]

17. No pass here. I will NEVER vote for him! Of course, I live in NJ. n/t

[Disturbed]

25. Byrd is a Paleo-Conservative. Most of them opposed the

Illegal Invasion of Iraq & are negative on the Busholini Regime. Byrd is an old Dixie-crat. He obviously brings his state the goodies so the voters there keep him in place. He became popular with a lot of Dems
because he railed against the Illegal Invasion of Iraq & the Busholini Regime. Very few bothered to review his voting record on other matters.

[cali]

26. Do you think so?

I don't know; it appears to me that lots of people here know about his record and his past, and just give him a pass. Look how many people here do that with Ron Paul, who's far worse.

[Alexander]

18. Feinstein made a killing off the Iraq War. Many DUers know this and thus don't like her.

You won't find any defenders of Byrd's racist past here, but when it comes to recent votes dealing with matters of war and national defense, at least we can be certain he won't sell his own country down the river to make a buck.

Feinstein also bothers people who have an interest in second amendment rights - and there are lots of us in the Democratic party!

[cali]

20. He's a bigot now. It's not in the past.

and as I said, Leahy, for example, gets bashed around here a great deal more than Byrd.

[Alexander]

27. Byrd's KKK membership is the most visible sign of his bigotry...

And it ended about 60 years ago.

Most people don't pore over a representative's every vote. Maybe they should, but you'd have a lot harder time convincing a man in the street that Byrd is a racist if you didn't bring up his KKK membership.

I'd have trouble voting for this guy myself, but then, I don't live in West Virginia.

He apparently brings home lots of bacon and is good enough for his constituents to keep re-electing him over the past 50 years.

I don't get the bashing of Leahy - but then I never joined in. I imagine it has something to do with his high-profile seat as Judiciary Committee chairman and the desire of many DUers to begin impeachment proceedings. I don't agree with it, but I can at least see why this is the case.

[cali]

28. Nonsense. It's clear you're not familiar enough with

Byrd's record. Just read some of the horrible things he's said about gays and lesbians. He has an abyssmal rating from the ACLU. He used the n word only a couple of years ago.

60 years ago, my ass. He's a bigot now, and he has the record to prove it.

[Alexander]

30. It's clear you didn't read my post. I said "most visible" sign.

Meaning "easiest to notice and identify".

I know damn well he's a bigot. Don't come here with your condescending attitude and tell me I don't know the man's record - chances are I know it better than you do.

But how many people knew about John Kerry's record? Or Al Gore's, apart from the "inventing the Internet" RW lie?

The fact is, most people don't even know who Byrd is, and among those who do, many are probably aware of his KKK past but might not be paying attention to every bigoted statement he makes.

By the way, he's 90 and has Parkinson's. Byrd's not long for this world, and he's the last US Senate relic of a generation whose time has long since passed. In 5 years he probably won't even be alive, much less in the Senate. I can't get that worked up over this, since the question will be undoubtedly moot in the near future.

As for Leahy, before you make more poorly-thought out blanketed statements, you might look at the usernames to see who, specifically, is simultaneously trashing Leahy and praising Byrd. Many who dislike Leahy wouldn't like Byrd either.

[cali]

31. I'm clearly talking about people here, not the man in the street-

speaking of not reading. My OP says CLEARLY why does he get a pass here at DU- not why does he get a pass from the man in the street.

And no, I'm not about to go through DU to check if the same people wwho are trashing leahy are trashing byrd.

And I have no idea why you'd make the blanket statement that "Many who dislike Leahy wouldn't like Byrd either." They pretty much different on most issues, other than the war.

[Alexander]

33. So you resort to nonsensical blanket statements. Fine.

The fact is, many here at DU who are aware of Byrd's past do not give Byrd a pass, or at least consider his bigotry when forming an opinion of him.

"And no, I'm not about to go through DU to check if the same people wwho are trashing leahy are trashing byrd."

Of course not. That would make too much sense.

"And I have no idea why you'd make the blanket statement that "Many who dislike Leahy wouldn't like Byrd either." They pretty much different on most issues, other than the war."

1) That is not a blanket statement. Instead of throwing my own phrases back at me in a clumsy manner, maybe you should learn their meanings.

2) I've noticed most who trash Leahy do so because he isn't moving on impeachment. This group likes to trash Pelosi and Reid a lot, too, and something tells me they don't like Byrd either, since he hasn't yet come forward in support of impeachment.

[cali]

34. hmm.

Leahy isn't in the House, and ergo has nothing to do with the impeachment of bush or cheney. most folks here are aware of that, and I've not seen anyone here bash him for that.

and yes, of course this is a blanket statement:

"Many who dislike Leahy wouldn't like Byrd either"

And a totally nonsensical one, at that.

Can you spell hypocrisy?

I knew that you could.

[Alexander]

39. ...

"Leahy isn't in the House, and ergo has nothing to do with the impeachment of bush or cheney."

Impeachment resulting in removal from office also requires conviction by the US Senate. Did you fall asleep during US government class?

Leahy, not only as a Senator but as head of the Judiciary Committee, would still carry much clout if he came out in support of impeachment, and I have seen some DUers attack him for not yet doing so.

"and yes, of course this is a blanket statement:

And a totally nonsensical one, at that."

Um, no, it really isn't. Some here are so pro-impeachment that they attack Reid, Pelosi, Leahy and anyone else who isn't already on board. Thankfully there aren't that many of them, and most who support impeachment are reasonable about it.

Therefore, if they attack Leahy because he isn't pro-impeachment enough, they also wouldn't like Byrd, who doesn't want to impeach either.

I've explained this concept to you three times now. I can only do so much if you just don't get it.

[cali]

43. desperate try there.

but not successful. No, Leahy gets attacked here for not issuing contempt citations to Rove and others- notwithstanding the fact, that contempt citations take a floor vote. He gets attacked for holding the Mukasey hearings. He does not get attacked over impeachment here, but have fun doing a search.

As I said: you are desperate; and as a courtesy, let me extend an invitation for you to have the last word.

Have at it.

[Alexander]

75. I did have fun doing a search, which revealed how full of shit you are.

"He does not get attacked over impeachment here, but have fun doing a search."

I did. Your bluff has been called.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2117406

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3404555

Interestingly, I found that apart from maybe 5 threads in total, most of the topic threads I searched for were very supportive of Senator Leahy. Your premise was shoddy to begin with, but regardless, there are DUers chastising him for impeachment.

Meanwhile, I found quite a few threads discussing Byrd's racist past and KKK membership.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1119917

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1301761#1301986

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=167770#168292

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1365742

...but perhaps more revealing was this little gem.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=236284

So, I call bullshit on your entire premise. This topic is a waste of space and your attempts at defending yourself are, as usual, laughable.

[IndianaJones]

77. at least you can agree that he is an old hateful man and has been that way his entire life. nt.

[Alexander]

80. Yes, I can. But the OP was much different.

The OP stated that Byrd gets more respect here than Pat Leahy, which is a total crock if I ever heard one.

[IndianaJones]

81. I disagree. The Byrd defenders far outweigh the detractors, and their excuses are lame.

I am not familiar with any posts about Leahy.

[Alexander]

82. I see him as like Lieberman - a jerk, but we need him...

Otherwise we get more hearings in the basement.

The OP was specifically comparing Byrd to Leahy here. Apparently cali wasn't familiar with the Leahy posts either. At least you admitted it.

[Ian David]

49. All Byrd has done is substitute gay-bashing for black-bashing.

Byrd gets to hate gays without his hood on.

[Alexander]

76. Great. Let's have Joe Manchin pick his replacement, then.

Not like we need the Senate right now or anything.

[TreasonousBastard]

19. There's a lot of tunnel vision around here...

and the Hero of the Day is a popular game.

[Drum]

21. As is "Villian of the day"

:eyes:

[cali]

22. yep. it's the old; i love him/her

oops, i mean i hate him/her. i find it sickening.

[originalpckelly]

29. I've brought this up before, I had tons of people jump down my throat about it!

Dude probably still has a white sheet fetish, just like Virgil Goode.

[SmokingJacket]

32. oldness? nt

[seasat]

36. He also has been a big supporter of mountain top removal coal mining.

I appreciate his oratories against Shrub Inc and the war but he's far from my favorite Democrat for several reasons. And for those about to reply, yes I know his state has a lot of coal mines. My state, Florida, has a lot of kitsch and you'll never see me supporting my senators in promoting it.

[stirlingsliver]

38. Because He Had Done So Much For West Virginia

If you go to West Virginia, you will see how much he has done for that state.

There are many, many things in West Virginia that carry Robert Byrd's name.

He is a long-time Democratic Senator who delivers for his constituents.

[cali]

45. that's called pork. and taken to the extreme that byrd takes it

to, it's disgusting.

[MasonJar]

40. Because he deserves to be appreciated for being so eloquently against the war

from the beginning. Standing virtually alone in the chamber, speaking truth to power when almost all others were fading fast. Byrd has apologized for his former associations and should not be condemned for them now. He is a great American patriot.

[cali]

47. Bullshit. He certainly was not alone.

Go check out Leahy's eloquent speeches on the subject- and there were others. That's selective and false memory. And it's not his former associations that are the problem, it's that he's made recent ugly statements against blacks, gay and lesbians and he has a 20% rating from the ACLU. That's atrocious.

He's an old bigot, but age is no excuse.

[CreekDog]

41. I don't give him a pass, but West Virginia v. California is a consideration

There is inconsistency in the world and in our politics.

Consistency is not my highest priority. So the seeming unfairness in criticizing Feinstein and not criticizing Byrd, while valid, is just way down my list of things to worry about.

But you can paint any group or any person with a label of inconsistency or unfairness. It's pretty much hard to hold strong opinions and think for yourself without being inconsistent at least once in a while.

Cali, I usually agree with you and you have a point, but it's like accusing somebody of doing 65 in a 55. I don't know anybody that doesn't do it.

[billyoc]

42. Byrd doesn't get a pass. Feinstein gets more criticism because she has more constituents. nt

[H2O Man]

44. dob November 20, 1917

I assume most DUers are familiar with the unattractive aspects of his life. Likewise, there are some very good parts.

I did not care for his 3-29-68 speech on the floor of the US Senate, found in the back of Mark Lane & Dick Gregory's "Murder in Memphis." But I like his book "Losing America." When I consider these two, I remember learning as a boy that human beings are a strange mix of good and bad. In our way, we try to view people in that context. But I am aware that others do not see things as I do.

Tell me, cali: If it were up to you, how would grass roots democrats judge this old man?

[cali]

62. I think his recent statements

about gays and lesbians, and his very bad civil liberties record are to be condemned. Yes, I believe in redemption, but this isn't just about the past. He used the N word just a few years ago and had to apologize. Yes, it was in reference to what he called white Ns but I find that unacceptable. His speech supporting DOMA was unacceptable as well. And last week he voted for Southwick. His age is immaterial in that he's a U.S. Senator. Age was no reason not to criticize Helms or Thurmond, and it's not reason not to criticize Byrd.

[H2O Man]

71. I think that at least

you are consistant regarding Helms and Thurmond. Perhaps that is good, perhaps not.

Very few people reach the state of complete "redemption" -- even in 90 years. Certainly he has some beliefs that are not liberal/progressive. I think many DUers can separate those from his stance on the war in Iraq and the Bush administration's violations of the supreme law of the land.

[cali]

72. He has bigoted viewpoints

He's expressed them in recent years through language and votes. I find it interesting that someone who relies so heavily on quotes from Gandhi, King and Malcolm, can so easlily excuse his bigotry.

[H2O Man]

73. Well, cali,

I didn't "excuse his bigotry." I am aware that if we attempt to live in the spirit of Gandhi, King, and Malcolm -- all three of whom had human attributes -- that we understand that we are all sad and weakly human. There is a distinction between that and what you define as "excus(ing) his bigotry." I think that his positions that deny any person or people their Constitutional rights are very wrong, and I actively oppose those positions. But I still view 90 year olds as 90 yea olds in a way that is one of many that separate you and I. Yet we still, from time to time, have civil discourse.

[cali]

74. My mother is nearly the same

age as Byrd, and certainly does not hold such views. And I know plenty of other elderly people who don't either. If you aren't excusing his views, and do find them worthy of condemnation, I beg your pardon for misinterpreting what you said.

[H2O Man]

78. My nearest neighbor

is a little older than Senator Byrd. Last winter when we had the largest storm of the season, he was outside shoveling snow. My children stopped shoveling on our driveway, and went and shoveled his. They were not concerned about if they agreed with 100% of his views on politics and society. Different parents raise their children to view their elders different ways.

Anyone who has been the victim of hatred, no matter if it was in Gandhi's India, King's America, or any of those people I have been reading about the Fall 2007 SPLC Report and their Fall 2007 Intelligence Report should understand that these types of poisons must be remedied. I think that even you and I likely agree on that. We may have different beliefs in what steps will lead to healing. But that is to be expected.

[Jemmons]

46. Not anymore

and he's an oinker

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tees/7057812.stm

[Ian David]

48. I fucking hate Byrd. n/t

[KoKo]

64. I imagine that "your hate" goes beyond Byrd. I feel sad about your HATE...because

HATE DESTROYS People...

I can't imagine what you are saying. Maybe you are having a "bad day?" :eyes:

[IndianaJones]

70. its worked well for Byrd. He has lived a long time with his. nt.

[KoKo]

50. Because he stood on the Senate Floor and Warned and Warned about Iraq Invasion!

The oldest guy in the Senate who KNEW ...TOLD THEM NOT TO DO IT! And...THEY ...did it anyway.

[IndianaJones]

52. yet, he is a racist and bigot. nt.

[KoKo]

55. You have no idea how ignorant your post is. I hope you will check out the FACTS...

a simple Google of "Senator Robert Byrds Speeches against Iraq Invasion" would enlighten you. But, of course you won't do the research and if you do ...you will say you "can't find it" ...and woe is you for not finding it.

[IndianaJones]

56. Byrd is a racist that opposed the war. nt.

[KoKo]

57. One would wonder WHERE YOU COME FROM that you Don't KNOW what Byrd/Kennedy Did...

You can come here and say your "stuff" but you know NOTHING...yet you PRETEND...to KNOW WHAT YOU DON't.

You think there are folks here who are CLUELESS?

[IndianaJones]

59. Byrd is a homophobe as well. nt.

[KoKo]

60. REALLY? Do you have some links to support that an almost 90 year old man is a Homophobe?

Your posts are digging you deep into that hole from whence you will need to get a shovel to start digging out. :eyes:

[IndianaJones]

63. voted yes on Constitutional ban of same sex marriage. that one is because he carries a copy. nt.

[KoKo]

67. So.. you are with the "Gays & Guns" Crowd who say your Vote will Depend

on who supports THOSE TWO ISSUES FOR YOU! Can't you see that you are like the Right Wing...who only will support the "Anti-Abortion, Pro-Gun" Wing of the Repug Party?

You gotta be kidding me that you don't care more than about TWO ISSUES? And, that you sound like the Right Wing Repugs with this? :shrug:

[IndianaJones]

68. so, are you arguing that he isn't a racist and bigot, or how I should vote? nt.

[KoKo]

87. You didn't answere what I asked.....n/t

[IndianaJones]

89. you suddenly changed the argument when ample evidence of his bigotry was shown. nt.

[cali]

69. er, you might want to hold on to your own shovel

Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.
Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping
Voted YES on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds.

These aren't from 60 years ago- they're all votes from 1995 or later. He originally (2000) voted against including gays and lesbians in hate crime legislation. He did change his mind a couple of years later, but that hardly erases decades of bad votes, and his most recent vote for a racist judge for the federal bench in the south.

Rated 20% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record.
Byrd scores 20% by the ACLU on civil rights issues

http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Robert_Byrd_Civil_Rights.htm

[cali]

65. He has a 20% rating from the ACLU

He voted for DOMA and a host of other unappealing measures. He's a major pork proponent. That he was against the war, is all very well, but it's not some magic eraser.

[KoKo]

105. I'm a member of the ACLU...there are lots of folks that wouldn't earn their grade...

for high ratings. But, if the ACLU were running the country maybe we wouldn't be in such bad shape as we are today. And, I'm nuanced enough to know that Robert Byrd stood on the Senate Floor trying to STOP the IRAQ INVASION with every ounce of strenght he could.

Maybe you and others here are okay with Iraq. Maybe that's not an overwhelming issue to you...but the MONEY WASTED in CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE on that IllBEGOTTEN WAR will be the END of AMERICA we knew.

That might be fine for some of you that you can't manage to see those who aren't litmus test on "YOUR ISSUES" but this fine man who knows the CONSTITUTION backwards and forwards KNEW AND FOUGHT AGAINS this DISASTER IN IRAQ! He deserves utmost credit for that. "Give Credit where Credit is Due."

[Fredda Weinberg]

58. I know how hard it is to give up indoctrination. The bar for Byrd is low

and I appreciate whatever progress he's made.

[KoKo]

61. ROFL! "the Bar for Byrd is Low." (You need to get on the Comedy Circuit)

You won't make it to the BIG TIME...but could find an audience in the Boonies..along with Laura Ingrahm.

[mondo joe]

79. I can't even count the number of Dems - primarily Southern, I'm afraid - who I don't

consider friend but necessary allies in a coalition.

Byrd would be one of them.

[IndianaJones]

83. Yes, but do these others receive adulation that borders on worship? nt.

[mondo joe]

84. If I took worship on DU too seriously it wouldn't be posible for me to participate.

So I just ignore it some.

Having kids has done wonders for my ability to not take things as seriously as I once did. :-)

[KoKo]

85. Yet...you fail to understand why Robert Byrd get's adulation from may DU'ers

because he tried to STOP the Iraq Invasion. You don't seem to understand how IMPORTANT that was to Many DU'ers who are "paid subscribers" to this DU Board...and WHY we CHEERED HIM...and WHY...we did RUNNING THREADS on the BYRD/SENATE SPEECHES ...as a DEFINING MOMENT IN HISTORY!

[cali]

93. you seem to have trouble entertaining two equally true yet

opposing facts. He was right on Iraq, and he's wrong on civil rights.

[SlowDownFast]

107. I ain't seen no worshipin' of Byrd.

Link(s) please.

[IndianaJones]

109. ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3656244&mesg_id=3656244

[SlowDownFast]

110. Alright. Granted, that was a little over the top for me.

He was one of only a few that spoke against the war, and that is commendable.

He has a somewhat bigoted background, and that is despicable.

I don't mean to change the subject, but you happen to have a 'Hillary' avatar; meaning, she might not be a bigot, but she did happen to rally and vote for the war.

I ask you:

Which is worse?

[IndianaJones]

112. Byrd. nt.

[SlowDownFast]

113. I guess I should've added

"Which is worse, AND WHY?"

[ileus]

86. Because he's a Dem...anything goes, I don't care if he shoots cats...

I'd still vote for him if I still lived in WV.

[KingFlorez]

91. His voting record might not be perfect

But for the most part, he's a good Senator and has done some good things.

[cali]

92. He has a 20% rating from the ACLU on civil rights. n/t

[KingFlorez]

99. I'm basing things on his Senate voting record

I'm not basing it on interest group ratings. He's not right all the time, but for the most part he is. That's just my opinion.

[Junkdrawer]

94. I take it that this means that Byrd isn't on-board for an Iranian invasion. n/t

[cali]

98. Why would you take that?

Or was that some sublimely stupid atttempt at snark?

[Tatiana]

95. He doesn't get a pass. He holds positions I disagree with.

There isn't a Senator I agree with 100%. Yes, he voted in favor of the ban on same-sex marriage. He also voted yes on adding sexual orientation to the definition of a hate crime in 2002. He has a 20% rating from the ACLU and, coincidentally, he has a 20% rating by the Christian Coalition. So, he's a mixed bag. If we look at his voting record in its entirety we will find that he's:

PRO Public Education
PRO Federal Funding for Health Care Coverage
PRO Social Security
PRO Constitution/Rule of Law
ANTI Tax Cuts for the Wealthy
ANTI CAFTA/free trade
ANTI Patriot Act

I will take this over the Rethug waiting to take his place in fairly conservative WV any day.

Do you think Rockefeller is any better?

[Catherine Vincent]

96. I thought he did away with his bigotry?

Regardless, he needs to retire.

[IndianaJones]

102. no...he has not. nt.

[last_texas_dem]

97. He doesn't

I've seen him praised and attacked on here. Overall, I would say he's been praised more than attacked, but that's largely due to the strong feelings many have towards him when he seemed to be one of the only Democrats speaking out loudly prior to America invading Iraq. That certainly doesn't make him perfect on the issues. However, overall, he is much better than the Repug or, there is a strong likelihood, the conservative Democrat who would replace him if he wasn't in the Senate.

[Stinky The Clown]

100. Maybe this poll is a clue .... ?

There's some seriously misplaced emotion around here ...... assuming we're all on the same side, of course.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2118425

[SlowDownFast]

101. He's a late bloomer.

An old dog, but has learned a few new tricks.

Give him a break.

:shrug:

[IndianaJones]

103. he's a bigot. nt.

[Hissyspit]

104. What can I say. I'm a sucker for 12-string Rickenbackers.

The cover of Dylan's "My Back Pages" was one of my favorites.

[SlowDownFast]

108. Well said. n/t

[seemslikeadream]

106. this takes the