Dodd apologizes if Byrd tribute offended anyone

[Freddie Stubbs]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Christopher Dodd said Wednesday he was sorry if anyone was offended by his tribute to a fellow senator who once voted against civil rights legislation.
Dodd, D-Conn., has been criticized by some conservative commentators for saying April 1 that Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., would have been a great senator and leader at any time in history, including the Civil War.

Byrd, who at one time was a member of the Ku Klux Klan, opposed the 1964 Civil Rights Act. He has repeatedly apologized for his brief KKK membership and said his vote against the civil rights vote was one of only two votes that he regrets having made during his 45 years in the Senate.

"Words can sting and hurt," Dodd told The Associated Press Wednesday. "If in any way, in my referencing the Civil War, I offended anyone, I apologize."

more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-04-15-dodd-apology_x.htm

[Catfight]

1. once a bigot, always a bigot....n/t

[Terran]

5. wrong answer

People can and do change. And Byrd has demonstrated a degree of integrity that all the Republicans in the Senate put together cannot match.

[bif]

7. I agree. Even Barry Goldwater came around

n/t

[Abbalon]

11. also George Wallace n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. People do change

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

15. Not Even Close...

You need to read the Studs Terkel interview with C.P. Ellis, a former Exalted Cyclops in the Ku Klux Klan who in middle age had one of those "Road to Damascus Moments" and ended up as a union organizer -- organizing primarily African-American service workers. It's in his book "American Dream." And Ellis's friendship with black activist Ann Atwater, which sparked his transformation, was further chronicled in Osha Gray Davidson's "The Best of Enemies" (which was nomiated for a 1997 Pulitzer Prize). Read these two books and you'll know that people can change -- and you'll get the bonus of having read two of the best journalists in America.

Snip from a review of Terkel's "Will the Circle be Unbroken?"

"Redemption, he (Terkel) says: that's what this book and all the others are really about. His favourite interview was with CP Ellis, a former Ku Klux Klan leader who ended up fighting for the union rights of black janitors alongside his partner, an African-American woman. "Anybody can be redeemed. I've seen it."

[Catfight]

25. I'll take a look...thanks.

But I've found that most people do not change, it's a very difficult thing to do, change yourself. People usually just get more clever at ways to hide their truths. In my personal opinion.

[RummyTheDummy]

18. I tend to agree

It's funny how Byrd is made into a God by some people here yet Bill Clinton, one of the best presidents over the last 100 years, is crucified by the same people for being too much like a Repug and daring to be (gasp) successful.

[Ripley]

19. Bill Clinton best president over last 100 years?

You've got to be kidding. What the hell specifically did he do to deserve that annointment?

I haven't seen anyone here make Byrd a "God." I have seen DUers alert people to his speeches on CSPAN because they are usually filled with anti-war sentiments and he's not afraid to speak out against BushCo. I think that makes him a "successful" opposition representative. What was Clinton successful at? I'm not saying he was worse than Bushes, but what exactly did he do?

[RummyTheDummy]

20. Read the post

I said ONE of the best presidents of the last 100 years. Read the post por favor. I think Clinton's accomplishments are well documented, but alas, people will always embrace revisionist history.
On edit: Here's a link to a thread regarding Clinton's accomplishments. Educate yourself.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1410667

[Ripley]

21. You gave me a list of all the great things that happened.

But you know you cannot give Mr. Clinton 100% credit for all of those. His policies were not the root cause of the tech bubble.

Look, I don't want to argue that things weren't better under Clinton. But whereas there were PROGRAMS created under FDR and Truman that created jobs and built infrastructure name one that Clinton created.

I like him, but he only looks smart and wonderful since the squatter is such a moran by comparison.

History books will not write about Clinton as being the author of broad sweeping programs that lifted Americans. Americans bought into 401ks and rode out the stock market boom. Based on bullshit cooked books that screwed us small investors in the long run.

[RummyTheDummy]

22. Apples and Oranges

FDR had a world war to fight. It was a different time. Different circumstances. Reducing eight years of relative peace and prosperity to just happenstance is a cop out and simply isn't reality.

[yardwork]

30. Clinton gave us eight years of peace and prosperity.

Not bad, imo.

[w4rma]

29. Sen. Byrd is now one of the LEAST racist people in the Senate, IMHO

…
But Byrd, unlike Thurmond, renounced his youthful participation in a racist cause. See, for example, this exchange with CNN's Bernard Shaw in Dec. 1993:

Q: What has been your biggest mistake and your biggest success?

A: Well, it's easy to state what has been my biggest mistake. The greatest mistake I ever made was joining the Ku Klux Klan. And I've said that many times. But one cannot erase what he has done. He can only change his ways and his thoughts. That was an albatross around my neck that I will always wear. You will read it in my obituary that I was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Contrast that with an interview Thurmond gave Joseph Stroud of the Charlotte Observer in July 1998 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his presidential bid on the segregationist Dixiecrat ticket. Asked if he wanted to apologize, Thurmond said, “I don't have anything to apologize for,” and “I don't have any regrets.” Asked if he thought the Dixiecrats were right, Thurmond said, “Yes, I do.” Thurmond said this four years ago!
…
http://slate.msn.com/id/2075662/

• 2001-2002 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Byrd voted their preferred position 79 percent of the time.
• 2001-2002 On the votes that the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights considered the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Byrd voted their preferred position 71 percent of the time.
• 2001 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 2001, Senator Byrd voted their preferred position 77 percent of the time.
• 2000 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 2000, Senator Byrd voted their preferred position 93 percent of the time.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0950103#Civil+Rights

• 2001-2002 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Frist voted their preferred position 15 percent of the time.
• 2001-2002 On the votes that the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights considered to be the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Frist voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time.
• 2001 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered the most important in 2001, Senator Frist voted their preferred position 9 percent of the time.
• 2000 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 2000, Senator Frist voted their preferred position 20 percent of the time.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=CNIP7879#Civil+Rights

[freetobegay]

2. Apology accepted as far as I am concerned.

eom

[maxpower]

3. Godd enough for me

At least Senator Byrd can admit to a mistake. He has been one of the few who will speak out against chimpy and his cabal.

[Dufaeth]

4. Still no different than Lott.

And I don't think Byrd has apologized repeatedly for his past.

[cap]

13. actually not like Lott...

Byrd has repudiated his past both in words (apologies) and deeds (voting record heavily in favor of civil rights). Since his deeds match his words, I can believe that he has sincerely repented of his former life in the KKK.

Lotts words do not match his deeds --- check his voting record.

[comsymp]

14. Wrong on both points-

Byrd *has* apologized repeatedly and continues to attempt to atone for his past wrongs.

And as far as being different from Lott, Lott was slammed for opining in 2002 that we "wouldn't have all these problems" if Thurmond had been elected president -on a pro-segregationist platform- in 1948.

Lott had made the same comment in 1980.

Lott's votes against busing, affirmative action and a host of other issues, along with his own segregated history, had already raised questions about his views on race.

Waaaay different than Byrd.

[TankLV]

16. Major wrongo!

Byrd, in actions as well words, has sincerely apologized for his wrongs, in all respects.

Lott's "apology" consisted of "I'm sorry if my remarks made you upset.", or, "I'm sorry I got caught.", or "I'm sorry that you have a problem with what I've said/done.", ect, or some other such nonsense.

He did NOT apologize for his words/actions - he only apologized that he was caught saying it and that he upset us, NOT for what he said/did!

[Trajan]

17. False ....

Byrd does not advocate or praise the policies of the past, whereas Lott certainly appeared to do so ....

False analogy ...

Btw: how have you survived so long ? ...

[toopers]

23. The comparisons being made are wrong.

The comparison should be between Lott and Dodd, or Byrd and Thurmond. Dodd did exactly what Lott did, yet Lott was held to a different standard than Dodd.

[frylock]

24. lott suggested that if thurmond had been elected president..

we wouldn't have "all these problems". Read "all these problems" as "uppity negroes".

[toopers]

26. I am not sure why that is necessarily the way it should be interpreted.

That statement is wide open. Just as open as Dodd's statement about a former KKK leader.

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. They should be held to a different standard

Lott was the Senate Majority Leader. Senator Dodd does not hold a leadership position in the Senate.

[toopers]

28. That's bunk.

They both are elected officials. Especially on this issue, they should be held to the same standard. There is no special enlightenment that came with the position of Senate Majority Leader.

[w4rma]

32. Byrd needs no different standard from Lott. Byrd is an outstanding man.

Copy of my post #29, above:
…
But Byrd, unlike Thurmond, renounced his youthful participation in a racist cause. See, for example, this exchange with CNN's Bernard Shaw in Dec. 1993:

Q: What has been your biggest mistake and your biggest success?

A: Well, it's easy to state what has been my biggest mistake. The greatest mistake I ever made was joining the Ku Klux Klan. And I've said that many times. But one cannot erase what he has done. He can only change his ways and his thoughts. That was an albatross around my neck that I will always wear. You will read it in my obituary that I was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Contrast that with an interview Thurmond gave Joseph Stroud of the Charlotte Observer in July 1998 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his presidential bid on the segregationist Dixiecrat ticket. Asked if he wanted to apologize, Thurmond said, “I don't have anything to apologize for,” and “I don't have any regrets.” Asked if he thought the Dixiecrats were right, Thurmond said, “Yes, I do.” Thurmond said this four years ago!
…
http://slate.msn.com/id/2075662/

• 2001-2002 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Byrd voted their preferred position 79 percent of the time.
• 2001-2002 On the votes that the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights considered the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Byrd voted their preferred position 71 percent of the time.
• 2001 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 2001, Senator Byrd voted their preferred position 77 percent of the time.
• 2000 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 2000, Senator Byrd voted their preferred position 93 percent of the time.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0950103#Civil+Rights

• 2001-2002 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Frist voted their preferred position 15 percent of the time.
• 2001-2002 On the votes that the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights considered to be the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Frist voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time.
• 2001 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered the most important in 2001, Senator Frist voted their preferred position 9 percent of the time.
• 2000 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 2000, Senator Frist voted their preferred position 20 percent of the time.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=CNIP7879#Civil+Rights

[toopers]

33. Again, you are comparing the wrong people.

In this situation, the comparison of the statements should be between Lott and Dodd. They both made statements that were open to interpretation. One individual was raked over the coals, greatly ridiculed, and forced to resign his position. The other was not even called to task for his statements.

[w4rma]

38. Just how should Trent Lott's statement be interpreted?

…
Tremendous political controversy ensued following remarks Senator Lott made on December 5, 2002 at the 100th birthday party of Senator Strom Thurmond. Thurmond ran for President of the United States in 1948 on the Dixiecrat ticket, whose primary campaign issue was the perpetuation of racial segregation in the United States. Lott said:

"I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."
…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_Lott

[MnFats]

34. anyone who missed Byrd's repeated denounciations of the KKK

his apologies, and his voting record has not been paying attention.
Do some homework.
People who were oppressed by the Klan's ruthless violence have forgiven him; so should the rest of us.

[freetobegay]

8. To bad some people are color blind here

:spank:

[SoCalDem]

9. Although I think that Byrd has been an effective senator, I , for one

will be SO eternally glad when the last of the oldsters retires from the senate.. These guys have so much "baggage", that they cannot avoid having it rummaged through from time to time..

I know that he changed, but there are some things in one's past that never really go away..

As long as there are "skeleton rattlers" in the congress, anyone with ANYTHING unsavory in their past is vulnerable.. It's a "silent" form of extortion...Speak out too much against what the repubes want, and they will gladly excoriate you for something that happened 45 years ago.. They are truly elephantine in that way...they never forget..

The only solution is tit-for-tat (which we don't do well), or to try and make sure that we are like Caesar's wife...beyond reproach.

[freetobegay]

10. As soon as the old ones are gone they will be replaced

with the likes of Frist, Santorum...

[SoCalDem]

12. Not on OUR side of the aisle

:)

[Democat]

36. Our side are being replaced by people like Daschle and Gephardt

Hardly promising considering their unwillingness to fight against the Republicans.

[yardwork]

31. A lot of folks complain that Byrd isn't good enough for them,

but how many of those folks live in West Virginia? He's their senator. The people of West Virginia reelect Senator Byrd because he's done a lot for the state. Sure, a lot of pork barrel, but WV is one of the poorest states in the country.

Nobody's perfect, least of all politicians. I think that Senator Byrd has done ok. Besides, it's none of my business. I don't live in WV.

I doubt that people living in California or Massachusetts or Georgia would like people from other states running down their senators.

[toopers]

37. There were a lot of people that were engaging themselves . . .

in the Trent Lott issue, but few were from his state.

[JI7]

35. what a contrast from Trent Lott on strom thurmond

dodd immediately apologized unlike lott who was even more offenstive. the robert byrd of today would probably have been a great senator during the civil war. and i'm sure that is what chris dodd was referring to. but he was right that words can sting and hurt and to apologize. also robert byrd himself has apologized for his past racism which strom thurmond never did.

i still don't like byrd's positions on gays and those who don't believe in god. but on race relations today he has been on the right side.