Yesterday, the media was pushing hagiographic narratives about the redemptive story of Robert Byrd’s past on race relations. The moral of the story is that you can always make up for being a racist son-of-a-bitch. But the real subtext of the story is: being a Democrat means that you can promote segregation, join the KKK, vote against both black Supreme Court nominees, and use the word “nigger” on national television — and still be remembered as a promoter of black interests.
Robert Byrd’s KKK membership is dismissed by his worshipers as youthful indiscretion. It wasn’t. It was the beginning of a long and sordid history filled with hatred and bias.
Highlights of Robert Byrd’s history of race relations include:
– 1942: Joins the KKK; eventually rises to the rank of “Exalted Cyclops.”
– 1945: Writes “Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds.”
– 1947: Says in a letter that the Klan is needed “like never before” and declares that he is “anxious to see its rebirth.”
– 1964: Attempts to filibuster the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It wasn’t out of principled libertarian support for property rights. Cites a racist study claiming that black people’s brains are statistically smaller than white people’s.
– 1967: Votes against Thurgood Marshall’s Supreme Court nomination. Went to J. Edgar Hoover to see if Marshall had any Communist ties that could ruin his nomination.
– 1968: Tells the FBI that it’s time that Martin Luther King, Jr., “met his Waterloo.” FBI ignores him.
– 1991: Votes Against Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Court nomination. Becomes the only senator in the body to have voted against both black Supreme Court nominees.
– 2001: Refers to what he called “white niggers” on national television. Try to imagine, say, Haley Barbour being given a pass after calling someone a “white nigger.”
We’re told that he recanted his views. Great. So did Strom Thurmond. But those words — just words — rightly got him nowhere. If Robert Byrd’s grandson runs for Congress and is defeated by a black candidate — as happened to Thurmond’s grandon in South Carolina last week in a Republican primary — will the media breathlessly report it as the end of a racist era in the Democratic Party’s sordid history, as they did of Tim Scott’s overwhelming victory?
Do I need to draw you a picture? The metanarrative must be preserved at all costs: Republicans, racist; Democrats, good. That’s all you need to know about the media’s thoughts on race relations in America. The final relic of federally-approved segregation left us. That’s the real story: it’s the end of an era. What brave news outlet will report that?
Kevin B // Jun 30, 2010 at 7:18 pm
When I got to the word “worshipers” in the second paragraph, I realized I was reading something unserious. There are a few word choices that would have been worse (“fanboys” and “libtards” spring to mind), but “worshipers” makes it clear you’re not writing to convince anyone of anything. You’re only writing to irritate people who disagree with you and amuse those who agree.
connor25 // Jun 30, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Yes, Byrd was a racist, but that was some time ago. He repented. Most of the Southern racists migrated to the GOP thanks to Goldwater and Nixon in the 60’s and now are in high positions. Republicans should focus on getting the racists out of their party because they’re hurting the party in many ways. Look at Audra Shay and Rand Paul. (Unfortunately, people like CO Independent and Carney don’t get that, they’d rather blame the welfare state for non-whites not being attracted to the GOP (standard right-wing excuse for not reaching out) and somehow reaching out is the equivalent to becoming Democrats You posters have seen my arguments with CO)
rbottoms, you know, I can tell you’re furious at the party for not calling out the racists by your posts. From all the times I heard blacks bitching about the GOP being hostile, I don’t see anyone (maybe a few) in that community trying to make it inclusive. I hear so many complaints, but no one does a thing about it.
Remembering Byrd’s Racism - FrumForum - Hip Hop Republican // Jul 1, 2010 at 9:06 am
[...] Story: http://www.frumforum.com/remembering-robert-byrds-racism Share [...]
rbottoms // Jul 1, 2010 at 10:13 am
It’s not my responsibility to convince the GOP to end their race-baiting ways. As we all know Rush is not a racist, he’s just a racial provocateur. And sure Reagan thought MLK was a communist and supported the Apartheid regime on South Africa, what’s wrong with that?
Being I am a Democrat, I want the Republicans to lose and if they choose to continue acting in a way the repels 95% of black voters, and now seem seem bent on similar numbers with Hispanics, who am I to stop them.
We have our own nuts and racists on this side of the aisle, but they aren’t hosts of hugely popular radio and television shows, nor are they for the most part elected officials. What office exactly has Louis Farrakhan ever been elected to? What legislation does Code Pink write? How many legions do Animal Liberation command?
When members of congress spew hatred towards ObamaHitlerMao, flirt with the birthers, and hint the we currently live in a totalitarian state it is nothing more than hysterical race baiting brought on by the election of a black man to the presidency.
Where were all these patriots when Bush was busy shoveling a Trillion dollars into the furnace of Iraq? What changed between 2008 and 2009 that drives these foam flecked people into the streets and cause governors to talk about secession?
The teabaggers aren’t all racists, but the enough of them are that it would be incumbent upon the GOP to do something about it, except that they find it useful to turn a blind eye as long as it means they might gain one more seat in November.
connor25 // Jul 1, 2010 at 11:27 am
The teabaggers I agree with you on that rbottoms. I understand where you’re coming from, it’s just you keep repeating it. Believe me, I’m critical of the GOP on the race-baiting. Remember me telling CO Independent the history and how he completely ignored it and still thought groups should be written off. It’s people like him that keep those groups away, you’ve seen it.
Believe me, I refuse to defend the shitty image on race the GOP has. I’m a reluctant moderate Republican for a long time after waking up and seeing the mess the South left in the party.
Then whose responsibility is it if not yours? That statement pretty much told me how you feel about wanting the GOP to change. Someone else should do it.
balconesfault // Jul 1, 2010 at 12:57 pm
The problem that I see that the Republicans continue to face is that when political contests get heated and tight – it is almost cliche that you see Republican candidates going to “dog whistle” politics.
Suddenly, the ads come out talking about crime … and featuring scary black or hispanic actors in shady scenes. And in 2008, you get the overt labeling of Obama as “the Other”.
Seriously? That’s how you envision attracting minorities to your party? By branding the first black guy to ever get a major party nod for President and “the Other”?
rbottoms // Jul 1, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Hello?? Democrat here.
I don’t care if the GOP self-destructs.
We don’t have lynching in this country anymore, so unless I become a statistic like Amadou Diallo, it doesn’t affect me none.
Why should I care if one party makes no effort to court roughly 20% of the population and is working hard at pissing off the fastest minority, that isn’t us?
tequilamockingbird // Jul 2, 2010 at 12:46 am
A lazy, dishonest article. Fortunately, that seems to be the pretty well unanimous opinion of the other posters.
I’ll remember Byrd for his courageous stand against the Iraq invasion, one that so many cowardly Democrats wouldn’t take.
busboy33 // Jul 2, 2010 at 6:15 am
@LFC:
“I have to admit that I was more than a bit disgusted by the lionizing of Tip O’Neill at his death.”
Sure, but I just remind myself they’re not really being lionized — you work in the House or Senate for 40+ years, you automatically get a public “what a great guy” show, regardless of racism, dead hookers, really being a bastard, whatever. Conversely, even if you literally raised the dead, if you die in your 1st or 2nd term the best you could hope for is a moment of silence and/or an after-hours memorial/fundraiser/networking party.
On the other hand, I do gotta say the “lying in state in the Senate” is both creepy and annoying. I don’t care if he is or isn’t a saint . . . I pay for that place so those lazy s.o.b.s can work. Don’t be parking a dead guy on the floor and calling an early weekend. It’s Washington D.C. — y’all have plenty of showy venues to put the body while you get on with your jobs.
Clinton Romances Senator Byrd’s Racism in a Revisionist Eulogy | Politics & Capitalism // Jul 2, 2010 at 10:52 pm
[...] thanks to Alex Knepper for the list of dates. Related [...]
Clinton: It’s OK to be a Racist So Long as You’re Trying to Get Elected by Macsmind // Jul 3, 2010 at 11:26 am
[...] Frum, whom you’ll know I have no love loss with nails the media hypocrisy on Byrd with a chronology of his racist past. Highlights of Robert Byrd’s history of race relations [...]
Sen. Robert Byrd was an Exalted Cyclops in the Ku Klux Klan!What does that mean? : Federal Jack // Jul 5, 2010 at 8:29 am
[...] of the Senate’s obscure rules, Byrd wore many hats during his lifetime, including that of Exalted Cyclops in the Ku Klux Klan. What are the job responsibilities of an Exalted [...]