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12/16/2002 07:27:00 PM | Timothy Is Lott the same as Byrd? One key difference: Trent Lott is the leader of his party in the Senate. Republicans said during the Homeland Security and Iraq debates that no one listens to Byrd. Were they wrong then, or are they wrong now to equate the power of Byrd and Lott? (Of course, Byrd is a powerful Senator on appropriations and the 'elder statesman' of the Democrats.) Does anyone know exactly what Byrd said then? Well based on the little I know, some food for thought: Byrd's racial record is autrocious (you don't get much worse that having been a member of the KKK), but this shows how tied up both parties, and hence the entire political structure is, in politely ignoring this. I don't buy the excuse that because so many are guilty of living in the past, we should not go after those who we can when their racism comes to light. Raise your hand if you know what Lott's comments meant. But does anyone know what the hell Byrd was trying to say? I had never heard that phrase before. My guess is that Byrd was trying to say that white people can be as bad as black people, which shows how warped Byrd's mind is and what is considered progress within his worldview. Whatever Byrd meant, it was not a comment repudiating the entire politics of civil rights of the past half century. This doesn't mean Byrd is not racist, but he didn't show a nostalgia for segregation (I don't think). What he showed is that he is still trapped in the racist mentality with which he grew up, even if he's (maybe) tried to outgrow it. And even if Byrd's comment is equivilent to Lott's, and you want Byrd to go, great! Racists be gone. But how would we do that? I disagree with people who say because Byrds and Lott's comments are equivilent, it hypocritical to call for Lott's resignation. Among other things, holding Lott accountable is pretty clear: get him to step down. How do we hold Byrd accountable? Are Republicans who want to Lott to step down saying Lott should resign from his seat as well? But if this opens up a look at how both political parties have racists, I'm for that. Maybe then conservatives will stop saying racism doesn't exist. perma link |
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