Viva Byrd.  Viva Obama.

Suppose you scrub your ethical skin until it shines, but inside there is no music, then what? Kabir

But needless to say, this is about tight as you can slice a 180 degree angle. Byrd, going from KKK aspirant to advocate of a Black man's candidacy for the presidency is just tremendous, especially in the context of the West Virginian politics we just experienced in the WV primary. Hopefully, Byrd by this act will convince West Virginians to stop voting for the rich man's party and understand that their best hopes are with a Democrat of any color.

We are getting there, slowly but surely.

The significance of his endorsement is not of color, rather he is motivated by the error in the decision to go to war and the trampling by Republicans (and Democrats alike) of the Constitution of the United States of America. Senator Byrd just voted for CHANGE in the broadest sense of Washington politics. Checks and Balances need to be restored in the Legislative and Judicial system.

Senator Byrd's Speech Opposing Iraq War - March 19, 2003

"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

1. What kind of state re-elects such a person for so many years? I know he brings home the bacon, but a state that re-elects a person that was once an 'Exalted Cyclops' (where do they get these names?) of the KKK has quite a few problems.

2. He has been in the Senate somewhere around 50 years. That is pretty much the definition of a political opportunist. I doubt very much he is sincere. It is more likely that he 'saw the light' not out of social justice, but because he wanted to be re-elected EIGHT times. Plus you can't have 'national stature' while spouting off vile comments.

3. He's pretty late to the party as far as this election cycle goes. Not many hopping on board these days are doing it because of values with the candidates, but because of..... once again... political opportunism. He sees which side his bread is buttered.

Byrd is no sign of 'progress'. He is a sign that we will NEVER recover until types like him are carved from the body politic. He is a sign of how sick this country is, and how far we yet have to go.

It's funny how so many progressives say we should never forgive those who were wrong about Iraq, and never give them a another public chance to influence policy, and should have trials, even if it takes twenty years. But Byrd? Let's make room for him at the table.

 He was wrong on the greatest social justice issue this country ever had, and only changed his mind AFTER he lost. There is no coming back from that.

He's disgusting, and he should go away. And if he won't do that, he should be ignored.

nalbar

Oh, I'm sure the geniuses at Talk Left and No Quarter can come up with some way to deny it.
Byrd is just supporting obama because it makes him feel better about his racism, or something equally craptacular.

John Mccain Called his wife WHAT??

Then there's Al Gore fence sitting musing his best efforts are to unite both factions..fundraise:

TPM:

Al Gore Hosting Major Fundraising Event For DNC Uniting Clinton And Obama Donors

Al Gore is set to do a major fundraising event uniting top Hillary and Obama donors on behalf of the Democratic National Committee on May 31st, a sign that the Dem fundraising establishment is beginning to unite and ramp up in earnest for the general election.

The event features prominent donors on both sides, as you can see if you click on the image of the invite (which was forwarded our way by a source) to enlarge.

[.]There's a lot of chatter out there to the effect that the Republican National Committee is outraising its counterpart, the DNC, in advance of the general election.

While this won't mean that Obama won't have a financial advantage against McCain, given his astonishing fundraising success, Obama backers would of course like to see the DNC as flush as the RNC, and will be cheered by signs that the Dem donor and fundraising establishment is uniting -- in this case, with the help of Al Gore -- to gear up for the general.

For the privilege of attending this particular Gore event, donors are being asked to shell out up to $28,500 apiece.

As a strong supporter of the coal industry of his state, his environmental record hasn't been too good.

However, there are two points that remain to be mentioned.

You have to consider Byrd's endorsement not only in light of his (rather distant at this point) past, but also in terms of last week's primary vote in his state, and the racism that is to a large extent behind it.

And there's something else, too. When Hillary first entered the Senate, Byrd was her mentor. At the time, the spin was all "gravitas... gravitas... ", "she wants to really learn the ways and traditions of the Senate", etc.

But Sen. Byrd took the heroic role as the leader in the Senate against the looming Iraq invasion. He knew what was happening.

We all know how Hillary voted on that one. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when she discussed this issue in private with Byrd, assuming she did.

No doubt her supporters would say this proves that, as a woman, she shows her independence from following a man in a position of authority. Positively heroic of her.

As usual, Taylor Marsh is having a hissy fit.  "Byrd is an ass. Hillary won his state by a huge margin. He should have respected the voters. I think this is all about money."