Sam's response: - "No, no. Evidence is proof, not guilt by association-
"Otherwise, I could use the picture of Donald Rumsfeld shaking hands with Sadaam Hussein back in 1983, and say it supports an argument that our very own Secretary of Defense supports our stated enemy..."
Sam, I could show you a picture of President Chirac standing with Saddam Hussein, as well as a couple other world leaders.
Saddam was an unknown in 1983, and in fact, in 1979, Jimmy Carter's administration sent the Manhatten Nuclear Reasearch papers to Hussein. We could go back further, and look at photos of FDR, and Uncle Joe Stalin standing side by side in Berlin.
But Bob Byrd was a Grand Kleagal in the KKK, which means he was a recruiter. More than just a passive member. He belonged to the KKK from 1942-1944.
In addition:
In 1945 Bob Byrd wrote to another senator:
"I will never go to war with a Negro by my side.
Rather I should die 1000 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." - Bob Byrd
Just two short years ago, on the FOX news channel, Byrd told Tony Snow that there were "WHITE ni##ers" as well.
He used the term twice on the show, so it was NO accident. Old habits die hard for old KKK members. But Democrats in Congress have no problem heaping praise on this loathsome creature.
Now, THERE...is guilt by association.
David Duke wanted to become a Republican, but the GOP shunned him in no uncertain terms. In contrast, the DemonRATS laughingly describe "Sheetz" Byrd as "The Conscience of the Senate"!! Excuse me while I BARF!!
The DemonRATS have no conscience whatsoever...MUD
Sam, I could show you a picture of President Chirac standing with Saddam Hussein, as well as a couple other world leaders.
You're missing my point. The point wasn't who got pictures taken with whom, the point was that circumstantial evidence by itself isn't good enough to make a broad argument. Just because Byrd was in an organization doesn't mean that he performed any lynchings on anyone, or even that he did anything illegal.
Show me some evidence that the West Virginia wing of the Klan, circa 1942-1944, lynched anyone. Then show me that Byrd was the man responsible behind said lynching. In fact, show me anything tangible that disproves anything he said about his words and actions in the '40's being a mistake. To be exact, his comments from back in 1952 were "After about a year, I became disinterested, quit paying my dues, and dropped my membership in the organization. During the nine years that have followed, I have never been interested in the Klan." Once you do that, then you might have some basis for calling Byrd a liar, as Mud tried to do about 100 posts ago.
Just two short years ago, on the FOX news channel, Byrd told Tony Snow that there were "WHITE ni##ers" as well. He used the term twice on the show, so it was NO accident. Old habits die hard for old KKK members. But Democrats in Congress have no problem heaping praise on this loathsome creature. Now, THERE...is guilt by association.
No, it was no accident. But "guilt by association" is an oxymoron -- there is no such thing.
The entire quote, in context, was:
"They [race relations] are much, much better than they've ever been in my lifetime," Byrd said. "I think we talk about race too much. I think those problems are largely behind us... I just think we talk so much about it that we help to create somewhat of an illusion. I think we try to have good will. My old mom told me, 'Robert, you can't go to heaven if you hate anybody.' We practice that. There are white ni##ers. I've seen a lot of white ni##ers in my time; I'm going to use that word."
Clearly, he was talking about black stereotypes and how they can be applied to anyone. I wouldn't have use that word in any context, but I understand the larger point he was making, and I agree with that point. I'm certainly not going to go around hating the man and assuming he must have lynched people sixty years ago because of an offensive word he chose.
But, considering the bigoted tripe you've posted so far here about socialism and Islam, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you would.