I wonder the same thing, but then again there are a few names you can substitute for Byrd:
Ted Kennedy
Hillary Clinton
Dianne Feinstein
Barbara Boxer
John Kerry
Jeff Bingaman
I could go on, but I think you get the idea.
I live in WA state and we have Patty Osama Mama Murray, and I wonder how she gets elected as well. Recently I discussed it with a couple of dim coworkers and I learned the reason.
When I cited her pro-Osama speech I was told by each of them that it was taken out of context...as if there was a context that would possibly make sense. So, the answer is, they discount anything racist, ignorant or outright stupid that their dim leaders say or do.